Larry Meiller’s guest veterinarian answers your questions about pet health. She also sets the record straight on whether grain-free food is right for your pet. Plus, more mythbusting about fleas and ticks!
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To Avoid Risks To Pets, Vet Warns Against At-Home Vaccinations
While buying and administering over-the-counter vaccinations might seem like a quick and inexpensive alternative to taking a pet to the clinic, one animal doctor warned the self-service route poses serious risks.
Dr. Sandra Sawchuk, a clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, said at least one client has asked her about doing at-home vaccinations using products purchased at farm stores.
“This particular vaccine had hepatitis in it … I don’t know of a veterinarian that uses a vaccine with hepatitis,” she said. “It can cause serious eye inflammation in dogs. We’ve known this for years. It should be taken off the market, but it’s still on the market.”
Sawchuk added that some vaccines are also ineffective because they contain only some of the ingredients necessary to ward off disease, not all of the ingredients.
Many pet owners do not have the medical background to know the appropriate vaccine to give a dog at a certain age, nor how to administer it safely, according to Sawchuk.
“And if your dog has a reaction, what are you going to do? Unless you have a bottle of epinephrine and a critical care unit in your kitchen, you’re going to be in big trouble,” Sawchuk said. “Have vaccines done by your veterinarian.”
Episode Credits
- Larry Meiller Host
- Cynthia Schuster Producer
- Dr Sandra Sawchuk Guest
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