Levittown Animal Hospital Blog

A good handful of my clients come to me with receipts from a local low-cost vaccination clinic. They pat themselves on the back for saving a few bucks by waiting in line at the pet shop instead of making an appointment with me.  But after I point out some of the pitfalls, dangers and mistakes that come from these clinics, many vow never to stray from my office again.  Here are the top things I catch and point out:

1. The workers at vaccine clinics (whether or not they’re a licensed veterinarian) do not provide a thorough physical examination of your pet.  They also don’t take the time to obtain a complete medical history.  Their job is to give as many vaccines to as many pets as possible within a fixed amount of time.  That’s the only way they can stay in business because they have no other streams of income.  A complete nose-to-tail physical exam every 6 to 12 months is the most important thing you can provide for your pets!
2. Almost every vaccine clinic I’ve seen administers Coronavirus vaccines to dogs.  Corona is a vaccine looking for a disease to protect against.  There is not a dog on this planet who needs this vaccine.  Yet many veterinarians continue to give it every day.  Why?  I bet you can figure that out.
3. Many patients who are up to date on a multi-year Rabies vaccine get it repeated at the clinic.  This almost always happens when the pet owner is unaware of their pet’s rabies vaccine status or when they just don’t bring vaccine records with them to the clinic.  Again, another vaccine that the patient does not need (but the owner gets charged for).
4. Most of these pets have every vaccine thrown at them, all in one sitting.  That’s a bad reaction just waiting to happen.  Short term adverse effects include vomiting, diarrhea, hives, facial swelling, intense itching, and difficulty breathing.  These bad reactions will usually start within an hour of receiving the vaccine(s), and they should all be treated like an emergency.  Vaccine reactions are rare (when vaccinations are done properly), but things are only rare until they happen to you.
5. Some indoor-only cats are receiving feline leukemia vaccines.  Again, they don’t need this vaccination.
6. Some dogs receive an injectable Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine instead of the intranasal one.  The injectable version does not work.  It does not protect the dog, so it only serves to stimulate it’s immune system …with no benefit of immunity.
7. The clients’ receipts often don’t indicate the manufacturer or lot numbers for the individual vaccines being used.  This makes it impossible to report adverse reactions to the manufacturer.  It also makes me wonder if they’re just using the cheapest vaccines they can get their hands on.  Not all vaccines are created equally!

Low cost vaccination clinics may have their place, but they are a long way from replacing a relationship with your primary care veterinarian.  The best vaccine protocols are those based on thorough assessment of the patient’s lifestyle and risk factors.  Rabies is the only vaccine that is required by law, but that still doesn’t mean that every patient should be blindly vaccinated without concern for their overall well-being.   You will indeed pay more for individual vaccines administered by your veterinarian in conjunction with a physical exam -but the difference you’re paying for includes (at least at my hospital): risk assessment, customization of each pet’s vaccine protocol, client education,and the ability to care for your pet should there be a reaction.