Can a vet tech or pet owner legally administer distemper shots?

You can purchase certain vaccines at farm supply stores. This, however, is not recommended because shipping, handling and storage under prior conditions cannot be guaranteed. Improper storage can decrease efficacy. Additionally, a pet should be examined first before any vaccine to confirm good health. It is never recommended to vaccinate a sick pet. Lastly, vaccine administration should be done properly to ensure efficacy. The only vaccine that cannot be purchased OTC is the rabies vaccine.

Typically the distemper vaccine is available as part of a combination shot, but according to VIN (the Veterinary Information Network), the company Merial makes one. It would likely have to be order in specially, and you will need to speak to your vet about that.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. Puppies are typically vaccinated for the distemper virus. However, some are never taken to a veterinarian. So I would certainly recommend having Charlie vaccinated now. He would need an initial vaccine and then a booster in 3-4 weeks. This will ensure that he is adequately protected. I hope this information helps!

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!

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.

Yes you can, just check online for your closest branch and give them a call in order to make an apointment. here is the full pricelist as well: https://www.vetcoclinics.com/services-and-clinics/vaccination-packages-and-prices/

1. Distemper and deworming can be given at the same time. 2. Yes, I would give the vaccination plus one booster a month later if she has never been vaccinated before. 3. A simple blood test can be done to check for heartworms. The presence of heartworms has nothing to do with the vaccinations. She can still be vaccinated. 4. I have never heard of the vaccination causing brain inflammation. 5. Vaccines overall are not dangerous - they are life saving, however, there are some dogs than can have a reaction to vaccinations just like humans can. There is no way to know if a reaction will occur before giving the vaccination. All I can say is that vaccine reactions are very rare. 6. If you have no plans to breed her you should have her spayed. With that cystic ovary she has a good chance of developing pyometra (severe uterine infection) as well as mammary (breast) cancer.