VOTE in Bissell's MVP photo contest

bissell.promo.eprize.com/mvpcontest/
 Help win some funds for the critters at the shelter, Bissell is having a MVP (most valuable pet) photo contest and the winner gets to donate 10.000.00 to their favorite registered non-profit pet charity. If I win obviously you know that will be the St. Paul Animal Shelter of course. One picture of one pet per week is allowed.
You can enter your own pics or vote for our entries.
To find our entry to vote for this week go to the link above, click vote (register) and search Toodles. His pic will come up and vote for his pic please.
We will be entering one pic a week until the end of the contest. (weeks voting goes Wednesday to Wednesday)
And Yes, Toodles was adopted from the St. Paul Animal Shelter.

Vaccination

To clear up some of the confusion surrounding vaccination of pets:

Dogs require three immunization shots, one around eight weeks, next around twelve weeks and the third around sixteen weeks. 

Cats: First one at eight weeks with a booster thirty days later with one type of vaccine OR the same schedule as dogs if the other vaccine is used, your vet will let you know what schedule to use based on the vaccine the vet uses. 

All pets should then get a booster yearly (bonus a health exam is included)

If you have a kitten or puppy and been told it is "up to date" on vaccination this does not mean it has all its required shots, it just means at that point it is up to date, ask  when the booster is due.

Your vet can also tell you what vaccines or treatments are needed if you take your pet on holidays.( for example: heart-worm is very bad in some areas of BC and Ontario, the preventative treatment should be started three months before taking your pet to a hot spot. )

WHY VACCINATE?

Simple, to protect your pet from diseases that could permanently harm or kill your pet and to protect other animals from contracting a disease from your pet. For example some virus' take years to get rid of in the soil and  other animals (especially the very young) can catch it and die. (Parvo virus is one example of this) If your pet goes outside or has contact with animals that do, or if it has a chance of coming into contact with wildlife, it should be vaccinated against Rabies. There is no cure for rabies, it is transmissible to humans and it kills.  If you request a rabies vaccination for your pet at the same time it is getting it's regular booster shot it is only a few dollars more. Furthermore if your pet ever bites another animal or person you can show that it has it's rabies vaccination. If your pet is not immunized against Rabies and bites, it can be seized, placed in a ten day quarantine and if further testing is required the only way to do so is to euthanize the suspect animal and send samples of the brain for testing. (I think I would rather pay for the vaccination)

WHY USE A VET CLINIC FOR VACCINATIONS?

Good question, some drug stores sell vaccine, some people vaccinate their own dogs and may offer to do your pets, some breeders vaccinate their own pets and those they sell and some (very few as it is illegal) even charge a small fee to do follow up booster shots.  You may think you can save a few bucks but...ask some questions...\

Where did the vaccine come from, how was it transported, how was it stored, did the person vaccinating take the pet's temperature, are they giving it correctly and what about the health exam??? Do they have credentials, formal training?

You may think this is not a big deal but. 

The vaccine could be a forgery and useless, If transported or stored incorrectly either at the place of purchase or after purchase, it could be useless, If the pet has a temperature the vaccine may not take, If given incorrectly it may be ineffective. 

When you take your pet to a veterinarian for vaccination they perform a health exam, this is like your yearly physical, they can answer any training or behavioural questions you may have, check for worms and do a de-worming and let you know if there may be beginning signs of any health problems. As well a Rabies shot can only be given at a vet clinic, 

You could take your chances, Parvo can cost over a thousand dollars to treat, Rabies is fatal, Distemper can be fatal, and those that survive it may have permanent neurological problems, some apparently healthy pets can be carriers and transmit disease to others, some diseases are transmissible to humans and some can remain in the soil for years just waiting to infect an unsuspecting pet. Vaccinations prevent a lot of the more common diseases, if administered correctly, and proper health care for your pet by a trained professional can prevent a lot of heartache.

Deciding not to use a pet doctor for your pets is equivalent to deciding your child's babysitter can treat and diagnose your children ...