Hubcitypam

me me me.......

Well, the majority of greyhounds are raised in OK and KS so that might skew things a bit. I cannot even begin to explain how bad ticks are in OK in general. I had one hound come out of the Altus pound and I quit counting at 250 dead ticks. Every single OK stray was loaded to the hilt and most of the farm dogs had a few. We don't have a problem with ticks in Old East Dallas, so I use Advantage but Frontline Buck every year before Abilene...I swear the buggers just hop on at every potty break along the way. My Harley had wonderful owners in the Riggins and one of the best trainers in the business Don Conatser. He was Don's kennel buddy and in his career was only out of his sight 6 months when he graded up to Wheeling. When he came up TBD positive Don said it can happen in haulers...even if a kennel is religious about flea & tick treatment the dogs can be bitten by stowaways on the haulers. Since I am no longer on the front lines, I don't know what to tell you about TBD testing. Last I did it was the Protatek "greyhound special" -- Eherlichia, Lyme, RMSF and Babisia -- used to be $53. They may have something more now. The most common by far around here seems to be Eherlichia, but I have had some that hit the grand slam and had all four.

Ask your vet. The dose of ivermectin in Heartgard is teeny tiny.

Tractor Supply or the GEM (Greyhounds of Eastern Michigan) store

I keep trying to get that pedicure discount too! Buck had one of his middle (weight bearing) toes amputated while he was racing and he is fine. I wouldn't blink an eye at amputating an outside toe.

GEM sells them in their store http://www.gemgreyhounds.org/gem_store/firstaidkit.htm Buy some EMT gel while you are there -- I wouldn't be without it. It's saved me hundreds on owies.

If it was a tea light or votive you shouldn't have a problem...I think lots of dogs on here have eaten candles and lived to tell the tale. Wicks on tapers seem to be the biggest issue, but if it was a little candle I wouldn't worry too much.

If the rabies had 3 in the name I believe it was a 3 year vaccine. However, different places have different rules on how long a three year vaccine is valid. Like Devon said, in Kansas it is two years. In some states in the US it is only good for one. In Texas it is good for one year but with proof of prior vaccination then the same shot is then good for 3 years. One Dallas suburb, Desoto, only recognizes rabies as good for one year when used for city tags being issued no matter how many times the dog has been vaccinated. DHPP is murkier still. Part of my job is to call and check vaccination records for new clients. Out of the 30 or so clinics we deal with on a regular basis about five or six still insist on DHPP every year. Most consider it good for 3 years after the second round. When I lived in Chicago it was common to get heatworm tested in mid to late late April then give the pills for 6 months giving the last one in mid to late September which should provide protection for 30-45 days after that which would take you to end of October or November. Personally I never saw a mosquito in Chicago in November so that doesn't sound too out of line for Quebec. Macoduck -- at least 3 or four of the larger practices we deal with have Sunday hours. Nice alternative to the e-vet....

Our boss just bought 100 Microchips and expects all of us to do it upon request. A couple of us are uneasy at the thought. She said it's very simple...just like giving a shot and we should be able to do it. I've never given a shot and there will be no training. She said Dane Rescue here does it as a fundraiser and if a rescue can do it anyone can. I asked if maybe Dane rescue had vet techs as members. Is it really as easy as she is making it sound? I have no problems giving internasal bordatella, but shots with a big arse needle are something I'd rather not do.

What is your favourite:- Colour Hunter green Savoury food Pot stickers Chocolate Herseys with Almonds Cookie Danish wedding cookies (hard to find anymore) Stuff to put in the bath I am a shower girl but on the rare bath I use whatever people that somethink think I love baths have given me Stuff to use in the shower Whatever's on sale or at the dollar store or dollar general Smell vanilla, cinnamon Scented candle gingerbread Photograph of your dog(s)? Buck in his pool in my siggy Type of jewellery All I wear is a pave greyhound pendant a friend had made for me Style of ornament I have quite a few Christopher Radkos ( as well as garland and a tree topper) that the reps gave me for waiting on them so it has sort of grown on me Style of festive decoration Not sure what that means. My decor runs to mission style Television programme (present) CSI, Cold Case, House, Kitchen Nightmares, Las Vegas Television programme (past) Bob Newhart (as the shrink), Mary Tyler Moore, Vega$ Type of reading material (inc authors if appropriate) Mysteries

Is Banfield a part of Petsmart or are they a separate company that has an agreement with them?

Just pay someone. Our groomer charges $8 (vet is $13) and the do it yourself dog wash lady trims and smooths with a dremel for $5. Worth skipping the drama as I am a big nail weenie...they can sense my fear...

Ah, but this is the kicker! Most people do not educate themselves any better about their pets' health than they do about their own. They rely on their doctors/vets to tell them what they need, and unfortunately, there are those (in human medicine as well as veterinary) who will always take advantage of that. Exactly. John Q public just hands over his dog and says "give it the shots it needs". Hence the owners coming in with giradia vaccs at $43 every 6 months. Today a guy brought his dog in for boarding. We had told him that he needed an internasal bordatella booster and we could do it. He said he'd have the vet do it. He brought in the paperwork and the vet that had given the 3 year rabies and 3 year DHLPP last year had given both again. I

All the vets at my clinic let me be around for anything except x-rays and surgeries -- even in the back room. They use me as the dog wrangler for staples and blood draws. The only time one of mine has been when Poodle and I were both bleeding heavily and the doc to him back for staples while I cleaned myself up. My vets let me be there because they know I'm not sqeamish and have dog knowledge. I doubt that they let the purse dog people watch them staple up a dog. As far as only liking two vets out of five, at my vet you make an appointment for each doctor, not just a general appointment so that is not a problem unless it is an emergency.

Go the Sam's/Costco route. I do keep cephalexin and Augmentin on hand...but I am usually the one using it.

Run free among the stars sweet Scooter.

My boss recently went to a big expo in Las Vegas and is very interested in a company called "Vet Stop". They are Vet-in-a-box. The docs rotate in and are paid hourly. They provide shots, HW testing and care for minor illness and injuries on a first come first served basis.

:rotfl Harley helped himself to a bowl at my sisters once. They were Easter ones and it was very creative pastel sparkley poop.

My boss said that their prepaid plans encourage overvaccination. She said something about lepto and another one year shot (not bordatella) twice a year. I've been meaning to ask on this board about that. Kickchick, could you share the vaccine protocol?

Just dose everyone again. Even if it was a single thief ends up having five, it won't hurt them. The dose in heartworms pills is VERY tiny.

Any shampoo/soap lathered up and left for 5 minutes will do a number on fleas, but Dawn is good. Any of the Adams products work very well. You could get the flea/tick shampoo and/or the spray. I actually like the way the spray smells. If you just have fleas and no ticks Advantage works far better than frontline.

I wouldn't give the giradia. I do use the DHLPP instead of DHPP every 3 years as lepto has been a bit of a problem around here in the past few years. It is funny though...the medical director -- who is my main vet -- has discussed with me several times how bordatella is really not very effective, but all his deep pocket clients seem to get it. :blink I wonder if some vets just know when people walk in they'll pay anything and pad the shot bill accordingly. Giradia here, bordatella there.... In this case I am also questioning the exrtra $22 for the lepto given on the same day as DHPP> If you are giving it at the same time why not just give the 5 way? At our shot vet 4 way and 5 way are the same price.

We don't go to our "regular" vet for shots because he charges a $60 office call. Several clients just brought in reciepts from them and here were the costs: Office call $55 Hazardous waste fee $5 Giradia $43 (every 6 months) Rabies $22 DHPP $25 Lepto $22 Bordatella $22 (every 6 months) Heartworm test $35 That comes to $229, but with the 6 month boosters that brings annual fees for shots to over $350 We get Rabies, DHLPP and Heartworm test every 3 years and heartworm test in between at another vet that has walk in shot clinics three days a week. My regular vet would be: $60 office call and waste fee $35 heartworm test $22 rabies $25 DHPP $22 Lepto total $164 At the other vet we pay: $20 heartworm test $7 rabies $10 DHLPP total $37 for the exact same shots and test I know there is the "they need a wellness checkup every year" theory, but all my guys are in the vet for an owie or some other reason at least once a year.

Yesterday we had three different clients bring in booster updates from my vet -- that we do not use for vaccines. The first dog had a $43 giardia vaccine on the bill stating it was due again in 6 months. We didn't pay too much attention as it was a lab and thought maybe the owner chose to do it as he went to the lake a lot, but the next two dogs that had received giardia vaccines were a bassett and a terrier mix. As far as I know and from what I can find Giardia is pretty worthless and not recommended. I am just wondering if there was some sort of change as this is an AVHA vet.

What's a little grassy puke in the house?