N. AL Veterinary supplies needed

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Can someone from north Alabama/huntsville area tell me if veterinary products can be bought from farm co-ops? I'm looking for rabies vaccinations, worming meds for dogs and cats...

We have alot of drop off cats at the farm which I'd like to innoculate but can't count on their being around at the time I'd make an appointment or be available to make the long trek to a vet. I've innoculated and given meds to cattle so I think I'd be able to do this.

We have fixed the cats. So let's not go there in this thread. I just want to keep up their health in the best way living in the boonies.

-- Ann Markson s. mid TN (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

Ann it is so much cheaper to order from Jeffers (jefferslivestock.com jefferspet.com jefferslivestock.com) or any of the other either online or catalog stores! This is where the feed stores, and places like Tractor Supply order their supplies, adding their profit to it, which in some incidences is 50% to 100%. Know idea about rabies in your areas, illegal to give them ourselves so they won't ship them, but we are able to just drive over to Lousianna to pick ours up. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

I think it might be illegal for a non-vet to give the shots or abtain the medication for rabies. I hope I'm wrong about this as the prospect of getting a vet to the farm doesn't sound too good judjing from your post. If you explain your situation to a vet maybe you could work something out. After all, they're in the business for the welfare of the animals not the money so they might be able to jump through some hoops and get you the shots anyway. Call around too-- some vets may be more helpful than others. I'm glad you are taking such good care of your cats--I hope they turn out to be excelent mousers. Good Luck and keep us posted on how things work out. I'd be interested in what the vet says.

-- Erika (misserika129@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Sorry but you can't buy rabies vac. in Ala either. We have to load all the dogs up and tranqulize them to get theirs every year.. Its loads of fun riding in the back of a truck with three huge dogs that are terrified of being in a vehicle.

And to the other poster that said vets are in business to help animals not the money, get real. One of my best friends is a vet and after all the years of schooling, and the expenses of setting up their practice, the cost of the three workers it cost almost $400 dollars per day just to operate a vet clinic. and that is on the cheap side. True all vets love animals, but they have to pay the overhead or they have to close the doors and go find a job to support themselves. They have to charge enough and that figures out to 50 dollars per hour and that does not pay them a wage of anything. Its sad but thats just life.

-- David in North Al. (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), May 07, 2002.


Thanks all. David--I hear ya--these cats do not want to be held or cuddled and fight like anything if you try to get them into a carrier. Visiting the vet is a definite problem. On a farm this size with interesting mice and rats--how do you find them when you want them?

It never fails that when it's the day of going to the vet--they take off for a week.

These aren't housecats--they are working farm animals. I am trying to find a humane way for they and I to get their shots. Hubby was at the end of his patience with the vet bill for fixing and leaning hard on me not to bother with their shots since everyone we fix is dead or gone within the year.

-- Ann Markson (Tngreenacres@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.


We worm our dogs with Ivomec (cattle). The vet told us about it. He said just don't use it on Collies. Said it can kill them. (You should have a heartworm test done first.) The only thing we take them to the vet for is rabies. The vet knows we have a zillion animals so we only pay one office visit for all 6 dogs and the price of the rabies shots. We get our dog and cat vaccines from Jeffers or the Farm & Home store. Sure saves us a bundle. Wish we could do the rabies shots though, it's a pain taking all those smelly farm dogs to the vet. LOL The local no kill animal shelter gives shots at a discount, but it's still cheaper to do your own.

-- Cindy in IL (Ilovecajun@aol.com), May 07, 2002.


A Vet MUST not only give the vaccines for Rabies, they, by law, must keep proper records re same. We are talking about a disease that is almost 100 % fatal here! Our farm clients who care about, not only the health of their animals, but the health of their families too, usually live trap their farm cats and cage them before we come out to vaccinate. Then they are "shot" through the cage wire and released again. If you have a population of animals you cannot control enough in one way or the other to get vaccines for, you need to rethink how many critters you are going to keep around. LQ

-- Little Quacker in OR (carouselxing@juno.com), May 07, 2002.

I've always done the innoculating of all my critters myself. In some states, rabie vaccine can be shipped. Jeffers, Omaha Vaccine, etc., shipped to me when I lived in Arizona. In fact, the feed stores there carry the rabie vaccine. They don't ship the vaccine where I am now, in Texas. I had thought about having friends out of state ship the vaccine to me, but the vet only charges $6, a lot less than over-nighting the vaccines from friends (plus the cost of the vaccine). So, I just order the 7 or 8 in 1 vaccines from the suppliers.

The dogs, like my other stock, eat food grade Diatomaceous Earth, and it does a great job of deworming when the proper amount is fed. Fecal tests from the vet will tell you how well a product works. The dogs also don't get fleas/ticks.

States they will NOT ship rabie vaccine to:

Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.

If you live in the other 18 states, the rabie vaccine can be shipped to you.

Ya gotta ask WHY!! I figure it's political/money!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.


In my area the vet will come out on a farm call and do all the vaccinations on whatever animals need them, as long as it's more than 5 animals. You might try calling the farm vets in your area and see if they'd give you a better price since you're doing a bunch. The worst they could do is say no. We can't get the rabies vaccine here in KY, at least not through any of the farm supply places or online where I've checked, they all say it has to be administered through a licensed vet. Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

Kathy, as you can see from my list above, rabie vaccines CAN be shipped to Kentucky. Call Jeffers 1-800-533-3377.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Rogo, I did call Jeffers, they told me that they couldn't ship to my area without a vet prescription. could it be a rule for certain counties? I take my pets to the vet but do rescue work and wanted to have the vaccine available when a new dog or cat gets here. Any idea why they won't ship to southern KY? Thanks, Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.


Kathy, the vaccines are dated, so you couldn't keep them for real long periods, altho some are good for up to a year.

Don't know why Jeffers won't ship to you. Try these suppliers:

Omaha Vaccine 1-800-367-4444

Valley Vet 1-800-360-4838

KV Vet 1-800-423-8211

They all DON'T have Kentucky on their no-shipping list.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.


Thanks Rogo, I'll try the other places. It would sure cut down on the cost as opposed to having the vet come out if I have over 5 to be done. I've tried taking the rescues into the vet but some are pretty leary of car rides so doing it at home is the easiest way. thanks again, Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

Rogo,

Thanks for all the great info. One question, tho. I have a big sack of D.E. but don't know how to feed it to our animals without causing respiratory problems.

How do u feed your animals DE?

Thanks

-- zeb (wrangler@jridgeranch.com), May 07, 2002.


Zeb, for the poultry, I mix the food grade DE into their feed. (At least 2% of the feed.) The hoppers are always kept filled with feed.

The large livestock have a bucket out there and free feed the DE.

The dogs have it mixed into their feed. If feeding individual dogs, dogs/puppies under 35 pounds get at least one TEASpoon/day. Over 35 pounds, one TABLEspoon/day.

I first found out about DE back in the '70's and have never heard of any critters getting respiratory problems from it.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.


Keep in mind one thing if you do purchase and administer rabies vaccine yourself. If your animal bites a person and the health department gets involved, your animal may be considered unvaccinated, unless you have a rabies certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian. These certificates are generally issued only when the vaccine is administered by a veterinarian.

-- Sandy in KS (scwilson@mindspring.com), May 08, 2002.


We have had a very high incidence of rabies here in our county over the past decade. I have my sheep vaccinated by my vet and when she comes, I have all the cats trapped in the milkhouse and we do them as well. Its just $2.00 a shot, her cost for the vaccine. I take the dogs every 3 years to the free town clinic so I can get the paperwork which they need for the dog license. All the other vaccines I get through catalogues and give myself.

-- Kate in New York (Kate@sheepyvalley.com), May 08, 2002.

I won't even get started on the Status of Vetinerary practioners in Alabama....Auburn University - you certainly don't ferret out those for the money ONLY....

Auburn and the so called "Vets" in AL are the reason you cannot get rabies vaccine...

gotta make that BMW payment Anyway they can...who cares how many animals die.

-- BC (katnip364@aol.com), May 09, 2002.


BC, they recently had a very inexpensive rabie clinic here. Most of the vets in town were involved....i.e. you could go to your own vet for the innoculation. The reason? The amount of dogs getting the shot is down. Perhaps in rebellion to no longer being able to give the shots themselves in this state. The ranches sure aren't gonna pull their dogs off guard duty to go into town. The cost of having the vet go to the ranch is more than many will pay. Sure would be nice if they'd give us back the ability to do the innoculating ourselves.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

Yep, ya gotta watch out for them Vetinerary practioners - don't trust 'em for a minute! Veterinary practitioners, on the other hand, are mostly hard-working and dedicated to the profession. Only the minority can afford to drive a BMW. It is unfortunate that you do not understand the seriousness of the problem of rabies.

-- Sandy in KS (scwilson@mindspring.com), May 11, 2002.

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