Georgia Law Re: Cat Vaccinations

[Wellspotted]

I was told by the receptionist at a local animal clinic this morning that they cannot give my cats their annual vaccinations unless they give them an exam too. The receptionist told me that Georgia State law requires an exam with vaccines.

Is this true? Or a rip-off by a vet trying to make more money? Where we used to live, our vet gave the shots, checked the kitties over, said how old is s/he what are you feeding him/her and passed us on to the front office for payment.

Really can’t afford to drive the kitties back home for their shots; really resent being charged extra when all we need is our vaccinations.

Does anyone here know the truth about this “law”?

[wendy]

it’s the law everywhere. If the animal is ill the vaccine won’t “take” so the vet has to check first. Why are you doing annual vaccinations? rabies is only every three years.

[tabula_rashah]

You can do your own cat vaccines (well other than rabies in some states).

[arapaloosa_lady]

Yep, it’s a law that the vet needs to have recently examined his patient before giving any treatments or medications.
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/VCPR-FAQs.aspx

The definition of “examined” certainly varies according to the vet. Try a vaccine clinic if you want to get your cat vaccinated without paying for a thorough examination. You can call your local shelter to ask about vaccine clinics, although many will need proof of low income before giving the subsidized price.

The non-adjuvated rabies vaccine is labeled for 1 year, not every three years. It’s preferred in cats because it is less likely to cause a fibrosarcoma than the adjuvated vaccine that lasts for 3 years.

[Wellspotted]

Yes, I would prefer the 1-year rabies vaccine, although 2 years ago one vet gave one of my kitties the 3-year without asking/telling me.

I never heard of any law where I used to live requiring an exam, altho’ the comments here about checking the animal is healthy do make sense. It’s just that all the vets around here charge a LOT for the exam: total including the vaccinations is close to $90, whereas my old vet would probably be charging $50 by now (going by his rate increases from year to year a couple of years ago).

I have thought about going to a shelter, except that a friend of mine took her cat to a neighborhood “rabies clinic” for his vaccination some years ago and the injection site became so badly infected the cat nearly died.

I have thought about ordering the other vaccine online and getting one of my friends who knows how to give shots to vaccinate my kitties. Don’t know if I can order the rabies vaccine online; you could not where I used to live.

[freshman]

Your old vet was seriously undercharging for his services, FYI. He’d be out of business and unavailable to your pets a long time ago, possibly even starving to death, at those rates. Which is no great favor to anyone in long run, I’d argue. Even a cheap commercial vaccine clinic runs $69 for the basic cat package and is pretty much as low as it goes gets without getting into low-income programs that require qualification, etc. If you do qualify and don’t mind jumping through some hoops, I’d encourage you to take advantage of them to save money. There is always a risk of reaction, infection, etc, with every vaccine or other injection, with any treatment at all no matter who administers it to our pets. What on earth makes you think it was the neighborhood rabies vaccine clinic’s fault with your friend’s cat that had a complicaton? Because they glossed over the physical exam that you don’t want to sponsor for you own animal with a private veterinarian? Ha ha. Think about it.

[Casey09]

I prefer for someone to listen to their hearts and chest, etc. each year, as well as to check their weight, teeth, etc.
Personally I have chosen, in communication with my vet, not to do all of the shots yearly. I keep up to date on rabies and sometimes run titers on the other shots so that I can board with my vet if I have to.
I think the exam is the most valuable part of a yearly visit - it gives me a chance to ask any questions that I have and a vet a chance to look for problems that I may not have noticed.
But yes, it is required for a vet to do an exam before giving vaccines. A sick animal can’t be vaccinated.

[HeatherCK11]

A veterinarian is obligated by law to have a current patient/client relationship before administering treatment, vaccinations, or medications.

[gypsymare]

TSC sells cat vaccinations, too. I give these myself, but also used to work as a vet tech so giving injections is no big deal. Rabies they get at vaccination clinics or if they happen to go to the vet for any other reason.

[In_The_Gate]

If you’re not experienced at giving shots please don’t give your own. As someone above pointed out there is a low but present risk of injection site cancer in cats with all vaccines. Cats should be given vaccines as low down on the leg as humanly possible ( ie hock on a back leg) which isn’t easy. If they are given between the shoulders or on a hip it will be much harder to deal with a tumor should it happen. This is something you should ask your vet about as well when vaccinating a cat.

[Chall]

Iirc, one needs a tag indicating your cat was vaccinated for rabies in ny.
when my cat bit me and it got infected, NY state health authorities demanded the vaccine serial number she received or they would seize her with the right to euthanize her.

[gypsymare]

[QUOTE=In The Gate;7821831]
If you’re not experienced at giving shots please don’t give your own. As someone above pointed out there is a low but present risk of injection site cancer in cats with all vaccines. Cats should be given vaccines as low down on the leg as humanly possible ( ie hock on a back leg) which isn’t easy. If they are given between the shoulders or on a hip it will be much harder to deal with a tumor should it happen. This is something you should ask your vet about as well when vaccinating a cat.[/QUOTE]

Only for IM injections and usually in the long muscle of the buttock area (biceps femoris). Subcutaneous injections are usually given under the skin between the shoulder blades and I have yet to see a vet give them anywhere else.

[cloudyandcallie]

The Atlanta Humane Society has vaccination clinics frequently. No exams and low cost shots. Call over there and ask about the services. And even animal control in Fulton has some rabies and vaccination clinics. Again, all low cost and some even are “drive through.”

Check out Dekalb County for the clinics also. I know Cobb still has some over at animal control where we all used to help out when “Purebred Rescue” was up and running. A misnomer, since we adopted out mixed breeds as well. There used to be lots of options in Atlanta area for low cost rabies and other vaccinations for dogs and cats. And there still are. Here in Savannah, the animal control center for Chatham County recently had a drive thru rabies and other vaccination clinic, no exams, low cost. Some vets also go to grocery stores outside of town for weekend clinics, drive up, get the shots for dogs and cats and horses, and drive away. No exams.

And call over to Briarcliff Animal Hospital, the best place ever for dogs and cats. And ask about their program for the poor and elderly. While I paid a fortune for my animals there (but they let me pay by the month and over years!) Briarcliff had a program for the poor and elderly. I forget the name of it. And those guys did a lot of free work for the poor, as I’d drag in cats and dogs for spaying and they did it free, and I’d get the TV stations to video all of the good work. Briarcliff spayed and altered 20 cats belonging to an old vietnam vet who was living in his station wagon when animal control seized all his cats (all in good health btw) and took care of a homeless guys golden retriever when he needed vet care. I loved Briarcliff!

[In_The_Gate]

gypsymare - In between the shoulder blades is no longer considered ideal for vaccines in cats. See here, page 798.

[B]http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/15/9/785.full.pdf+html

[/B]

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=Wellspotted;7821581]
It’s just that all the vets around here charge a LOT for the exam: total including the vaccinations is close to $90[/QUOTE]

For an exam and yearly shots?
That seems pretty darn reasonable to me.

[Mosey_2003]

snort I took our little ragamuffin in for an exam and vaccinations and ended up paying close to $400…

[Wellspotted]

[QUOTE=freshman;7821645]
Your old vet was seriously undercharging for his services, FYI. He’d be out of business and unavailable to your pets a long time ago, possibly even starving to death, at those rates. [/QUOTE]

Actually he is still in business, has a thriving practice, and is nearing retirement age! He is very popular with local pet owners, and has been for the past 40 years.

[Real_Rush]

If you live in the metro Atlanta area, there is a mobile vet based in Covington, but travels and sets up at different locations. The team is extremely nice and helpful, and I’ve taken all my strays to Dr. Lassiter because she’s much cheaper than a regular vet. Website: www.mybudgetvet.com

[LauraKY]

$99 here (dog) for shots, fecal, heartworm test, thorough exam and a complementary bag of treats. I LOVE my vet.

I’m not sure on cats…the last one had surgery at the same time (cat fight) and Dollar Store kitting is due for a check-up in November. I’m guessing it will be less…no heartworm check.

[cowboymom]

A once-over and vaccinations for a cat here is $20. I give my own for $5 and have for years and years, never had an issue.