https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:35:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1957149 Sun, 23 Nov 2014 21:10:21 +0000 littlejoy 1957149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: We are doing Banfield. I like their program, and the fact that the insurance plan includes a sedated dental cleaning every year. Our current vet is awesome, and I appreciated her transparency about the vaccine schedule, but after considering cost, it makes sense to go with a monthly plan where everything is included. Thanks ladies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1954684 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 12:41:24 +0000 pui 1954684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it is worth getting the vaccinations. My mother works at a vet clinic and would absolutely recommend getting them all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1954597 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:51:33 +0000 regberadaisy 1954597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't always do lepto and only do kennel cough when we plan to board her. Besides that we do all the other ones.</p> <p>She's in Heartworm meds year round and flea meds from may - October. One month before and after warm weather around here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1954585 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:47:22 +0000 MenagerieMama 1954585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our critters (2 dogs, 2 indoor only cats) are fully vaccinated per our vet. They do rabies every 3 years per law, and then boosters along with that - so it's not every year which is nice. We take the dogs to dog parks a lot, and hiking, so we wouldn't want to risk them not being covered. We don't board them though so we've skipped the kennel cough vax for now. As far as costs it's about $50/pet for each exam, I can't remember how much the vaccines cost. And we usually bring in all 4 at once to save a trip so we look pretty ridiculous! We picked the vet based on where we could take the bus to with our kittens, because at the time we didn't have a car, and it's worked out great. We looked into pet insurance, but for 4 animals it was going to be a ton of money. And it was hard to find an affordable plan that covered all the preventable stuff and vaccines since that was mostly what we use anyhow (other than when our evil cat went through a particularly evil spell). We just make sure we account for them in our emergency fund savings.</p> <p>The thing that's killing me now is heartworm! We don't have it where we are from and we moved across the country and now need to treat - it's expensive x4 every month! I thought we could skip the cats because they're indoor only, but our vet convinced me and after this summer seeing how many mosquitos sneak their nasty selves indoors I'm glad we did. It's a pain though. We did do flea preventative for them back home but were pretty lazy and did it only every few months and not in the winter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1954545 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:32:19 +0000 littlejoy 1954545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've reached out to my vet about drawing titers. </p> <p>She expressed to me that she suggests vaccines each year, because she's liable if she gives advice to NOT vaccinate, and the animal ends up with that specific illness. Makes sense. She said she absolutely doesn't think every pet needs every vaccine, and she's more than happy to draw titers and do an indoor schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953363 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 18:31:12 +0000 Ocean girl 1953363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our dog had a bad reaction to lepto the first time she received it (vomiting followed by swollen face). We now only give her rabies and distemper and have to pretreat her for those, even. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953348 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 18:12:34 +0000 Synchronicity 1953348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dog is fully vaccinated. She goes to the groomer a few times a year, and is always roaming around at the cottage and out on hikes, so I wouldn't risk not vaxing her. She also gets 6 months of topical heartworm medication every year. Expensive, necessary evil! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953277 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:27:37 +0000 .twist. 1953277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: hahaha wow! Well, I don't totally blame them for hating the vet, but if they cooperated it wouldn't be SO BAD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953194 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:45:50 +0000 yoursilverlining 1953194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: haha, our cats are total evil twins. The last vet we took her to the vet said "I work with aggressive feral cats all the time and let me tell you, your cat scares me." hahaha, when they give her back to us after her appointment she is always still sedated completely (so fully asleep), but growling non-stop in her sleep. I didn't even know they could growl while under the gas. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953161 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:28:32 +0000 Shutterbug 1953161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sunshine1810: good to know! He was completely asymptomatic but they test for lyme every year as part of his annual check-up. We were shocked because we never even saw a tick, and he has short fur (he's a pug), plus we use Advantix. The vet said that the type of ticks that carry lyme are in the nymph stage and so they're smaller than the tip of a pencil. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953154 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:26:33 +0000 Dandelion 1953154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dogs get full work up every year.</p> <p>My cats never get shots. They're indoor only. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953153 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:25:43 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 1953153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dog has all the vet recommended shots, I can't remember what disease or illness it is but some things are just on grass that your dog can pick up if an infected dog was just there before them on a walk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953150 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:23:50 +0000 .twist. 1953150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: haha omg!!! we must have the same cat! My guy chased a vet tech and once i picked him up from an over night stay and the vet tech at the front desk said "oh, you're here to get the devil cat" LOL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953143 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:21:23 +0000 yoursilverlining 1953143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: my cat is a total asshole too. She has to be fully sedated (given the gas!) for every single appointment because she is so aggressive with vets. We've had 2 vets comment that they were afraid of her! LOL</p> <p>Our cat is indoors only (well, she goes out very selectively and only on a leash) and is on a vet-recommended set of vax for indoor-only cats. I'm not sure which she has had and which she hasn't, to be honest. I just do what they recommend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953133 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:16:04 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1953133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: that seems expensive. I pay $120 a year at the vet for my dogs vaccines and checkup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953124 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:10:52 +0000 blackbird 1953124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: a shot is a shot as far as I am concerned! I found my vet through a coworker! I used to take them to a clinic but the overhead cost must've been much higher Cuz they were expensive!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953112 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:05:26 +0000 mrsjyw 1953112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: Sorry I forgot to mention that we go to Banfield :) The plan is definitely worth it for puppies in the first year, we went off of it for a few years after that...but then their dental health became a serious problem. That service alone, makes it worth it to us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953111 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:05:07 +0000 Sunshine1810 1953111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: Oh no! There is a lyme vaccine. We just got it for our younger dog.</p> <p>We fully vaccinate both of our dogs. They go to doggie daycare and they are occasionally boarded so we have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets/page/2#post-1953107 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:03:25 +0000 stiletto_mom 1953107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cats are strictly indoors. No vacs other than rabies. </p> <p>However, if I had a partially outdoor cat or a dog, I would keep them relatively up to date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953105 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:02:51 +0000 78h2o 1953105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that it really depends on the vaccine. Some pet vaccines are generally regarded as safe and effective, whereas others are less safe or less effective. </p> <p>Our dog is regularly vaccinated with all the "core" vaccines. Of the "non-core" vaccines, she only gets bordetella if we plan to board her and they require it. We skipped leptospirosis because we felt (and the vet agreed) that the risks outweighed the benefit. I think lepto is controversial because it only lasts 6 months and can cause serious autoimmune reactions. I can't remember what we did about Lyme...I think we have had her get that one, but I'm not positive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953097 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:59:47 +0000 littlejoy 1953097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: So, your vet is sent from a magical place in the universe?! I hope I can find someone like that. And, here's where I feel like an asshole for going to FB to ask for the cheapest vet in town. Sorry dogs!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953090 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:56:35 +0000 blackbird 1953090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: OMG shop around for your vet! I know cats aren't the same but it's under $200 for 2 cats! In fact my one cat just had some teeth removed and his whole surgery was $350 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953085 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:55:25 +0000 .twist. 1953085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: It's hard not to love those fluffy little jerks. :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953076 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:51:05 +0000 littlejoy 1953076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Holy shit! That IS an asshole-ish thing to do. Haha. Poor cat. Poor you! Yeah, our cat had a urinary issue YEARS ago (hence the prescription food for life), but he is very selective on what he likes to pee on: baby carrier, a wall, husband's dirty t-shirt, my shoes. He's a total dick. But I love him. Le sigh ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953075 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:49:39 +0000 littlejoy 1953075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: Is this through your vet? Or a nationwide option? That sounds like it would save us $$. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953069 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:47:46 +0000 .twist. 1953069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: haha I believe so. My cat likes to have exploratory surgery because he eats things he shouldn't and he can't digest them. I've wanted to get it, but just haven't and now he has a few other health problems that I think would make it harder to get now. I WISH I would have done it when he was a kitten. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953061 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:46:25 +0000 mrsjyw 1953061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: We pay $30/month for each dog (we have two), that covers all of their annual vaccines, 1 annual dental cleaning (they're put under for it), 10% off any meds they need to go on, and covers all non-well check office visits. We do have out of pocket costs come up, like one had a bladder infection, and another had to have 4 teeth extracted during the dental cleaning this year. Overall though, the plan is def worth it, and makes it easier to take them in since it's usually just a monthly cost :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953050 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:44:50 +0000 littlejoy 1953050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: Scary! Hope your pup is better! I'll have to double check, but I don't think lyme is an issue in our area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953047 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:44:18 +0000 littlejoy 1953047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Ha! Our cat is an asshole too. Are they all? He's on prescription food, and regularly pees on things. And, it's NOT a medical problem. Ha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccinating-pets#post-1953039 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:40:18 +0000 .twist. 1953039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: We don't have pet insurance, but I have heard from so many people (and vets because my cat is an asshole) that it IS worth it. </p>