Self-Vaccination Case Study

One of the many concerns that new pet owners face is vaccinations. Their concerns may be what age should vaccinations begin, how often should they be given, how much vaccinations can cost, and can a pet be vaccinated by their owners. Although owners can self-vaccinate their pets it is highly discouraged by many veterinarians. Self-vaccinations are discouraged because there is no documentation, which includes the date the vaccine was given, serial number, and expiration date. Some vaccines such as rabies are required by law and can only be administered by a veterinarian. Owners are unable to determine the freshness and reliability of the vaccine and lastly, pets will be missing out on an annual exam, where questions can be answered about
Some agriculture supply stores sell vaccines but there is the possibility that medical shipping was not paid for. Medical shipping ensures that the vaccine is stored at the right temperature until the vaccine reaches its destination. There is also the issue of when owners are transporting the vaccine from store to their house some may forget to put the bottle containing the shot into the fridge, so there is a possibility of the vaccine going bad. Another factor is making sure that the vaccines expiration date is still intact. With any type of vaccinations, there could be adverse effects.

Like people, animals can have a negative reaction to the vaccine, which some owners are unaware of or know how to treat. These reactions may include vomiting, swelling at injection site, fever and discomfort. In worse cases can cause hives and difficulty breathing which would need to be treated immediately by a veterinarian. Also improperly handling the syringe can result in infection at the injection site. Lastly, owners will be missing out on routine check-ups. By getting routine check-ups veterinarians are able to catch or notice an illness or condition that could be treated before the condition worsens such as ear infections, corneal ulcers or canine