Titer Testing as an alternative to vaccination boosters - you have a choice.
Titer Test Blood sample.
Empowering pet parents through knowledge is one of my key clinical goals.
In this Blog I shall explore your option to Titer Test your cat or dog, rather than giving booster vaccinations on a regular basis.
Enlightened Veterinarians and pet parents are becoming increasingly wary of repeatedly vaccinating their dog after their initial puppy/kitten shots. We all want our pets to be safe and worry about them contracting a deadly disease. So what can we do to prevent this over exposure ?
When your email notification comes through to say your pet is due for their booster shots, you can request a Titer Test from your Vet instead.
SO WHAT IS A TITER TEST?
A titer test (pronounced TIGHT er) is a laboratory test measuring the existence and level of antibodies to disease in blood. Antibodies are produced when an antigen (like a virus or bacteria, either encountered from a disease or a vaccination) provokes a response from the immune system.
HOW IS IT PERFORMED?
The Vet will take 1ml sample of your pets blood, send it off to the laboratory, where it is diluted, and tested for the presence of antibodies of Distemper and Parvovirus, the two most important viruses we vaccinate against.
The results will show a weak or strong titer,( - this is the number of times the blood can be diluted and still show the presence of antibodies), However,a weak titer does not necessarily mean the body will not produce the correct antibodies when they are needed. due to the presence of “memory cells” in the immune system.
SHOULD I TEST MY PUPPY OR KITTEN ?
YES! Ideally the best time to test is 2 weeks after the final vaccination.
RESCUED DOGS - (WHEN WE DON’T KNOW THEIR HISTORY):
It is strongly recommended to titre test a dog of unknown vaccination history, because if they have circulating antibodies, they do not need to be vaccinated. This can help rescue groups, dog shelters, and owners adopting stray or rescued animals avoid giving unnecessary vaccinations.
What Do Titer Tests Cost?
Testing costs vary widely from practice to practice, so shop around. Some vets do in-house testing. Others use outside labs. Some mark up tests and services a little; others, a lot.
How Often Should I Test Titers For Parvo And Distemper?
Dr. Ron Schultz, one of the most renowned pet vaccination experts in the USA, believes that once a test yields strong titers, you need not test again.
In Dr. Jean Dodd’s article on vaccine reactions, she quotes Dr. Schultz on the value of testing titers: “an animal with a positive test has sterilizing immunity and should be protected from infection. If that animal were vaccinated it would not respond with a significant increase in antibody titer, but may develop a hypersensitivity to vaccine components (e.g. fetal bovine serum).”
Challenge tests have shown that successful vaccination against Parvovirus lasts at least 7 years, and Distemper was shown to last at least 5 years.
Some vets say Titer annually, others say every 3 years, but there is no actual answer, as more and more research is proving that vaccination immunity can last for longer and longer periods, so really its up to you.
If you use a cattery/ kennels, groomer or daycare facility that is not open to proof of titer test results as a vaccination status, I strongly suggest choosing a different facility, as they are clearly not aware of the current research results.
As always I urge you to do your own research and advocate for your pet. But always remember, when you google, please ensure the information you are reading is research based and from a credible source, not just someones anecdotal thoughts and opinions.
Please note: annual health checks are critically important for detecting, preventing and treating any disease or ailments in your pets.
For further information, I encourage you to discuss Titer Testing with your vet.
