Okay so we have to take the pup to get his second round of shots. I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how much that'll cost? There is a vet in PetSmart it's called Banfield (I think) it's like a national vet chain sort of thing.

I asked them there how much it would be, but the girl only really said that the appointment fee is $44.95, but on Tuesdays from 2-4 they have Wellness Hours and they don't charge the appointment fee, but she didn't tell me how much I was looking at. I just don't want to get taken for more than it should be, but I also don't know where there are any other vet's around here.

I feel like such a naieve pet owner!:oops

Well yes they are a vet chain but I have never used them at all. I am a vets daughter so I have been around a private vet practice for my entire life. We usually charge about 30 for the second round of shots. You can also go to local feed stores and get round two but then you need to be very careful not to let them sit out or anything else other wise you might have a bigger bill if you have a bad reaction to a shot. So my best suggestion is try to look in the phone book for a private vet so they can establish some vet history and you usually get the same vet. EVEN if you move a lot with the military if some thing goes wrong with your pet down the line then the next vet can call your prev. vet and get the info they need on health history. While the bigger chain might have a deal every now and again its extreamly rare for you to see the same vet every time you go in or for the most part I have heard that its not always the best customer service. So with a private vet and the office visit your looking at around45-50 cause they almost always cut an office visit down for second puppy check up and if you are new to them. Or 30 if you go on that day with no fee for the visit. Just be aware its NOT more then 30 for your shots so dont let them take you for a ride. good luck hope that helped!

I go to banfeild. Tony took our puppy there for that clinic thing.. with the no visit fee.. well it was still going to cost like $60 for all the shots. We needed up going with a plan they have that costs $300 it's for the entire first year of life, covers all of the shots and they also do free fecal checks if there is an issue you're worried about (like worms) AND included in that $300 is the spaying or neutering. it's one hell of a deal when you consider how much it costs to get a dog fixed. For my dog that is now a year.. in the past year her shots have costs like $60 a pop and then we had to pay to get her fixed... so the $300 for this puppy was well worth it.


ETA: If you can't afford the $300 right then you can do a payment plan for like $20 a month... That's what we're doing.

I always give the shots myself. I pay about 4 dollars for the shot and niddle. Just make sure they are cold and you keep them in the frige till your ready to give it.

I go to banfeild. Tony took our puppy there for that clinic thing.. with the no visit fee.. well it was still going to cost like $60 for all the shots. We needed up going with a plan they have that costs $300 it's for the entire first year of life, covers all of the shots and they also do free fecal checks if there is an issue you're worried about (like worms) AND included in that $300 is the spaying or neutering. it's one hell of a deal when you consider how much it costs to get a dog fixed. For my dog that is now a year.. in the past year her shots have costs like $60 a pop and then we had to pay to get her fixed... so the $300 for this puppy was well worth it.


ETA: If you can't afford the $300 right then you can do a payment plan for like $20 a month... That's what we're doing.

I had been thinking about doing that for the first year, I picked up a brochure on their wellness plans. But I got reading reviews online and I found a lot of people who were not happy with it. Granted the reviews were for various Banfield locations around the country, and the complaints were mostly for outrageous prices on things that weren't covered in the wellness plan.

My biggest concern I guess is that we still don't know if we are leaving here in May or not, Rob has his staff interview next Friday. But I just don't want to do the wellness plan and then end up moving somehwere that there isn't a Banfield close by and be stuck paying the monthly payments. That was another big complaing is that you can't get out of the payments if you aren't happy or if you move where there isn't a location.

I haven't been able to find any reviews online about the other local vets in the area. I just am not sure what to do. :sigh

I had been thinking about doing that for the first year, I picked up a brochure on their wellness plans. But I got reading reviews online and I found a lot of people who were not happy with it. Granted the reviews were for various Banfield locations around the country, and the complaints were mostly for outrageous prices on things that weren't covered in the wellness plan.

My biggest concern I guess is that we still don't know if we are leaving here in May or not, Rob has his staff interview next Friday. But I just don't want to do the wellness plan and then end up moving somehwere that there isn't a Banfield close by and be stuck paying the monthly payments. That was another big complaing is that you can't get out of the payments if you aren't happy or if you move where there isn't a location.

I haven't been able to find any reviews online about the other local vets in the area. I just am not sure what to do. :sigh

Ahh I see. For us it works because we just got here and we know we'll be here for 3 years. We are very appy this this banfield here. They are VERY nice and caring.

avg office calls are around 30, and the shots vary...

I used to get mine done at work, but since I dont work, I have to get them done when they are due...I will do the distemper and the bordetellas myself and then get rabies done when they need it (you cant do that one yourself..)

What are VCA Animal hospitals? Is it like an accredidation they have? or networking? or is it like another Banfield deal where they are somewhat of a chain?

VCA's are chains and I would use one of those over banfield

I would use VCA over Banfield any day of the year. I give the shots myself as well and take them once a year for Rabies.