We all have to keep in mind that the best time to go to see the vet is at
vacciation time, when our animals are healthy.  It's important for our vets
to get to know our healthy animals, and not just see them when they are
sick.  I know it's really hard to stomach the vet bills.  I *never* have
spent less than $60, each time I take one of my pets to the vet.  (I have 5:
2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 ferret.) We just had vaccination time.  I have a
non-practicing veterinarian friend (she keeps her license current) who
orders the vaccinations for me at a much lower price, so that my husband and
I can save some bucks by administering the vaccines ourselves.  However, in
Arizona (I'm sure it's the same in most states) only a vet can administer
rabies.  She offered to do that for us, at half the cost of my regular vet.
I opted to pay more, so that my animals could get a regular check up with
their regular vet, while they were healthy.  Hubby and I did the other
vaccines ourselves.  The vet also gave Zero (the fert) his distemper, and a
check up.
 
I don't kow about you all, but I would never want to give Zero a shot
myself!  He's too squirmy!!  I'd rather let an experienced vet do that!!  :)
It was hard enough giving the cats shots!
 
For the benefit of Claudia, who found a pea sized lump under the skin of her
ferret at the sight of the shots, *all* of the animals now have a lump where
their shots were administered. I hope everything is well with your ferret!
 
Andrea Garza & The Crew
Research Technician
University of Arizana
Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology
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[Posted in FML issue 1840]