Getting Lost In The Choices

[kja]

I was going to get online and order some worming stuff but now I'm lost. What to use?

When I took our pup in for her 12 week shot the vet rattled on and on about about 100 things and gave her some sort of a shot - I believe it was for heartworm. She wouldn't take the time to actually talk to me instead of at me and I have no clear clue what actually happened.

Trying to get answers/records is a PITA - they are only here once every two weeks and contacting them by phone gets answers like "the vet will talk to you at your appointment...on 12th March!" We're having to wait an extra two weeks to get Tilly's last C5 because we didn't know the vet was only going to come once every two weeks and before the change their office would call and remind us to make a new appointment for things...not any more and no new appointment was made for her at the 12 week consultation so when I rang, we found out we'd missed them by a day!

I don't want to get the wrong stuff. I do want to buy from the net as our Vet is crazy expensive.

[Guest Tess32]

Any vet who won't explain or ASK what you want to give your own dog is on my black list. Gah.

I would personally stay well away from the yearly heartworm injection, if that's what it was.

If she's had her 12 week shot and the vaccination worked, you do not need a C5. You can check if it worked by having a blood test, if you're willing to.

[Cavandra]

If that Vet gave a baby puppy a heartworm shot then RUN RUN RUN.................dont ever ever go back there. NO PUPPY IS TO GET THAT SHOT, UNDER 6 MONTHS, so many many adults start having seizures within 3 months of having it let alone babies!!!!!!!! I hope you are mistaken..

If this person is bamaboozling you it is most likely cos they dont know what they are doing, some like to talk the talk & hope they sound knowledgeable enough to shut you up & do what they say ............I doubt you would go to a Doctor like that, so dont bother with a Vet like that, how can you have any faith in them at all when you dont understand a word they say............

A GOOD Vet is worth their weight in gold................... :rolleyes:

[Cavandra]

Advising ALL my clients & puppy buyers never to touch the heartworm shot I am not familar with the routine.

Perhaps your vaccination card has stickers on it??? Tell us what stickers are on there, or scan the card or bill, and we can tell you what your pup has had & what it now needs............

[InspectorRex]

I couldn't agree more Cavandra- no way Jose for the yearly heartworm injection.

Time to go to another Vet methinks if this is the way this Vet conducts their practice

[lucknow]

I use Drontal or Paratak. If your pup is 12 weeks give monthly until 6 months old, then every 3 months... If you are in a heartworm area I would also start to look seriously at that now, gives you time to order it in. :rolleyes: And yeah, if your vet did not answer your questions and at the very least actually ASK what you wanted - look for another. Vets are like cars (or boyfriends) really good ones or bloody lemons!

[BC]

Yep, run like the wind :rolleyes:

I like Sentinal Spectrum - covers heartworm, worms and fleas in a monthly tablet

or I also like Interceptor Spectrum that does the same but without the fleas

This website gives more info on these products http://www.pets.novartis.com.au/dogs/index.html

Edited March 2, 2008 by BC

[Dogsfevr]

Ask your breeder but basically you dont need to put the dog on all the flea stuff etc unless your at high risk.We do not use any flea stuff & we show our dogs,have kennels.

We dont use any of those monthly things for worming .We use drontal.excelepet which ever is the best price at the time all wormer every 6 months.

Your dog only needs the very basic overusing the flea stuff is just as harmful & i dont see any point tereating what isnt there.

Heartworm we use monthly liquid .

We also have in bold print NEVER to be used on any pup sold by us,if clients decide to head down that path after being explained why & all info is also contained in there puppy paperwork then its at there own risk.

I agree if the vet isnt answering your questions than look at another alternative but alos make a list of what you want to ask & also realize vets dont now everything

[kja]

There are no other vets OK, if we drive more than eight hours, but otherwise this is the vet.

We have a public holiday here today but I will be ringing them again tomorrow to find out what's what and won't hang up til I know.

I have a feeling she did give her the yearly heartworm and if so, there's nothing to be done about it now so I am not panicking or freaking out about it. I will just be extremely clear that isn't what we want to do in future. I do remember telling her that I didn't know about the yearly one and would rather stick to what we do for our other girl.

But now that some time has passed I see how totally rushed and stressed I felt in there...it's very much not like me to not know what exactly is going on!

Thanks for your advice - I'll be looking into things and making some decisions!

[kja]

Finally got in touch with the vet.

Puppy did not have the 12 month shot...she had a shot that she is to have at 3 months and then another at 6 months with the recommendation of one a year for life afterwards. I will make sure to let them know AGAIN that I do not want to have the 12 month shot...I see no reason to risk it despite our best friends' Blue Heeler having this yearly shot with no problems.

Thank you all for jumping in with advice and ideas