Who does their own vaccinations?

[Jarpur]

I’ve done mine, back when I had more horses, but have now used the veterinarian for many years. Partly for reasons mentioned above (possible reactions, possibly needed treatment being covered), but also because this gives me a relationship with my veterinarian.

The vast majority of years, my horses have historically never needed anything in addition to standard care (vaccinations, Coggins, dental). But, because I have a longstanding, ongoing relationship with my vet, stretching from the mid-80s, he has given me his private number and encourages me to call him for advice, even though I’ve not been a high dollar client in the past. And, last week, he voluntarily did me a favor and came out the next day for a blood draw – total charge $40.

That’s priceless to me.

[Ghazzu]

when I was actively practicing, I had several clients with multiple horses who wanted to do their own for financial reasons.
Quite understandable.
Because they were good clients who knew what they were doing, I offered to sell them the vaccines for the same price they’d pay to order them and pay for shipping on ice.

That way we could both be reasonably assured that the vaccines had been handled properly.
I just couldn’t trust TSC or the local feed store to handle them properly.

If your DVM is flat out busy, they may be receptive to a similar proposal.

[Jarpur]

@Ghazzu

I offered to sell them the vaccines for the same price they’d pay to order them and pay for shipping on ice.

This is the arrangement I had with my vet back when I did my own.

[SLW]

I do my own vaccines and have for years. As others have mentioned the exception is the rabies vax which my vet gives when we pull a coggins test.

Years ago one horse reacted horribly to the rabies vax, laid flat out on her side, wouldn’t move. Doc billed me and had me submit bill to the manufacturer with her letter stating what happened. The manufacturer reimbursed me 100%.

[BayMoose]

My vet does the one with rabies and then I do flu/rhino and strangles a month or so later. But I buy them all from the vet, not online etc. so I know that they are handled correctly. This is pretty common in my area, and basically the only way some horses would get vaccines at all.

[ASB_Stars]

I’ve done my own for years. I do what they need and since mine aren’t currently going anywhere, it’s limited. I also will not use combos. Personal experience. We do one at a time , wait two weeks, and do the next. It isn’t a bad idea to epinephrine on hand, although I haven’t had to use it.

[DMK]

I use jeffers and do my own vax with the exception of rhino-flu for the horse with an FEI passport (must be signed/stamped by a vet). Since he gets a 6 mos health cert 2x year, the timing is perfect. I’ve never rec’d warm vaccines from Jeffers, although I can’t verify what happens at the warehouse, but they’ve been in business and reliable for the 45 years I’ve ordered from them (back when you mailed a check with your paper order!) so I’d like to think they are no more or less reliable than the warehouse distribution centers for vets. I’m not sure I have the same comfort level for TSC, though. There’s way too many employees who simply are unaware of the requirements for vaccines. For many years I broke up the vax into 4 separate vaccinations (RF, EWT, RAB & WNV) but supply issues have forced me to give just 3. But hey, it’s super easy to find just RF now, so silver linings.

There’s a certain amount of risk for additional expenses with a reaction or breakthrough conditions (the likelihood of it happening is the same, just the cost of care is variable), but it’s a risk I’m willing to accept, and for sure any and all savings somehow finds its way back to my vet in some form or fashion. Also, my horses (and me) still have a robust Dr patient relationship, so nothing in that regard would change regardless of who gave vaccines.

But to the OP, if this is just a one time thing, I would just ask the vet if you can pick them up and administer them. If they are that back logged, it’s probably not that only request like this they have received.

[GSDgirl]

Thank you everyone for your responses! Looks like a lot of people use Valley vet, which I like too, for their quick delivery.
I have a breeder friend who gets her vaccines from Revival Animal Health, they care the prestige brand which is what my vet uses, so I’m leaning towards that one.
Thanks again!

[WildGooseChase]

I’ve given plenty, but there is no coverage/help in the event of adverse reaction, and a rabies vaccine is not valid unless given by a licensed DVM.

Overall, the risks outweigh the pros for me.

I usually rope it all into an annual spring visit, 6 way plus potomac, rabies, coggins and a good once over… costs about $250 and it’s all done at the same time.

[punchy]

I have my vet do it every spring. That way they don’t forget about me, which comes in handy if I have to call them at 2:00 am on a cold Sunday with an emergency.

[Hippolyta]

[quote=“WildGooseChase, post:29, topic:784288”]
I’ve given plenty, but there is no coverage/help in the event of adverse reaction, and a rabies vaccine is not valid unless given by a licensed DVM.

Overall, the risks outweigh the pros for me.[/quote]

I used to do my own. Then the more I thought about it, and the more stories I heard from employees of various retailers/distributers, the less I was convinced that any distribution system was maintaining the cold chain/temp control. I am not saving money if I am paying for something that doesn’t even work.

I have to pay for the vet to come out and do rabies anyway, so now vet does all vaccines for horse and my goats. I supposed if I had a lot more to cover, I might reconsider, but with my small crew the pros outweigh the cons, as Goose said.

My mother was a vet but had actually had the horse vet do our horses’ vaccines. She said it kept them on a schedule and she always thought if she did it, horses gave her dirty looks the next day. Either our other animals didn’t hold a grudge like the horses, or she just didn’t care as much if they did.

[endlessclimb]

If there are doubts as to the handling of vaccines during shipping for a small order, what makes you think the vet’s large order was handled differently?

Not trying to be a smartass, serious question.

[trubandloki]

@endlessclimb

If there are doubts as to the handling of vaccines during shipping for a small order, what makes you think the vet’s large order was handled differently?

Not trying to be a smartass, serious question.

I don’t think vets order from Valley Vet supply or other such retail establishments.

I think the point being made is that they do not trust the employees at a retail establishment to know how to properly handle the vaccines.
Where a vet would be getting from the drug supplier.

[endlessclimb]

I’m ignorant to where vets order from. I know my vet is very… hesitant… to give me prescriptions for anything. He wants me to buy it off his truck, which is marginally infuriating because I can get it way cheaper elsewhere.

(yes I know he “has” to give me a script if I want one, but I’m not going to torch a relationship over that when there’s no other option)

[trubandloki]

That has to be frustrating.

I am thankful that both my horse vet and my small animal vet seem to do things both ways. They have drugs handy in their truck and I buy them from them willingly because I know that some drugs can be bought cheaper elsewhere and when that is the case they are who tells me that. My horse with a chronic eye condition that needs daily medications, the vet told me exactly which pharmacy had the medication for less than even the vet could buy it for and called me in a script for there. Every six months the vet calls in a new script for there.

Most things I am willing to pay a little more to just buy it off the truck and have it right then.

[endlessclimb]

Me too, with the exception of firocoxxib, which I had to argue with the vet over. It’s substantially cheaper as a generic, he wanted to get rid of the name brand stuff on his truck at name brand prices, and I wasn’t going to do that. Old Man has been on the name brand stuff for the 13 years he’s been on it - they’ve gotten their money from me plus some. I give plenty of warning that I’m running low (normally a month out) so it’s not ever emergent.

[Simkie]

At least one of my vets purchased vaccine exactly the same place I did at the time: the local veterinary supply store.

I guess some might be getting them directly from the manufacturer.

Valley Vet is a licensed veterinary pharmacy. They’re going to handle their stuff appropriately.

[Ghazzu]

Because when I order vaccines, they are either direct shipped from the producer or direct from the distributor, and come standard in insulated containers with multiple cold packs. Policies in place w/ them regarding no shipping on holidays or weekend to ensure they’re not delayed in transit. Typically arrive in under 24 hours, and on the rare occasion that they arrive with cold packs not still frozen, a quick call, and a new shipment is sent immediately.

[endlessclimb]

Got it! Thanks for the info, I had no idea.

[theresak]

@endlessclimb

Me too, with the exception of firocoxxib, which I had to argue with the vet over. It’s substantially cheaper as a generic, he wanted to get rid of the name brand stuff on his truck at name brand prices, and I wasn’t going to do that.

That might not be the true reason…Vets in my state have received warning letters from the state board for prescribing off-label things like compounded bute and the dog version of firocoxxib. My vet will only give me a prescription for Equioxx since that’s the only version labeled for equines (or it was up until this year). I did just check the price on the generic versus Equioxx when I was about to order more and with the manufacturer rebate on Equioxx, it came out to the same price.