[Deerseason Widow]

I vaccinate my own animals, just cheaper that way. Almost time to do it again and as I was looking over vaccines I saw there was one for Lyme's.

Anyone else vaccinate their dog against lyme disease? Do they need a blood test first? Is it really needed?

Thing is it only comes in doses of 10 or 50 and from what I'm reading they need one injection and a follow up 2-3 weeks later. What am I to do with the other 8 doses?

 

[BobR]

I do all my own too. I never used Lyme vaccine because of the problem it can cause. I try & keep the ticks instead. It always doesn't work LOL My hounds have had Lymes but ten days of meds puts them back to work.
Check other companies some sell single dose. I'll check my catalogs. The place I deal with sell rabies shot single dose.

 

[duse500]

My choc lab(now 9 years old) woke me one night screaming like I'v never heard before.
It was so bad I thought he might have swollowed a trebble hook and was trying to [no swearing please] it out .
2am and I get him to the vet an hour and a half away.
He had lyme's + rocky mountain spotted fever.
Total cost was $1100
Good thing I love that dog huh

 

[BobR]

Change vet. My vet vet charged $26 for the meds. We knew what the dog had so there wasn't a blood/ lab bill. Oh was the # 7 plott male in the country that had it.
sorry, I can't locate a company that sells singles units.

 

[Deerseason Widow]

www.petmeds.com sells single units and that's who I bought from before. And did not require an RX from my vet.

But this time I was looking at the Doctors Foster and Smith catalog, they have single doses, just not in lyme's. And they want an RX from the vet. Will probably go with pet meds again.

You know she's in the house most of the time. And I use a topical. I'll just keep an eye out for any ticks and get her treated if the need ever arraises.

Bob, I thought all rabies had to go through a vet for documentation reasons. I can order it too? Keep looking please.

Thanks for the input.

 

[BobR]

DW
I hunt in alot of other states with me dogs running the competitions. So, I give yearly rabies shots some require it to enter the hunt. NJ is one of the few states that require a vet to give it.
If you need meds that require a RX to be sent to NJ. Have it sent to someone out of state & forward it to you. That what I do to get the wormer I use.

 

[LittleLou]

Hi Deerseason,

This is Lous' girlfriend. I wanted to tell you that I give both of my dogs their lyme vaccines in the spring. There is some conflicting stories with different vets that you talk to about whether the vaccine is effective or not. I believe it works. I have a farm, my dogs are outside all day everyday and they get numerous tick bites and (lets keep are fingers crossed) so far so good.
I have known of two dogs who got lymes and both died from it (it wasnt caught early enough) I wont take that chance.
I get the vaccine from my vet, its one shot a year. If you have any other questions feel free to ask

 

[BobR]

Was it lyme, spotted fever or secondary infection that killed the dogs?

 

[Deerseason Widow]

Thanks Lou's girlfriend. More input to think about.

You get it from the vet and give it or let the vet give it? What does he charge for that? And what part of NJ are you in, basically what vet? I'm in Sussex and only used this vet once when she was hit by a car, prices seem a little high. Used another vet in the area and they were even worse. Maybe I'm just used to hick vets in the midwest that will trade chickens. LOL j/k but my vet back home only charged me 45.00 spayed my dog, and he kept her for 2 days. Not even close here!

 

[LittleLou]

Two years ago I gave the vaccine myself but last spring my primary vet (Animal General in Augusta)did not stock the vaccine so I took my dogs to Newton Veterinary Hospital www.newtonvet.com. They are a little pricey, 41.00 for the office visit and 21.00 for the shot itself.
I live in Augusta, NJ and have found that NVH is the cheapest one around and one plus with them is you can always get an appointment.
You can try Animal General on 15N 973-875-4100 but they usually dont stock the Lymes vaccine (their a small practice, primarily horses).

Bob, the one dog had lymes and was put down when paralysis of the limbs set in. The other dog had complications from the medicine she was being treated with and also had to be put down