Sample script: How to answer pet owners' DIY vaccination questions

Client: Can I just buy the vaccine from you (or from the feed store) and give it myself?

You: Thanks for sharing your concern with me. We don’t sell the vaccines for you to administer at home and don’t recommend you buy from the feed store either, and let me explain why.

First, it’s important for your pet to be monitored in our veterinary practice. If a potentially severe anaphylactic reaction occurs after vaccination, your pet is at a hospital with access to immediate medical care.

Second, if you accidentally give the vaccination via the incorrect route, you may endanger the pet’s safety and the vaccine may not be effective.

And finally, it’s important to recognize that vaccines purchased outside of trusted veterinary manufacturers may be expired, not appropriately refrigerated or even be incorrectly pre-mixed with diluent well before administration. For all of these reasons, we believe it’s vital for your pet to receive its vaccinations at a veterinary practice.

Oriana Scislowicz, BS, LVT, VDT, is a technician in Richmond, Va.