Want to know how to administer dog vaccinations at home? Vaccinating your dog yourself is a great way to meet your dog’s needs while also saving cash. This article will explain the process step-by-step, so by the end of reading, you’ll know how to give a dog a shot in the neck. Keep reading to know how to give puppy shots at home!
How to Administer Dog Vaccinations at Home and Save Money in the Process
1. How Much Can You Cut Down on Vaccine Costs?
While a dog vaccine can cost a mere $20, the visit to the veterinarian adds $50 to the price. This is one of the primary reasons why many opt to vaccinate at home. With these numbers, you can save about $1000 during your dog?s entire lifetime.
2. What Are the Materials Needed?
Raring to get started on your dog?s vaccination? Make a trip to the store and ensure you have the following four materials: Peroxide, cotton swabs, the vaccine shot, and a cooler with ice.
Remember to bring the cooler with ice when buying the vaccine shot. You?ll use it to help transport the vaccine back to your home. Doctors recommend placing the vaccines in a refrigerator when they’re not in use, so you should similarly store your vaccine in your cooler or fridge whenever you’re not administering the shot.
3. Where Do You Inject the Vaccine?
Obviously, it?s important to know where the vaccination will be injected before beginning the process. You can lessen your dog’s anxiety by injecting the vaccine in a less sensitive area. In fact, the best place is the loose skin over the shoulders. However, avoid inserting the vaccine between your dog?s shoulder blades.
4. How to Prepare the Vaccine
Take the syringe and inject its liquid into the vial that contains powder. Then, shake the vial well and allow the formula to settle. After 60 seconds, extract the contents of the vial back into the syringe. Lastly, examine the syringe for any air bubbles.
TIP: If there are any air bubbles, simply tap lightly on the syringe until the bubbles move to the top. Then, remove the air with the use of the syringe.
5. How to Administer the Vaccine
Locate the area you’ve decided as your injection point and lift the loose skin off the shoulder. Then, insert the needle just below your dog?s skin. Make sure the needle isn?t placed in a blood vessel by pulling back a bit on the syringe plunger. The appearance of blood means a blood vessel was hit. If this happens, stop, take out the needle, redirect, and start again.
Administer the vaccine once you?re ready and the needle is in place. Don?t forget to immediately discard the materials used in a biohazard container. Remember, it?s never okay to use a syringe more than once.
Important Note: Vaccinations can begin with puppies at 9 weeks of age. Then, revaccinate them every 3-4 weeks. Continue this until the puppies reach 14-16 weeks of age. You can then simply give puppies annual shots.
Want to know more about how to administer dog vaccinations at home? Press play on the video below for more personal tips on how to save money on your dog?s vaccinations:
You?ll save loads of money once you know how to administer dog vaccinations at home. Plus, you’ll reduce your dog’s stress levels by not having to transport them to an unfamiliar environment. All in all, learning how to administer dog vaccinations at home is a win-win-win scenario.
Have any more questions on how to administer dog vaccinations at home? Leave them in the comments below. We?d be happy to answer them!
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