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Do most people get shots for their dogs/cats?

alevasseur14

alevasseur14

Golden Member
I just read a few of the dog/cat threads on OT and really wondered if most people get the vet recommended shots and whatnot?

Growing up, we had Miniature Shelties for as long as I can remember. We had them fixed but never got any shots or did the worm treatment stuff. Our first died of cancer, the second got hit by a truck, and the third is still living.

I live in Minneapolis now and have 2 cats that are almost 2 years old. Both of them (male and female) are fixed but I haven't gotten any shots or pretty much anything for either of them.

The dogs ran all over the property I grew up on but my cats are 100% indoors. I'm wondering if this mentality has something to do with the incredibly rural upbringing I had compared to 'living in the city' now. Thoughts?

Note: I've lived in MPLS for 7 years now.
 
If they are going to be in contact with potentially other people and animals yes you should 100% get it done. Could save your like and the life of your animals.
 
We just had shots for the dog (outdoor dog... was let free to roam in the woods). We never gave anything to the indoor cats (except when they were young and got fixed).
 
I think most people that get puppies will try and get all the necessary shots. People who adopt older dogs are probably less inclined to do so (unless adopted from a pound or some other place that requires it).
 
In my city you legally have to get rabies shot at least.

But I still get all of the other shots.
 
Our cats, both of which were pet rescue kittens, have gotten their recommended shots. These are indoor-only cats. They are presently 18 and 16 years old. And no, they are not show much signs of getting old. The 18 year old still runs about the house, jumping up onto things 3-4 feet off the floor.

Sure, they are having older cat issues like irritable bowel syndrome and take a steroid for it while also being on a rather bland dry food designed for this condition, but we expect to get another five years out of them.
 
dogs yes as they are flagged usually by your county for tags. Most cats usually do not get to the vet.

I have both cats and a dog and all get to the vet each year.
 
My 2 indoor cats are behind on their rabies shots, but I plan to take them in soon.

Better safe than sorry...
 
shots when she was a puppy and rabies shot whenever that comes around.

license to own a dog? LMFAO 😀
 
uh, yes.
I would be obligated to commit seppuku should I fail to provide and have her die as a result of a preventable illness.


But that's just me.
 
Yes. Bella is up to date on all her shots. Next round is mid August for distemper and rabies. Like others have said since your dog is contact with humans and possibly other animals they should be vaccinated. Why risk the health of your dog and others to save a little money?
 
I guess if I were to get a dog down here, I would probably get the shots and whatnot. I don't really know why, but I've never felt like heart worm treatments were necessary. I'm not really sure if you need a license in MPLS but I doubt I'd go through the trouble of getting one. I'd be pretty surprised if you had to have a license for cats but if you do, I don't think I'll be getting in line at the Government Center any time soon... 🙂
 
really wondered if most people get the vet recommended shots and whatnot?
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Absolutely!

These are my pets/family and I'd probably beat myself to death to one of my family grew sick because I didn't get a $20.00 insurance "shot".

Hindsight is good but I'm definately more proactive when it comes to my "family".
 
alevasseur14 said:
I guess if I were to get a dog down here, I would probably get the shots and whatnot. I don't really know why, but I've never felt like heart worm treatments were necessary. I'm not really sure if you need a license in MPLS but I doubt I'd go through the trouble of getting one. I'd be pretty surprised if you had to have a license for cats but if you do, I don't think I'll be getting in line at the Government Center any time soon... 🙂
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If your dogs are inside and you don't have mosquitoes then heartworm treatments are not necessary. However, most treatments prevent fleas as well which dogs will bring inside.

I just attended my Grandmother's funeral this weekend. 2 years ago her 4 dogs had to be outside (all but one were indoor dogs) while she was in the hospital a month. This was in the panhandle of Florida. Fleas are regional so YMMV.

She just found out 3 had heartworms. The fourth probably has them too...but was abused while outside and ran away before the vet visit, this dog brought one of her litter to my grandmother...then just camped out outside and never left the property. Her pup ended up being shot because he was outside the fence (which was vandalized). My grandmother lived in a rural area so many of you may think "so what"...however, I don't and think why fucking shot a dog not causing you an issue.

She spent about $2000 to get the 3 treated. Unforunately about 2 months ago she had to be hospitalized again in their first month of treatment. I don't think anyone is going to take these dogs on and treat them...at best the one-eyed dog is still awesome looking and fun...but I don't think he is going to get $600 in treatment there. Her 3 legged dog is gray faced now. Maybe 5-6 years at best. She lays by my grandmother's front door. I may end up taking her in. I wanted the one-eyed pup too, but he has become over aggressive to strangers and dogs since shot. I was able to get him calm enough to let me unmat his fur and take care of his eye (when he was shot it blinded his one eye and it needs to be removed) and then he followed me around like a toddler.

Someone is going to take on the one-eyed dog and his surgery...they aren't ok with his heartworm treatment though.

So you figure out if just spending the dough on a vial of prevention is worth it or not.
 
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The dogs only got a rabies vaccination shot the first year, and then get one booster every three years after that. Wisconsin has a big veterinary presence that pushed away from the yearly rabies shots. It is simply a money grab to do the yearly shot. Even the 3 year booster is unnecessary as the typical duration of the vaccine is much longer by far, but convincing politicians to change to 3 years was hard enough.
They also got the 3 way shot when we were taking them to the dog parks, but now that we dont go there anymore, the only other addon they get is frontline.

For the cats, they dont get anything but the rabies shots. I have had cats with injection site cancer and it isnt pretty, so I avoid getting the cats more than is necessary.
 
waffleironhead said:
The dogs only got a rabies vaccination shot the first year, and then get one booster every three years after that. Wisconsin has a big veterinary presence that pushed away from the yearly rabies shots. It is simply a money grab to do the yearly shot. Even the 3 year booster is unnecessary as the typical duration of the vaccine is much longer by far, but convincing politicians to change to 3 years was hard enough.
They also got the 3 way shot when we were taking them to the dog parks, but now that we dont go there anymore, the only other addon they get is frontline.

For the cats, they dont get anything but the rabies shots. I have had cats with injection site cancer and it isnt pretty, so I avoid getting the cats more than is necessary.
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Here in Madison yearly rabies is still required by law.
 
I always vaccinate my dogs beacause they travel with me and I take them to the dog park.
Also I live in Texas and we have an on going problem with rabies.

Cats are indoor only. They had their first round of shots and I am very careful about washing after petting strange cats.

alkemyst said:
If your dogs are inside and you don't have fleas then heartworm treatments are not necessary.
Click to expand...

Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes only.
 
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