[MR] Dogs at events

[LWright740 at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/26/2006 8:00:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
noramunro at yahoo.com writes:
 
I am a licensed Veterinarian that has practiced in small animal medicine  for 
the last 7 years.  I feel some of the following may be helpful  and I humbly 
ask an open mind from the populace.  I promise I would  not bring this up if I 
didn't care about pets.
 

As for checking health certificates and vaccine records at events,   that 
would be overkill.  However, you may be required by a state to have a  health 
certificate if crossing state lines.  It really isn't enforce unless  something 
goes wrong.  If there is a dog bite at an event (reportable to  local health 
departments), a disease outbreak (especially one spread between  humans and 
pets), or someone files an official complaint then they will seek  everyone 
involved in the incident and fine them for not having the  right certificates to 
travel with your pet.  The laws depend on the state  and it is up to the pet 
owner, not the event,  to make sure the t's are  crossed and the i's doted.  To 
protect the event and the SCA it wouldn't  hurt to say that all dogs must be 
current with state animal control  laws.  Policing people is not currently 
needed.  This may change  if there is a major outbreak of influenza and dogs are 
shown to spread  it.  Dogs and cats have gotten the disease but they have not 
confirmed  a case between dogs and humans yet.    I will let you know  if this 
happens.  
 
My best advice for the safety of your family, your dog, and others is as  
follows:
 
 
If you have your dog seen yearly and tell them what your are doing and  where 
you will travel they will vaccinate your dog accordingly.  You don't  have to 
give the "12 way" vaccine to each pet.  Why expose your pet to more  than 
they need?  Additionally, they will recommend monthly heartworm  preventive for 
both intestinal and heart worm parasites, effective flea and tick  control, 
good nutrition, and some hints to keep your pet safe from  various risks.  If 
they don't take the time to address your  concerns vote with your pocket book and 
seek another veterinarian.  Shop  around and look for Veterinarians the work 
with competitive coursing  dogs. Don't just head to doc in the box, a good 
veterinarian will come to  the lobby and meet you before even setting up an 
appointment!  They will be  interested in what you are doing and excited about the 
activities your dog is  participating it.
 
 
Thanks for your time and open mind,
Lora Leigh

 
If you are thinking about saving money by cutting corners please read  on.

 
 
I'm sorry if the breeders and other long time dog people are offended, but  I 
really must speak up.  I always get nervous about people practicing  medicine 
on their own pets.  Often there is a lot of misinformation and it  can go 
south fast.
 
I am in no way implying  that anyone here is practicing without a  licence on 
others pets or not recommending what they think is best and  helpful
 
I give the disclaimer because there are some people that will say that  
veterinarian just want you money and that is why certain things are required,  
however, the education and licensing of a health professional protects you from  
injury of your pet and provides legal recourse.  
 
 A well meaning person may give you advice to save you the expense of  a 
veterinary visit and unintentionally cause harm or  death.  Some breeders or self 
proclaimed experts will give  out medicine they have gotten from the farm 
stores and/or tell you to stay  away from vets because we are out to cheat them. 
 
 I see many tragedies because of this cost saving  activity. Overdoes when 
medicines were not diluted correctly, people told  to pick up over the counter 
products that had harmfully  ingredients in them, changes in formulation of an 
over the counter  drug that made it dangerous and cause a rash of deaths when 
home remedy  people used it, and parvo or distemper in home vaccinated dogs.
 
Please remember that over the counter medicine is not intended for dogs,  
cats, and other animals.  There is no requirement for a company to announce  a 
formula change that could kill a pet but not hurt people.  I stay  away from 
sending people for OTC drugs because of this, but some veterinarians  still do.  
I have seen it go bad and won't risk your pets life.  I can  always write a 
script and the pharmacist can give you the pure generic  drug.

I  usually drop off the
information on the vaccines I give with my vet  (so
they keep their records up to date and stop sending me
the  postcards), so I probably could get an official
record if I wanted one, but  that's a housekeeping
decision I make, not one which is  required.
In fact, you can't get an official record for shots not given by the  
Veterinarian.  The veterinarian is a licensed professional legally  responsible for 
the handling and administration of the vaccine.  If the  vaccine fails and the 
Veterinarian mishandled it they will have to provide care  free of charge.   
If the failure is due to the manufacture the  company will recall that lot and 
have you recall and revaccinate all pets  involved.   The manufacturing 
company will provide all of your  treatment costs if your pet gets sick. This 
accountability is only provided  if a veterinarian vaccinates your pet.
 
 The vaccines you get from mail order or the "feed and seed" store is  not 
guarantee by the manufacture for proper handling when shipping.   Vaccines must 
be kept at a specific temperature and never frozen to assure they  are still 
effective.  Some vaccines are better than others by brand and/or  type.  
 
 Why is there so much information for the do it yourselfer out  there?  If 
this is so dangerous why doesn't the government stop people and  stores from 
giving out veterinary advice, practicing medicine,  and  prescribing treatments?  
There is no money in it!  If you sue someone  for hurting your pet or 
practicing without a licence the fine is only 50 dollars  and the most you can get is 
veterinary medical cost reimbursement and a small  amount for you pet.  A pet 
is property and you will not get pain and  suffering for a pet.  Lawyers will 
not take theses cases on  commission!  Lawsuits draw attention and cause the 
law to change.
 
If you feel the best way for you to keep your cost down is to do the  
vaccinations yourself, that is up to you.  But please be educated by your  
veterinarian (not the sales clerk) on your risks and stick to your own  pets.
 
 I use the rule that if you wouldn't do it to your kids think twice  about 
it.  
 
In fact,  the reason you should see your veterinarian once a year is  to 
check for general health and hopefully catch problems before they become  
"unfixable".  Many well meaning people with years of experience will hold  out to the 
last trying certain home remedies or other  and then present me  with pets 
past the point of saving.  I am heart broken when this  happens.  I want your pet 
to live and not suffer.  I don't want to  break your heart with bad news!
 
There are also diseases and parasites that are dangerous, particularly to  
children, that can be acquired from pets with substandard Veterinary care.   Go 
to your vet once a year, take their advice, be open to the current  
information they can pass on, and take confidence that if they hurt your  pet you have a 
recourse.
 
On Rabies and other Zoonotic diseases:
 
 
The  exception is rabies, which in most states must be
given by a licensed  veterinarian.  This is partly
because rabies represents a human health  risk that,
say, kennel cough does not, and partly because it's  an
intramuscular vaccine which requires a little more
knowledge to give  than the others, which are
subcutaneous shots.  (Except  bordatella/parainfluenza,
which is intranasal.   Achoo!)


Rabies is regulated in all states and many other countries.   Rabies it is 
sub -q or IM injection and most vets give it Sub-q now.   It is not the only 
human health risk but it is the only one that has such a high  death rate. Only 4 
people that have contracted it have lived and they have  a lot of nervous 
damage.   There are other diseases spread from humans  to pets and back that can 
cause kidney failure, blindness, pneumonia, hepatitis,  diarrhea, vomiting, 
and meningitis.  Wildlife can be the source of some of  the same diseases so be 
careful with them as well.  Be proactive with your  doctor and your 
veterinarian on your risks.  Tell the veterinarian if your  dog is in swampy areas or 
drinks out of puddles (giardia, coccidia and  leptospirosis to name a few), if 
you and your dog have tick exposure (lymes,  erlicichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted 
Fever, to name a few), your pet has visited  or came from another country, 
your pet spends time in other areas of the  country, and anything you think 
might make your pet different fro the other pets  in the lobby.  Get your health 
professional thinking for your  benefit.
 
Thanks for your time and open mind,
Lora Leigh