Having a hard time saying NO to a vet

[ChocoMilk]

I wanted more input from you all so I'm making a new thread on a question I asked on an another thread.

My vet INSISTS that my puppies get the rabies shot at the same time they receive their third and last puppy vaccine. They will be 18 and 19 weeks. My smallest one was 1.5lbs at almost 14 weeks. After I got home, I researched like a crazy woman and found that it is recommended to give shots AFTER 6 months of age AND to be given 2~3 weeks apart from the HA2PPV vaccine.

FIRST, I'm very angry that these vets DO NOT KNOW what they are SUPPOSE to know. What if I hadn't researched? SECOND, I'm so angry about their "I'm the doctor and I know it all" attitude. I gave her a call back and told her that I think I would like to get the rabies shot seperate from the other shots, and she laughed it off saying "Don't WORRY they will be FINE!" Just totally putting my worries off to the side. I told her I've been researching and she said "look, they were fine with the other shots and they were give shots at an early age when they weren't suppose to anyway (the breeder gave shots before 8 weeks which she disregarded) and they were okay. At worst, they will just have a little reaction to it. And it's the law in NY to give it at that age. She comes off so strong and confident that I just ended up saying ok I'll think more about it and hanging up.

What were your experiences with your vets and how did you say no? Btw- she's a friends friend and it's really a difficult situation for me to say "sorry I think you are wrong and I think I know a little better than you".

few extra questions: 1. Is it normal for puppies to be missing a thumb?? she says they were missing a thumb and that its normal that some breeders just cut them off when they are born (?!?!)
2. My 14 week boy has not yet dropped his testicles and she kept saying that it was abnormal, so I'm worried. But I also researched on this and others yorkie owners had yorkies who dropped as late as 9 months. Should I be concerned?

[LDandPasquale]

I tend to stick with doctors that take my thoughts and concerns seriously and actually "care" that i may be worried about MY dog. If you dont feel comfortable at that office, it may be time to find another one. The way i see it is if you're footing the bill, then your concerns should be taken seriously and not brushed off.

[chachi]

You have to stick to your guns and if she wont relent you have to find a new vet. My old vet that I really liked was insistent they get the rabies every year even though the state only requires it every 3 yrs. I changed vets and I told him why I was

[Britster]

Wow, I would never go to a vet that disregarded my concerns like that. You have a right to your dogs health decisions.

When Jackson went into to get neutered, he had not yet had his rabies vaccine. I was late on it because I was so scared to get it, since he had a reaction to the lepto shot before. So anyways, when I took him in to get neutered, they informed me he would have to have rabies vaccine to get neutered first so they were going to give him the rabies vaccine while under and I was like... no way. I'm not letting him get the shot and possibly have a reaction. The techs were the ones that told me this so I told them of my concerns and the vet agreed with me... she said especially if he had a reaction before, she wasn't going to do it. So I brought him in 2 weeks after he got neutered to get his rabies vaccine and he did fine.

Personally, I would switch vets (and I did switch vets before).

[TatumsMom]

Originally Posted by chachi

You have to stick to your guns and if she wont relent you have to find a new vet. My old vet that I really liked was insistent they get the rabies every year even though the state only requires it every 3 yrs. I changed vets and I told him why I was

I've also questioned my vet about giving our dogs the rabies vacc. every year. In our case though, given the fact that we live out in the country and have many suspicious critters running around, he really does insist that we get it every year. I can't really argue too much with that since I did find a dead baby skunk under some bushes by the house this past weekend! None of my dogs have ever had a reaction to any vaccinations so I'll not make a big stink over it.

[ChocoMilk]

Great to know there are some normal vets. I'm starting to lose faith in vets because the FIRST vet in the clinic that checked my puppies because my friend's friend wasn't in that day, was so careless and coudn'te even recognize the name of vaccines given by the breeder. Second was this vet, who is my friends friend and she acts like she knows everything in the world. She looked at him thoroughly and I really liked her but she obviously does not care aobut my concerns. Third is my old vet in California who still sends me "time for an annual checkup!" mails with rabies and bordatella shots listed as needed for my 5 year old yorkie. YEA RIGHT.

[Ellie May]

Then it's time to find a vet that you can say no to...

Most to all know exactly what they are supposed to know. There are just different way so of practicing and each has their own experiences, so they do have an idea about what works and what doesn't. More people are going to post online when something goes wrong instead of when something goes right, so it does look like a lot of dogs react. Actually in practice though, there aren't that many immediate and severe reactions at all. That's not to say these vaccines should be given on the same day, but that's why it doesn't bother most vets to do it.

Ellie's vet and I respect each other because while she is an amazing doctor, I know a little bit too. We don't argue. We don't always agree. Bottom line is we trust each other to make the best decisions possible for Ellie and it all works out.

Not all vets can handle clients that are always questioning and researching. They don't want to deal with it. Not many vets could tolerate me for long. Find one who can deal with it... Tell them what you are coming in for. They can't vaccinate without your permission. They probably can report you if you don't do rabies in time. Time to find a vet that will let it go a couple extra months if it makes their client feel better.

[FlDebra]

Your vet works for you and your pup. Sure we want to rely on their knowledge and expertise. But we also want to weigh that against other information available. The vet is just one source of information. This is a relatively new recommendation to wait til 6 months to vaccinate our small toy breed. Most vets went to school before vaccine concerns really started getting more attention. Some take the newer recommendations seriously, and others seem to be blowing them off and still want to use the old ones. My vet wants to stick with what he knew. He is so good with other things, I don't want to change. Besides, he does what I need done.

It should not be a debate. When she says "they will be fine" you say, "Just the same, I am going to wait til they are 6 months for the rabies. Thank you." Be firm but polite. Like I told you in the other thread, my vet thinks I am overly concerned, but he does it the way I want. Well.....once he did not and went ahead and gave the rabies with the last boosters. I did not realize what happened until I was paying and the rabies was on the bill. Had them check and sure enough, they had snuck it in there on me! That did not go over well at all but the tech said the vet just forgot. How you forget something just discussed is beyond me! But, I don't think that mistake will be made again! Annie had all of her boosters and is getting her rabies by itself at 6 months.

[ChocoMilk]

Originally Posted by TatumsMom

I've also questioned my vet about giving our dogs the rabies vacc. every year. In our case though, given the fact that we live out in the country and have many suspicious critters running around, he really does insist that we get it every year. I can't really argue too much with that since I did find a dead baby skunk under some bushes by the house this past weekend! None of my dogs have ever had a reaction to any vaccinations so I'll not make a big stink over it.

I read in a recent article that one-year rabies vaccination and 3-year vaccination is actually the same thing. SO for a vet to recommend 1-year vaccination (when it is actual 3 years) is just a money scam.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ChocoMilk

I read in a recent article that one-year rabies vaccination and 3-year vaccination is actually the same thing. SO for a vet to recommend 1-year vaccination (when it is actual 3 years) is just a money scam.

[BonBon]

You've gotten good answers on your main question, so I'll just address the last two.

1) It is common for the dew claws (thumbs) to be removed on newborn pups. Dew claws can easily get caught up on fabric, etc. and hurt a dog's paw, so they're removed for safety reasons.

2) 14 weeks is too early to worry about undescended testicles, IMO. They still have a few months to drop before you need to be concerned.

It's nice to see such a concerned yorkie parent - great questions!

Bonny

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by ChocoMilk

I read in a recent article that one-year rabies vaccination and 3-year vaccination is actually the same thing. SO for a vet to recommend 1-year vaccination (when it is actual 3 years) is just a money scam.

Whether your dog needs to be vaccinated yearly or every three years depends on local laws - this isn't always determined by your vet who has to abide by those laws. Also, some vaccines and their effective lives differ by manufacturer.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ChocoMilk

I read in a recent article that one-year rabies vaccination and 3-year vaccination is actually the same thing. SO for a vet to recommend 1-year vaccination (when it is actual 3 years) is just a money scam.

This is true in the case of Defensor 1 and Defensor 3. Unclear if other companies do the same... Some vets really do think that giving it yearly is more protection, and since rabies is nothing to mess around with, a certain level of fear probably motivates them.

[TatumsMom]

Originally Posted by ChocoMilk

I read in a recent article that one-year rabies vaccination and 3-year vaccination is actually the same thing. SO for a vet to recommend 1-year vaccination (when it is actual 3 years) is just a money scam.

Oh, I know.... he does use the 3 year one.... just would prefer to give it every year or 18 months or so. You really do have to consider what kind of surroundings you have. Just like most of you turn down the lepto..... that's one that is really needed where I live. Again, we've had NO reactions to vaccinations.

If I truly had a choice (and didn't live in the area that I do) I would probably not do the majority of the vaccinations that we do BUT there are no vets here that will board or take care of your dogs without the recommended vaccs.

[chachi]

Money isnt the only motivator with vets giving the rabies every year. It also can be because they dont think they are protected fully with the 3 yr. Thats what that vet told me. I still didnt want mine overvaccinated and also they are never around wild animals