I took my 10 year-old, male GSD to be bathed at a groomer I hadn't been to before (my regular groomer was out of town). The place was highly recommended to me. The dog was there for 4 hours and when I returned the price was twice what I had been quoted. They explained that a vet was connected with the grooming business and they had give my dog DHP and Bordatella.

I was furious. This dog was highly boostered until about 4 years ago when I stopped everything but rabies. I told them that when we went in . He is a very healthy house dog and is never kenneled. When everything was said, (mostly by me) and done, this miserable excuse for a DVM said they wouldn't charge me for the shots. That was not the issue and I told them that. I told them to get my dog and give me a statement and I would be out of there. This "vet" told me they would not give me a statement because I wasn't paying for the shots. It kind of hit the fan then as I wasn't leaving without a statement. I got my dog and my statement and am still enraged about this.

How can someone give my dog shots without my knowledge or consent? They had my phone and cel number. There was no indication that a vet practiced at this business.

I am worried about the dog and watching for reactions. Does anyone know what the affects might be? I am sick that I was dumb enough to let my dog fall into the hands of people like this.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time I've heard this. I had a vet give a *sick* kitten a cocktail shot that nearly killed her...all without my consent. She was taken in the back to be "weighed" and I didn't know until I got the bill and was shocked. Same story w/my neighbor's lab- she was stunned at the bill and asked for a breakdown. The dog was given a leptosprirosis vaccine that she didn't ask for and the dog was sick for a week. It's not your fault, unless they had some kind of consent form telling you they may vaccinate indescriminately just because they feel like it. My guess is that you didn't sign anything of the sort. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

It really seems to come down to money, and with more and more people aware of the side effects, they're getting sneakier about shots. I think it's horrible, and I hope you tell others about your experience. "Grooming" should NOT include "vaccinating" and you absolutely should've been consulted.

I am very sorry Ruth and you did the proper thing. I have never heard of that before but will make sure to look out in the future.
Like Jenni said without them stating it on a form you should have a darn solid case against them if you decide to follow thru.

Thanks for the supportive words. I have contacted the state veterinary association and was told it must have been a lack of communication. Hah! They gave me the grievance committee address. I am also going to make a stink with the BBB and professional licensing bureau. It won't change the fact that my dog got those shots but it will make me feel better.

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Thanks for the supportive words. I have contacted the state veterinary association and was told it must have been a lack of communication. Hah! They gave me the grievance committee address. I am also going to make a stink with the BBB and professional licensing bureau. It won't change the fact that my dog got those shots but it will make me feel better.

It will also be a step toward stopping the practice. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Good for you!

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Thanks for the supportive words. I have contacted the state veterinary association and was told it must have been a lack of communication. Hah! They gave me the grievance committee address. I am also going to make a stink with the BBB and professional licensing bureau. It won't change the fact that my dog got those shots but it will make me feel better.

That is B.S. if they didnt have you sign something stating it was ok and didnt have a sign posted they HAVE to contact you. Thats like pulling the plug on a person without direct orders.
I hope you follow thru on this and win, even if it just makes them put a proper policy in place.

I had a similar experience a month ago at the vet. The breeder had told me to give my pup only the parvo & distemper, nothing more, which I agree with. Took my pup, then 12 1/2 weeks for his 2nd parvo/distemper ONLY shot, breeder had given the first at 8 1/2 wks. Told receptionist and vet what I wanted, he was vaccinated, and later that day was looking at the vaccination record because my pup had a very short but evident trembling in his right front leg!!! and saw he had been given a 4 way shot (didn't even know there was a 4 way shot, thought it was a 5 way). I was so upset and when I called to ask why he had been vaccinated for 2 other diseases without my permission, and when I had expressly asked for only parvo & distemper, and mentioned the trembling, the vet got very defensive, said they know what they're doing, don't care what breeders' opinions are, 8 yrs in vet school, 20 yrs practice, that there is no such thing as a parvo/distemper only shot (HA!!! I have the Intervet tag from the shot given by the breeder) and if I didn't trust him then maybe I should seek another vet.

Needless to say, I did switch vets and this is my pup's last shot. Don't know if the new vet is any better, he wants to give my pup 2 more shots, for a total of 4, saying that breeders sometimes give the 1st shot too early, at 6 weeks or below, and the mother's immunities passed onto puppies interfere with the vaccine. He also believes only in the 4 (or 5?) way vaccine, and a rabies shot at 16 wks. To which I said no to all, rabies not til 1 year for my pup. They sure don't like it much when you question a practice. Just like human doctors, with whom I also have bad experiences. It's going to be darn hard to find a vet. Current vet "may" be OK, he didn't seem troubled that I didn't want to give more vaccines. We'll see.

You may want to check state laws for rabies shots. You may not have a choice there.

Concerning the others - WOW I don't get it. I have always been in the room when my dogs get shots. I do not think there is a distemper/parvo shot but there are separate shots for each. Those are the only shots (plus rabies) that my vet gives.

The law here says "All dogs over the age of 4 months are required to be vaccinated for rabies and licensed...". But reading further there is a minor financial penalty for not licensing a dog when required. It's minor enough that I'll be glad to pay it. Just hoping I didn't miss reading some other kind of punishment that's obscure and not easily found, and I have looked. Some websites are so vague and badly organized that you never find what you're looking for.

I WAS in the room when my pup got vaccinated. I told the vet just wanted the parvo/distemper, even reiterated that the breeder only gave the parvo/distemper vaccine and that's what I wanted as well. So of course, I assumed that's what the vaccination was. I can't believe that he didn't tell me right then and there. Other than asking to read the label of the vaccine, which I couldn't imagine having to do...argghhh....never even crossed my mind to have to double check the vet.

Here's what the vaccine label says that the breeder sent me:
"Canine Distemper-Parvovirus Vaccine
Modified Live Virus
1 Dose/1 ml for Dogs Only
Progard* Puppy D/Pv"
Brand is Intervet

We are so not done with this. I am filing complaints. Those shots were given without my knowledge or consent. If they had a problem, I could have been called and would have picked up the dog. I haven't noticed any problems with him but I'm watching. It's been almost 2 weeks and he seems fine. Would a reaction have happened by now? We do rabies and are current until summer 2007. That is the only shot required by law here.

They said they gave him distemper/hepatitis/para-influenza (sp?) plus bordatella. Who knows what they really did?

Some of these guys forget they are just practicing medicine and what they learned on was already dead.