So we took Whiskey to the vet yesterday afternoon. She needed her rabies shot updated for her to be able to enter the U.S. next month.
But if it weren't for that rule, we wouldn't have had it done.
They were also supposed to do a whole bunch of other booster shot type of things as well, but we declined those. I mean, she's 15 years old and with a bad heart. It seems to me that the stress she experiences in going to the vet does her more harm than whatever the vet is supposed to be doing that is good.
Anyhow, all we wanted was the rabies shot. But it is apparently required by law (I haven't researched the logic behind this) that an examination has to be done in order to do the rabies shot.
So the rabies shot is only $20 or so. But the final bill was $115. Okay, whatever. Odds are very good it'll be the last one because it's good for three years.
But, other than the problems we know about, the vet said she's doing very well for her age.
Today, we're off to Red Pine Camp. This is a family camp that we've been going to since my parents originally brought us there in 1964. My sister and nephew are up there for this week so we're going to go spend the day with them by the lake. And, it's a beautiful blue sky and expected high of 27C (81F) so it should be a great day!
I had a boss in the 90s that used to go there yearly. Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteThe vets always find another way to get more money from you, so sad. But glad Whiskey is doing fine. Enjoy and visit with more family, always fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day at Red Pine Camp.
ReplyDeleteYep, every time we take the girls in for a shot, there has to be an exam. So we suck it up and go for it. But I agree with you. If our girls were 15 why subject them to anything more than they have to have.
ReplyDeleteIt is a traumatic experience for most dogs to go to the vet. Rigg's has the route to the vet memorized and starts getting ancy a few blocks away.Glad to hear Whiskey is doing fine. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..
ReplyDeleteWe had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel when the kids were young and taking him to the vet was so stressful he literally shook the whole time he was there and once he even fainted when she drew blood. I didn't know dogs fainted until that day. I agree less is more and sometimes the rules suck, but what can you do.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great industry isn't it? We had a dog on the farm for years. I don't even think there was a vet within a hundred miles of our place, so I guess it was a good thing he didn't get sick? I suppose there's a vet in Middleton or Kingston now, (Nova Scotia) and that's mostly for the city folk, but there sure wasn't at the time.
ReplyDeleteI remember one time the dog got a little too friendly with a porcupine and well, my Dad had to then take out the quills! You just did what you had to do. There was no, "trip to the vet".
I think when it came to the farm animals, he had the same remedies that his father had, and always managed to keep the animals alive, and more importantly, the horses working.
Just makes you shake your head.
Tucker loves the vet..but he loves everything..I understand about the age of Whiskey but an exam is always a good idea..sort of like us going for a check up once a year!
ReplyDeleteand as for the rules about rabies to enter the US..we have never been asked for the dog papers but you just can't be too careful!..wouldn't want to be turned away..
Having pets can be costly but the pleasure they give is undeniable!!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun & Travel safe
Donna
My cat is 16 yrs old and has only been to the vet once or twice. She has always been an inside cat. If I go to Alaska in May 2012 - she will probably have to stay with my daughter - I don't want to subject her to a bunch of shots and tests.
ReplyDeleteWe have a fantastic vet! She will provide us with documentation that the girls got their rabies and other needed shots without actually injecting them. We do pay the standard fee for the visit and the rabies shot and we are provided with legal certificates and tags. Our previous vet was similar but she felt obligated to inject the dog with one or two drops of the solution.
ReplyDeleteIn addition our vet, as you may have read on our blog, is constantly available to us. She has dealt via telephone from Mexico with poison frogs, tarantula bites, spider bites, and too many other problems. I guess our girls like to get into trouble. Once I even called our vet in the middle of party on January 1 and she just dealt with us. Any vet we have had has always left their current patient and come to the phone when we have called with an emergency. On the plus side, we have never been charged for these ER calls.
It seems to me that vets think they are people doctors by the way they charge. But for the mandatory items, we are just plain stuck.
ReplyDeleteWe have always avoided all those Vet 'add-ons' as well & our dogs have been fine. I feel it so unfortunate how the almighty dollar has taken over the Vet industry in the last number of years. I remember a time when an animal's care came before money.....but it was a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteSandra...It is surprising who some of the people that go there are. We had a great time, thanks!
ReplyDeleteGeorge and Suzie...Yep, it has quite the industry.
Rick and Elaine...Thanks!
Jim and Sandie...We really hate taking her there, but sometimes things just have to be done. The vet is very nice and is very good with whiskey and agrees that there really isn't any need for all the other shots.
Sam and Donna...From now on if we have to take Whiskey to the vet for something, she can sit in the car until they call for her. It is the waiting that causes her some of the most stress and she just tries like crazy to get out of there.
Janie and John...I've never heard of a dog fainting either, the poor thing. I am afraid that Whiskey with her bad heart will have a heartattack while waiting, but you're right you do what you have to do!
Bob...You would be surprised, even the country folk take their dogs to the vet's now, as you have said it has become a huge industry. Kevin's dog when growing up only went to the vet's twice in her life. Once to be fixed and the other when she was hit by a car. She lived to be 17 years old.
Sue and Doug...Tucker looks like he loves everything! Whiskey never minded the vet's until she got real sick and had to spend 2 weeks at the vet's, now she hates it. We have never been checked either for her papers but we always like to make sure the shots are updated. We haven't had any problems going into or out of Mexico either and their rules are even stricker.
Donna...We totally agree with you. Wouldn't trade her for anything.
Teri...Our cat is 19, she's had her shots every year up until these last 2 years when it was the vet who said to not bother with them. She has mostly been an indoor cat but when we had our house she would escape the odd time.
Contessa...Sounds like you have quite the vet. We've been lucky with Whiskey, she doesn't get into trouble, we haven't had any kind of bites or any scraps with wildlife, but she is on her leash most of the time when we are outside.
Chuck and Anneke...I agree with you on that. I will be interested to find out how expensive the vet's are in Mexico, we have never had to use one there.
THE BAYFIELD BUNCH...Yep, that was a very long time ago. I remember when they used to hold rabies clinics at the local community hall. I believe they were free or a very nominal charge. We just lined up with the dogs and got the shot and the tag, that was it. We believe in just getting the basics done, unless they are hurt or sick then it's a different story.
Kevin, Ruth and Whiskey
Just to clarify, our dogs are penned, even when we overnight at a Pemex. When staying in a place for a day or more we build a fence out of mesh and rebar, about 40 feet long by 4-6 feet wide and there stay the dogs where they still manage to get into trouble. Here at home most of the insects seem to bite them as they lay on the front steps. Had another bee bite yesterday!!!
ReplyDeleteContessa...Sorry didn't mean for people to think that your dogs run loose as I know you have a pen, but was meaning that having Whiskey on a leash we are closer to her and therefore less likeihood that something will bite her. That and the fact that she is older so not as active as yours and getting into as much. Your dogs also have less hair, easier for bugs to bite through. They would have a hard time getting through Whiskey's fur. Hope you didn't have any problems with the bee sting. I have been so busy I haven't had much time for reading blogs. I'll read it very shortly.
ReplyDeleteKevin, Ruth and Whiskey