Bordatella

[doubledip1]

So I emailed them hoping I would get something in writing, and I did! The receptionist told me she wouldn't be allowed in for an exam unless she was up to date on Bordatella, but this is the email from the office...

We require bordatella vaccine for all dogs that will be staying at our facility. This includes: hospitalization, daycare, boarding, grooming. We do not require it for dogs just coming in for exams.Thank You,

So for Luna's spay, she has to be vaccinated, but she doesn't for exams. I'm less mad, and glad I clarified. So now my choices are to vaccinate her, get her spayed there (for $90 with the Friends of Animals certificate), and then switch vets. Or switch vets, pay at least $500 for laparoscopic spay (which I would much rather her have), and not vaccinate for Bordatella... but I don't know if the new vet (which I've toured, and LOVE) requires it.

We're lucky enough to not ever need to "board" her. DH's parents run a pet sitting business out of their home, and she doesn't go to day care since she's only alone a max of 3 hours a day. For grooming, I take her to a self-serve dog wash and do her own nails.

[Maggie's Mom]

I have used several (5-6) vets in the last fifteen years and none of them has had that policy. My last dog had surgical procedures at two different vets and neither required it prior to surgery. I am also personally very pro laparoscopic spay (my puppy will be done this way). I spoke with both my vet and the vet at the specialty hospital who will do the laparoscopic spay and the recovery time and post operative pain is significantly reduced when compared to the traditional spay. I know the cost is high- but I think the benefits make laparoscopic well worth it isn't a financial hardship.

[SCDoug]

That's crazy. Like requiring people people to provide proof that they've had a flu shot before entering a doctor's office. We have to give Lola the bortadella vaccine every 6 months, because she goes to doggie day care...not negotiable.

[doubledip1]

Seriously... it's a husband and wife run practice. They used to be great, but over the years have gotten more and more money hungry. But I'm friends with my vet (not one of the owners) and think she's a good vet, so it makes it hard to leave. Especially since I can text her if Luna has any sort of problem and she'll meet me at the office after hours and treat her no charge!

[amyb]

I raise a paw and one of my dogs got kennel cough twice even with the vaccine (like the flu, different strains). Get another vet...

[Charlotte K.]

Seriously... it's a husband and wife run practice. They used to be great, but over the years have gotten more and more money hungry. But I'm friends with my vet (not one of the owners) and think she's a good vet, so it makes it hard to leave. Especially since I can text her if Luna has any sort of problem and she'll meet me at the office after hours and treat her no charge!

That sounds like a huge advantage to staying with the practice. It is possible that the office changed policies after an outbreak of canine flu; they may wish to think that they can differentiate what the patients have.

You could still do the lap. spay elsewhere if that is your preference. You just don't want to be in the position a friend was in where the hospital insisted that she let them intranasally vaccinate the dog suffering from INTRANASAL CANCER before they would let him stay in the oxygen cage. Seriously. Granted, that was at least 15 years ago, but it certainly did not help the poor dog or protect any other dogs exposed to him now sneezing out modified live kennel cough.

The croup rate in my children went down when I stopped using the intranasal bordatella. Coincidence? Probably not. Do not get the intranasal if anyone in the home is immune compromised: on a big dog, go with the injectable, then stay at the vets for half hour after any vaccine, in case of reaction. It is amazing how slowly I can write a check instead of swiping a card!

If this is the only issue, can your friend the vet give you some insights into the reasoning behind the requirement?

Good luck with your decisions.

[Georgie]

As others have said, the vaccine is not that effective and only covers for one strain.

Get a new vet or talk to your vet and ask her whether she agrees with this policy and has she the ability to override it.

[KenZ71]

I view the bordatella vacine as like the flu shot. It might work, or might not for the strain floating around your area.

Scarlett had bordatella about a week after we got her. When I brought her in we went straight to an exam room which was immediately marked as cats only for the next 24 hours.

Iw still dont vaccinate for kennel cough.

[ZoeysMommy]

Yep new vet, there is absolutely no reason to give the bordatella vaccine unless you are using a day care or some boarding facilty that requires it. A vet should not require it for a routine visit of any type.

[windycanyon]

The bordetella vaccine I use (Nobivac Intratrac 3) is now proven good for 1 yr. Btw, I buy it by the tray, and it costs me maybe a whopping $4 / dose w/ the Fedex overnight shipping.
I use it and it HAS been very effective for me. With 8 dogs here, an outbreak would be a bad thing. My puppy starts a class tonite, and I was surprised they just took my word for it on vaccines (she's vaxed on all but Rabies, and I told them that). They also have a daycare there, so it's for my own protection that she's covered. She's also been to 3 hunt tests, an obed workshop here at my home last weekend and training days, so suffice to say, we're around a lot of dogs and has a lot of chances to be exposed. The vets' policy is similar to mine but to be honest, they don't have a lot of control w/ emergency cases that come in!