Want to save a few bucks in the short run? Buy vaccines off the Internet
or off the shelf somewhere and give them to your dog yourself. Or have
your vet give only the shots required by law, such as rabies, and
nothing more. But there's more to it. The practiced eye of a
professional should see pets� �� ��especially older ones� �� ��once a year or so.
"The things we see sold here in feed stores and other outlets oftentimes
are professional line drugs," admits Dr. John Thomas, a vet in Altus,
Okla., who gave up his large-animal practice to concentrate on pets.
But then there are those problems that have nothing to do with vaccines,
which only a vet may find.
"Dogs, like people, are living longer," Thomas says. "We used to think a
smaller dog of seven or eight years was middle-aged, whereas in large
breeds we tended to think of them as old. But now it's not unusual to
see 10- to 12-year-old dogs. They're often in good health, but old age
takes its toll on them as it does on humans."
It's appropriate to let a veterinarian check your pet's weight and
teeth, especially beyond four or five years of age. He or she also will
check for fleas and ticks, which can cause more trouble than most owners
think. For instance, fleas are the source of tapeworm infections in dogs
and cats, and ticks can cause erlichea, a serious bloodborne disease.
"At our clinic the whole set of vaccinations including distemper,
hepatitis and corona runs $40 to $50," Thomas says. "You can buy these
and do it yourself for less, but then you're less likely to find
problems or to have a relationship with a vet in case of an emergency."
Likewise, you could buy deworming products over the counter, but why
give one if the dog doesn't need it? A vet can do a simple test to find
out.