Learn More About Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics
We all know that yearly vaccinations for our pets are required by most cities and states, and that in order to keep your dog at their healthiest, it’s suggested and heavily encouraged to keep them current on other vaccines and tests, as well, such as heartworm. Unfortunately, we have all gone through times where money is tighter than we’d prefer, and during these tough times, it can seem easy to put your dog’s vaccinations on hold until things calm down a bit. However, it’s important to avoid doing that, and thankfully, low-cost vaccination clinics are popping up all over as a way to help strapped pet owners stay current with their vet records. Learn more about them today! What Do They Cover? Low-cost vaccine clinics have a few different levels of what is available, including puppy packs (for the first three rounds of immunizations) as well as dog packs. Along with other “must-haves” for your dog, these vaccinations are very important. Puppy Packs usually include: 5-in-1 vaccine (Distemper, Adenovirus 1, Adenovirus 2, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus) Roundworm/hookworm deworming Bordetella-Intranasal drops Fecal tests (optional but recommended) K9 Rabies if the dog is old enough Leptospirosis vaccine Dog packs include the 5-in- 1 vaccine, Bordetella, fecal tests, and optional K9 rabies vaccines. How Much Can You Expect to Pay? While the pricing will vary depending on where you go and what vaccination pack you need for your pet, the pricing is considerably less than what it would cost for a vet visit. Puppy Packs typically cost between $50 and $75, while Dog Packs usually run from $60-110. Compared to a vet visit, which can cost you as much as $250 per visit depending on what you need to get done for your dog, these clinics offer a steep discount, and they offer additional services like tapeworm deworming, diagnostic testing, other vaccines, and microchipping. Microchipping is great to help ensure your dog’s safe return home if he or she breaks loose. A microchip is a tiny implant that can be scanned at any veterinarian’s office, and when scanned, the owner’s information, including phone number, name, and address, will come up, so that a lost dog’s owner can be notified. It’s a great way to have some peace of mind for if your dog is an escape artist, and it’s a low-cost option, as well! What About the Cat? If you’re not just a dog owner, but a multi-pet household, and you’re looking for a break on your cat’s vet services as well, you’re in luck. Low-cost vaccination clinics typically offer services for kittens and adult cats in addition to their puppy and dog vaccination options. To be sure, once you find a location, call ahead and ask to verify. Where to Find a Low Cost Clinic If a low-cost clinic sounds appealing to you (and your wallet!), a quick Google search can help you find where one near your home is. Try places like Pet Supplies Plus’ VIP Pet Care clinics to start! Would you go to a low-cost vaccination clinic? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!
Benefits of Using Dog Boots Throughout Winter
While we Chicagoans have been lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about snow!) to have a mild beginning of winter, chances are it won’t stay like that for too much longer. Soon, we’ll be inundated with forecasts of snowstorms and blizzards, freezing rain and sleet. In other words, dog walks are about to get a little bit more annoying. One thing that you can do to make them more tolerable—for your dog, anyway, is to invest in some dog boots to protect their paws. If you’re on the fence about whether to invest in some dog boots, learning more about their benefits might make the decision easier. They Protect Against Sharp Ice and Packed Snow When snow first falls, it’s soft and safe and harmless, but once it’s been packed down by people walking on it, or an overnight freeze, sharp edges can form. In the same vein, if the ground is icy, if the ice cracks, the edges of the cracks can be very sharp. If your pup walks over these sharp edges without boots on, their paws can get cut pretty easily. Slipping on a set of boots can help protect the vulnerable paw pads. They Create a Barrier from Salt and Other Chemicals Aside from protecting your dog’s paws from sometimes-sharp edges of ice and snow, a more prevalent benefit of using dog boots is that they create a barrier between harsh chemicals that people put down on sidewalks to melt ice and snow. These chemicals can dry out your pooch’s paw pads and, if they’re not wiped off every time your dog comes in from outside, they can also cause chemical burns. Using boots not only saves you the time and hassle of having to wash off your dogs paws after every walk, but it protects your dog’s paws from getting dried out and cracking from chemical burn. Overall, having your dog wear boots helps their paws stay safe and healthy! What’s not to like about that? They Keep Dogs’ Paws Safe from Extreme Temperatures Of course, another great reason to use dog boots during the winter is because they help keep your pup’s feet a little warmer. If you take long walks or there’s a lot of snow—or even if the ground is just very cold due to the weather—think about what a difference boots can make. After all, we humans all wear shoes outside during the winter, so it makes sense that boots for your dog can help protect against the cold. What’s best, the boots don’t have to be one-season apparel. Because sidewalks and asphalt can get extremely hot in the summertime, too, you can use the boots then as well, to get more bang for your buck. Do you use dog boots for your pups? What kind are your favorite?
Our December Dog of the Month is
Ludo! Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog Age: 3 Where I Live: Lincoln Park Joys in Life: sleeping, napping, bounding through deep snow, eating frozen green beans, laying down on walks and refusing to get up, riding in the car, snuggling on the couch, playing on the floor with Freddy (dog toys and baby toys are effectively the same thing) Cruisin’ Dog Walker: Dan! Dog Walking Buddies: Chip (Chip is a little guy – it’s pretty funny watching Dan trying to walk them both at once…)