Vaccinations

Can I give vaccinations myself?

Yes, you can, but in most instances we recommend against this.

Vaccines are very fragile, and they must be shipped and stored at a properly refrigerated temperature in order to remain viable. When we obtain vaccinations for the hospital, they are shipped overnight on ice in insulated containers. We always unpack these boxes immediately, placing the vaccines into the refrigerator.

If they sit out for any period of time, you run the risk of the serum warming to the point where it is rendered ineffective.

For those owners who insist on giving their own vaccinations, they typically obtain these vaccinations from either a feed store or a pharmacy. If you choose to go this route, we strongly recommend purchasing the vaccines from a pharmacy, instead of a feed store.

A pharmacy is required to stand behind the medical products that they sell, and they are used to handling medicines with specific temperature requirements. With a pharmacy, you are almost assured of obtaining a viable product that will protect your pet.

With a feed store, there is no guarantee that the product was shipped or stored correctly, or that it did not sit out on the loading dock in direct sunlight for several hours. We do not say this to imply that every feed store is negligent in the treatment of their vaccinations. We simply wish to point out what may happen, and to suggest that you think about the source of your vaccines and how they were handled.

Please be aware, that even if you obtain a properly refrigerated vaccination from a reliable source and administer it correctly to your pet, it may not be accepted by a boarding facility or other agency. Because of the potential for error with vaccines that are not professionally administered, many facilities will not recognize owner-administered vaccines for boarding requirements.

By law, the rabies vaccine must be administered by a veterinary professional.

If you will be travelling between states, or between countries, we strongly recommend that you have any necessary vaccines given by a veterinarian.

There are many responsible pet owners out there who have properly administered their own vaccinations for many years, and in no way do we mean to cast them into a bad light. However, there are just as many people who have not been properly trained or educated, and it is for this reason that we caution you. Many, many times we have seen a pet that was improperly vaccinated by the breeder or owner come down with parvovirus or another preventable disease. Please be aware, and take the time to properly educate yourself.

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