Hi: This site has been so helpful I decided to post a couple of further questions : :-) Thanks in advance if any of you have any experience/info:
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1. Lepto is an optional vaccine and may not be necessary. I'm sure some on this forum and elsewhere have had very bad reactions to the vaccine. Kaylee was fine afterwards and she got it the first time when she was a bit younger than Ella. The worst reactions to vaccines happen very soon after injection and if she hasn't had a bad reaction yet, she should be fine. You may need to discuss whether Lepto is a concern where you live at your next appointment.
2. Search the forums. There are some red corgi owners who have posted the color change progression through adulthood.
The newer Lepto vaccine isn't as likely to cause reactions as the older one. There is debate over how beneficial it is, because 1) Bacterial vaccines have short duration of effectiveness (6-9 months, usually), 2) There are many strains of lepto, and the vaccine only covers some of them, and 3) It is not nearly 100% effective even against the strains it covers.
That said, we get it in the spring every year. Our vet asked if our dogs were likely to drink from streams. When I said yes, he recommended it. He personally only recommends it for dogs who are likely to drink water where wild animals have been. Other vets don't recommend it at all, others recommend it to everyone.
Here's a good discussion:
http://www.pennlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2011/04/post_6.html
As far as the color change, my guess is she shed a bit with the bath and that's why you see a different color. You won't know her final color til she gets her adult coat.
Thanks so much for the above answers, both of you. I think in the future I am going to tell my vet not to do any non-core vaccines (he didn't explain to me that he was doing a non-core one; I saw the Lepto name on the bill as I left). Thankfully, she is nearly 6 months old and did not seem to react at all. She never drinks from streams nor walks in them, and I would have appreciated his explaining to me before he gave it (as I told on a prior post, this all goes on after i have left, if I am to pick her up later, or if I have been ushered to the waiting room - I have yet to witness a vaccination or even a nail trimming...)
Yes, she has lightened up on her body, but as you say, her adult coat will be the final. I love her no matter her color, in any case. ;-)
I didn't even know what that lepto was till I read this! Neither of my 2 have ever had it, at least since they've been with me.
As for being ushered into the waiting room...not gonna happen for me. Frankly I had never heard of a vet doing that until I read it on this forum. It appears the vet I take Max to for acupuncture does that but apparently he allows the owners in while doing acupuncture because I go in with Max and I have seen others also go in with their dog for acupuncture. Unless it's for a surgery or a dental cleaning I stay with my animals. My vet has always been that way and I would have changed if he wasn't .
Yeah, I do not like that my vet does this, but I guess I've always been too intimidated to say anything. It appears to be the way this group does things. I ought to ask them about it, why they feel the need to leave the pet parent/owner out. I think they are also pushing too many vaccines, and they don't even bother to tell you what they are going to give, or why :-(
I honestly would refuse to pay if they didn't go over this with you prior to giving it. You did not give them permission to vaccinate, you did not sign an estimate, therefore you do not owe them anything for something they took it upon themselves to do.
Most of the vets I've worked at will take the pet to the treatment area for vaccinations, blood draws, nail trims, etc. We do this for various reasons but the major reason is that often the pet reacts to its owner by either being more protective around the owner or picking up on its owner's anxiety about needles. A lot of times dogs are barely touchable in the room with the owners but when we take them in back you can handle them easily without a muzzle. Also, many owners do not allow us to do proper restraint and insist their pet doesn't bite (which usually ends up with the owner demanding to restrain and then getting bit). It is for the safety of both the pet and the owner. However, everywhere I have worked will keep the pet in the room at the owner's request, just try to be very aware of your emotions and let the technicians do their job (i.e. use a muzzle if needed and restrain properly, etc.)
Melissa: Thanks, and I had a feeling that this was their protocol for those reasons you state in your post. I suppose that's why I never really objected. But yes, I will bring up the fact that I need to be informed about what vaccines are being given, and why, and what the risks are - and give my informed consent before the injection is given , and added to the bill.
I've always been very honest with vets about my pets and I think they appreciate it. I always warn them, for instance, that my cat will bite with no warning (sweet, but very low frustration threshold) and so they restrain her pretty thoroughly. My old cat was terrified into paralysis at the vet and so was rendered harmless (and helpless). Jack will fight restraint but would never try to bite anyone (perhaps me, but no one else!). However, you might get a bloody nose from his panicked struggles, so it's best to let him on the floor and ask him nicely and he'll try his best. Maddie is an angel and you can do anything to her.
Last time I had Jack there, the vet asked me jokingly if I'd mind training some of her clients. The conversation started with me treating Jack and her commenting that I was rewarding him for the right behaviors. I said "You work with what you've got" (because he is NOT good at the vet and I realize this). She said "At least you work with him!" and then made the crack about training her clients. So I do get the impression that unfortunately vets have lots of bad experiences. Still, I think it's nice to observe what is actually going on, and if the need arises to remove the pet, explain why and what will happen when they are out of your presence.
Yes, Beth, I would imagine they do encounter a lot of scared, difficult pets, so are grateful to you that work with your pooch :)
Susan....they put their pants on the same way you do, don't be intimidated. You wouldn't let a doctor take your child away from you and give it any type of shot or med without telling you what it was and what it was for. The older I get the less I'm intimidated by titles or uniforms...actually I think I've reached the point where none of them bother me any more.
That's a good point, Linda. I must begin speaking up. It's silly to allow them to give vaccines in other rooms with no warning of what they are giving or why - I owe it to my pup to speak up.
Yes, good point. Thankfully, she did not seem to have any reaction to the Lepto vaccine :)
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