If it's the same vaccine, why do you charge more just to call it a 3-year instead of a one-year?

Methinks it's time to find another vet - one that will respect the law AND your wishes!

PS - on your ear troubles - does she have a pocket? Which way is the ear falling/tipping? From your signature it looks like your posts don't go into the ear - if there's a cartilage/pocket issue going on, that might be the reason. Argh I wish I lived closer to you!

I'm a little confused as to what irresponsible dog owners have to do with whether to give the 3-year as the second round of rabies? If the reason vets were requiring dogs to get the 1-year certificate twice before doing the 3-year was that they are concerned that a dog may have gone too long between vaccinations, can't they just require that dogs have proof that they're up to date on the rabies in order to get the 3-year? In other words couldn't they just check the records and make sure it hasn't been more than a year since the last rabies vacc, before giving the 3-year?

My vet told me that the first rabies vaccination is only good for one year, and that the second vaccination could be the 3-year certificate. So they get the 1-year for their first rabies vacc and then a year later they're vaccinated with the 3-year.

Same way it is done here and when I was a tech in Washington as well Lizzi.

Thanks, that is really confusing me as well....it doesnt make sense. And, honestly is very unhealthy for the dog to have more than needed which I think should be a high priority.

Because many, many people equate 3 year vaccinations with not having to come back to the vet for 3 years. It doesn't matter how many times you tell them that the physical exam is just as important. The way they look at it, they only want the rabies because it's required by law. Anything more than that is just extras. We have numerous clients who might get their dog a DA2PPV shot as a pup, and then try to get only rabies from then on. No exam, no heartworm prevention, no spaying/neutering, no parasite checks, nada. That's why most clinics require exams with rabies. Even otherwise good owners will come back for three years. We just had one about two weeks ago who got their 3 year as a 2 year old and didn't come back until it was due again. By the time they did, the dog had a serious heart murmur that might have been caught earlier.

Seeing the pup at least one more year after the puppy rabies does several things: it allows us to see the client again for education when they might not have otherwise come back for three years, it allows us to push spay/neuter (!!!), it allows us to discuss getting a heartworm test since very few buy heartworm prevention around here, and to push heartworm prevention, and it allows us to physically examine the pet to be sure there is nothing unusual.

Considering the "it's just a dog" mindset that so many clients have, I honestly would rather see the dog get a rabies booster than not have that opportunity. Again, none of this is directed for the average Porchie owner. The average Porchie owner can request things done other ways, but I personally think the rules are an unfortunate necessity for now. I think it's more unhealthy to have all these other things neglected.

And please note: if we are pretty sure the owner is going to be one of the good ones, we will occasionally do the 3 year earlier. Our vets are big believers in minimum vaccinations, but they are also realists.

I wish you lived closer too. I'm going to PM you with my ear issues b/c there's a website that I don't think I should post here.

I was wondering the same. I've never been asked to pay more for a 3-year.

I re-read my post and I left out a part of the conversation. And now I can't remember his exact wording. And I do not want to mis-quote and sound like an idiot. I still do not agree with it.

I did look up on manufactures instructions just to see what it said...

Dosage and Administration

General directions: Shake well. Aseptically administer 1 mL subcutaneously. Dogs may be vaccinated intramuscularly or subcutaneously.


Primary vaccination: Administer a single dose at 3 months of age or older to healthy dogs. A repeat dose should be given 1 year later.


Revaccination: Subsequent revaccination every 3 years with a single dose is recommended.

http://www.pfizerah.com/Product_Over...=en&species=cn

That is just one brand. I don't agree with it. I follow Dr. Dodd's protocol which is why I was so upset with the situation. I just feel that if he's willing to do what I ask of him and not just what his standard practice is, then that's acceptable to me.