10 things to do when taking your dog to the vet

Lulu is going to the vet next week (don't tell her, k?).

Nothing's wrong. She's going for her annual check-up. Aside from being a good thing to do to make sure your dog has a clean bill of health, it's also a great time to ask questions and make sure you are doing all you can to ensure your dog is getting what they need.

But you should never go to the vet unprepared. So here are 10 things to do when taking your pet to the vet:

1. Observe your pet for things to talk to the vet about. Sometimes your dog does something that you think, odd -- but then they don't do it again, and you brush it off.

For instance, Lulu has a habit of sometimes shaking her head. This could indicate an ear issue. so it will be something I will talk about with the vet.

Look at other things though -- how are they eating and drinking? How are their bathroom times? How's their energy? If you have to, take notes so you can be as specific as possible. AND ASK QUESTIONS.

2. Make sure you have a good idea of what your pet eats each day. When it comes to things like your pet's weight, or their teeth, a vet will want that info if they sense something's off. That way they can help you adjust if necessarily. That means not just the types of food, but the brands and also measurements if you can.

3. Have any health care paperwork you've gathered over the year with you. Did you go somewhere else to get a vaccine? What flea or medical treatments is your pet getting? It's good to have that with you, because they may need it.

4. Call ahead and see if you need to bring anything with you. Some vets like to have stool samples. If that's the case, it's good to have it ahead of time. Also, it's good to see if your vet is on time, or if they're a little behind, because you don't want to have to be there too long with a nervous pet.

Courtesy of Matthew Wright via Flickr Commons

5. While on that subject, bring what you can to keep your pet comfortable. You know your pet better than anyone. If your pet is uncomfortable at the vet, they won't like to wait to see them either. A stress shirt, a favorite toy, or a blanket might be the thing to make them feel better. Also, be sure to have a leash, a harness, a crate, a muzzle. Your stressful dog will be in a room with other stressful dogs, and there could be problems.

6. When you are in the room with the vet, watch how they work on your dog. A vet usually does a nose to tail exam. You can use those same methods to check your dog on a regular basis. This will help you if there's a problem. Watch how they check for lumps or abnormalities or skin conditions. (This shouldn't replace an actual vet visit)

Courtesy of Brian via Flickr Commons

7. Did I mention ask questions? ASK QUESTIONS! Why does my pet do this, why do they do that? You never know when it could lead to something. The animal can't talk, so the vet has to rely on you.

8. While we're at it, if you have behavioral questions, ask about those too. You vet could have answers on things like separation anxiety or going to the bathroom in the house. Some issues could stem from something health-related. Unless you ask, you never know.

9. Have a serious discussion about vaccines. Vaccines are very important, especially if you have a social dog, or one that is out a lot. So don't say no to them out right. For one thing, many local governments require dogs get a rabies vaccination, so you may not have a choice. For another, the core vaccines, canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies, can protect your pet from serious illness. But you don't necessarily need them all every year. Work with your vet to figure out what you need, and keep a schedule.

Also -- be aware that pets can have reactions to vaccines. Lulu had a reaction to her last rabies shot. If your pet has a reaction to a rabies shot, it could range from a little lethargy to much more serious, debilitating problems.  Here is what the ASPCA says:

"Immunizations mildly stimulate an animal’s immune system in order to create protection from specific infectious diseases. This stimulation can create mild symptoms, ranging from soreness at the injection site to fever and allergic reactions. Another less common side effect is the development of immune mediated disease following vaccination. 

"Most dogs show no ill effect from vaccination. Vaccine reactions may be minor and short-lived or require immediate care from a veterinarian. Clinical signs include: 

• Fever    

• Sluggishness

• Loss of appetite

• Facial swelling and/or hives

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Pain, swelling, redness, scabbing or hair loss around the injection site

• Lameness

• Collapse

• Difficulty breathing

• Seizures

"It is best to schedule your dog’s appointment so that you can monitor him for any side effects following administration of the vaccine."

10. If you need to get medicine, see if you can get it from a regular pharmacy.  Lots of pharmacies sell some pet medications at cheaper prices, like Target. It can help you reduce costs.

And don't forget to thank them.

Finally, I found this great article on Reader's Digest  50 Things Vets Won't Tell You

Rabies shot update -- more side effects for Lulu the beagle

It's been almost a week since Lulu got her rabies shot and had that reaction right after.

Since then I've been watching her pretty closely, and she's been slightly off. She's been a little clingier (is that a word?), a little more timid.

For instance, I took Lulu to Dr. Phillips Dog Park again Tuesday. Normally she has no problems mixing it up with the dogs, but this time she was more than a little shy. Even with ther little dogs, she would not get in and run around with the other dogs. She stayed close, unless she needed to run from other dogs. She also did not bark at or follow dogs on the other side of the fences.

So I started to look up side effects of rabies shots, other than negative reactions.

I found out that behavioral changes are common after a dog get a rabies shot, via the website Dogs 4 Dogs, which campaigns against unnecessary vaccinations for dogs. The website's owner, Jan, responded to a message I left on the site with my questions. Here's her response:

Personality change is a relatively common reaction, although vets seldom admit it. Will the change wear off? Who knows? If it were my dog, I’m find a vet who understands homeopathy. There are links at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vets and in the article I suggested you read. Your dog probably doesn’t feel that well. If it doesn’t change soon, please see a homeopathic vet. A “regular” vet will likely be a waste of money, although you need to make sure the reaction is listed in your dog’s file and also contact the manufacturer of the drug to report it.

She also sent me to this part of her website, which explains everything dog parents should do if their dog has a reaction.
That includes documenting everything and contacting the rabies shot manufacturer, not just allowing the vaccination place to do the documentation, and also report to the USDA.

Jan also said something I had never thought about -- she said it's rare for beagles to get reactions because the testing is done on beagles.

As for Lulu -- she seems to be getting back to her old self. She decided to visit one of her doggy friends in the neighborhood, which means she was back to being sociable.

But I'm still going to wait until next week to take her back to the dog park.

On another note -- April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. ASPCA has ways you can help fight animal cruelty in your area and, if you helped save your pet, ASPCA is holding a photo contest.

Lulu the beagle and rabies shots don't mix

I had my first real scare with Lulu Saturday.

I took her to PetCo Saturday to get her rabies shots. Luv My Pet is a mobile vet group that provides vaccinations and other vet services in 20 states across the country, and they were doing a vaccination event at PetCo. 

Their services are very low-cost. The three-year rabies shot I got Lulu, for instance, was $22 after fees. 

But I can't go back to them again because of what happened.

Lulu got her shot and I was on line to pay. A lady commented that Lulu was calm for a beagle.She was right, Lulu was oddly calm -- she was walking slowly, not tugging on the leash, not sniffing around too much. Nothing she'd normally be doing, which is what she was doing before the shot.

Then she did something really weird -- she sat down. I thought, well, maybe the shot made her a little lethargic. 

Then she laid down. That's when I knew something was wrong.

 I told the cashier that Lulu was suddenly very lethargic. The woman tried to call Lulu to her and she didn't move. And her tail was down between her legs.

So they called the vet's assistant over, and he picked her up and carried her back to the area where they were giving shots. They checked her out, then gave her benadryl and steroids.

Within a few minutes, she perked back up a bit.

Apparently, reactions to rabies shots are rare -- the vet said 1 in 100 dogs have a reaction to rabies shots. But the reaction gets worse with age. 

Luv My Pet said because she had the reaction, she can't get ANY shots from them ever again. I assume it's a legal issue. They also gave me paperwork to give to a vet. The vet may actually decide to fill out a waiver, and Lulu will never need the shot again. Dogs in Orange County, FL are normally required to have their rabies shot.

Fortunately, Lulu's new shots will last the next three years. I checked out a few websites, and a site called Rabies Vaccines for Dogs says Lulu should have immunity for up to six years.

Lulu's reaction to the shot was mild. But it could have been worse, and can appear up to 45 days after getting the shot -- everything from vomiting to death. But, again, as the vet said to me, ANY reaction only happens in 1 in 100 dogs. 

This website, vetinfo.com, has some great information on rabies shot reaction symptoms, and how you can try to prevent your dog from having a reaction. 

She's doing much better now, by the way. She's jumping, tail's wagging, she's pulling on the leash, she's noisy, the whole nine yards.