Can I give my dog or cat shots at home with store-bought vaccines?

You may be able to buy some of the vaccines online, but the rabies vaccine will likely not be available for you to buy. Purchasing vaccines online exposes you and your pet to the risk of ineffective vaccines due to improper handling and storage.

They are likely safe, however it is difficult to say definitively. If the vaccines are not stored properly, they will be ineffective leaving your pet open to infection. When vaccines are shipped to a veterinary clinic from a supplier or manufacturer, they are shipped and stored under refrigeration properly until use. Furthermore, depending on sales, the vaccines in feed stores may be at or past their expiration date which may also affect efficacy. Lastly, it is always recommended to have your vet examine your pet prior to vaccination to ensure good health and proper administration of vaccines. A sick pet should never be vaccinated.

We don't recommend buying vaccinations at feed stores or pet stores b/c we cannot guarantee that they were properly stored and are therefore going to fully protect your pet. With that said, we also cannot legally instruct you on how to administer these vaccinations either unfortunately. THe best and safest option for your pet is to get vaccinations done by a licensed professional. Even a vaccine clinic can offer low cost options for your furry friend if cost is a concern. Jacky is such a cute little puppy. I hope that you are able to find adequate veterinary care for his soon to complete his puppy vaccinations. Best of luck and take care.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If at all possible you would want to take Chevy to a veterinarian so they can discuss the best vaccines and vaccination schedule for your area. She also needs a rabies shot and that has to be given by a licensed veterinarian or licensed technician. Vaccines given by your vet are tracked, handled and stored properly, and the manufacturer will stand behind the product if there is an adverse reaction or event. The problem with just buying the vaccine from a feed store or catalog raises the questions of shipping, storage conditions, quality of the product, and lack of back up from the manufacturer if something did happen. Vaccinations are vitally important to Chevy's health so they should be done by a professional so you can have piece of mind. I wish you the best.

Good on you for wanting to get Buster's vaccines! While you can get the vaccines he needs from a tractor supply store, I never recommend it. Tractor supply stores are notorious for handling and storing vaccines improperly, and I have colleagues with numerous stories of dogs coming down with parvo and distemper who had been vaccinated with vaccines from stores. It's too much of a risk, and if he did come down with something serious like parvo, it would cost you so much more to treat than the cost of having a vet give the vaccine. In addition, diseases like parvo and distemper have no cure, and are very often fatal. It's best to take him into your vet to get the DHPPi combination vaccine (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza). I hope this helps!

I never recommend giving vaccines at home. First off, vets and places like boarding facilities typically do not recognize vaccines given at home, so Jasper would be considered unvaccinated. Places that sell vaccines such at Tractor Supply often store the vaccines wrong, rendering them ineffective. In addition, owners can and do give them wrong. I can't tell you how many cases I've seen of dogs coming down with Parvo and distemper who have been vaccinated at home. Take him into the vet to get it done correctly. Plus, by law he needs rabies, and that can only be given by a vet. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question. You will need to consult a local attorney for legal advice. Veterinary practice laws vary from state to state. Distemper vaccines can be purchased over-the-counter in most areas. However, the act of administering them can be considered practicing veterinary medicine. If this is the case, it can only be done by a veterinarian. Your business idea is a noble idea, but you will need to investigate the legal side of it more. Good luck!