Does anyone Titer test?

[Blue_Nose_Bella]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience with titer tests? I will get Bella all of her puppy shots and rabies but when she is due for her shots again next year I was thinking of having it done. If anyone can share there experience with titer's that would be great

 

[vanillasugar]

My in laws have it done with their two dogs when it's time for booster vaccines, and I think have only done a booster for one shot in the several years they've been doing this. I plan on doing this with Sierra this year as well. We will only give a booster if the titer shows that the immunity is at the level which requires.

 

[happydog owner]

The AAHA recommends vaccinating puppies but spacing them. The boosters at year 1 are very important.
The rabies vaccine is recommended only every three years after year 1 boosters, and is typically the only vaccine required by law. You can check your states/counties laws for this on the internet.
While very slow in coming my vet now is on board. They had to wait for the laws to catch up before they could make it the protocol, but they supported anyone who was aware of these AAHA recommendations.
The titers are more expensive than the shots but do no harm. Since many many states are changing their laws to every three years I would not worry about titers for rabies.
Distemper and parvo are not required by law so it is your choice. Read up, but my research indicates that every two years will keep your pet safe. If you want to go a third you might want to do a titer.

 

[dachshunds4me]

Titer tests are not only more expensive but are really inaccurate and do nothing to predict how much immunity a dog has. They are good in theory but in reality, useless.

Why Aren’t Titers Used in Lieu of Vaccines?

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

I just don't vaccinate past a year, titers be damned.



Of course I will always do rabies per county law.

 

[Zoom]

Titer tests are not only more expensive but are really inaccurate and do nothing to predict how much immunity a dog has. They are good in theory but in reality, useless.

Why Aren’t Titers Used in Lieu of Vaccines?

Do you have a more reliable source? One that actually cites references and such? I'm not terribly inclined to trust a a random vet writing for an entertainment site.

I know plenty of people, Redyre Rottweilers for one, that do titer and it DOES prove to be accurate.

 

[corgipower]

Titers and Canine Vaccination Decisions

Should You Test?

So, should you test your dog’s titers? Probably not. Nearly all previously vaccinated adult dogs are immune to parvovirus and distemper, and the titer test isn’t going to give you any useful information. You cannot make an immune dog “more immune†to a virus with additional vaccination, as the previous immunity will wipe out the virus in the vaccine. There will be no increase in immunity and no benefit to the dog. (Schultz, Ronald D., "Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs", Veterinary Medicine, March 1998.) If a titer test will give you peace of mind, or help you make a vaccination decision about a puppy or a dog of unknown vaccine history, then it’s worth considering. But for most owners of well-vaccinated adult dogs, neither re-vaccination nor titer testing for parvovirus and distemper are necessary.

Based on everything I've read about titers, if you're going to do them, the best time is two weeks after vaccinating.

I don't bother any more. They're expensive, and if my dog is immune my dog is immune. Nothing indicates that vaccine immunity runs out in a year or three. I do boosters at a year old and after that I only do rabies as required by law.

Titers

A titer test does not and cannot measure immunity, because immunity to specific viruses is reliant not on antibodies, but on memory cells, which we have no way to measure. Memory cells are what prompt the immune system to create antibodies and dispatch them to an infection caused by the virus it "remembers." Memory cells don't need "reminders" in the form of re-vaccination to keep producing antibodies. (Science, 1999; "Immune system's memory does not need reminders.") If the animal recently encountered the virus, their level of antibody might be quite high, but that doesn't mean they are more immune than an animal with a lower titer.

 

[PlottMom]

I just don't vaccinate past a year, titers be damned.



Of course I will always do rabies per county law.

This. Well, and the fact that my dogs regularly chomp on wild raccoons... (re: the rabies per county law thing)

 

[dachshunds4me]

Do your own research - I pulled that off the 'net.
Titers simply tell how much "antibodies" a dog has, it doesn't tell how those antibodies will react if the dog is exposed to an illness.

Up until the dog is 2yr., you should boost the 1yr. vaccine. So puppy vaccines up to 4mos. of age, then a 1yr. vaccine "booster" then a 2yr. "booster, than move to every three years, same as rabies (in WA state anyway).

This is what I do since our dogs are potentially exposed to illnesses through our rescue.

 

[protodog]

I titer test my dogs (parvo/distemper) because they need an official piece of paper that says they are immune so that they can get into dog classes and come to work with me at a kennel.

 

[release the hounds]

I used to, but don't anymore. I did it for piece of mind before, but really it makes no difference to me. My dogs are as strong as they can be, and it doesn't come from a needle in the vet's office.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

In comparing prices, Americans can seem to often get titers done at a reasonable cost. I've been quoted hundreds by multiple vets here.

I gave puppy shots, a one year booster and now only do rabies every three years as the law requires it here.

 

[mrose_s]

I only vaccinate when tis required, like if they are about to be kenneled. Other than that I just leave it after their first shots.

 

[elegy]

I titer test my dogs (parvo/distemper) because they need an official piece of paper that says they are immune so that they can get into dog classes and come to work with me at a kennel.

that's the only reason i'd ever do them. from what i have read, i don't believe them to be a very good indicator of immunity in the case of actually being challenged.

i do think it's important to booster vaccines at a year though.

 

[HayleyMarie]

I have not titered Teagan yet, I got her puppy shots, her one year shots. I will be getting her three year rabies shot and after that she is done with shots, unless the titer test shows otherwise.

 

[Bailey08]

I titer test my dogs (parvo/distemper) because they need an official piece of paper that says they are immune so that they can get into dog classes and come to work with me at a kennel.

that's the only reason i'd ever do them. from what i have read, i don't believe them to be a very good indicator of immunity in the case of actually being challenged.

i do think it's important to booster vaccines at a year though.

Agreed with both of you.

To basically reiterate what others have said -- a one year booster is probably a good idea (consider spacing out the vaccinations) and get rabies shots as required by local law (don't rely on titers because your state may not).

Bailey doesn't have a great immune system and he actually does have a reaction to vaccinations. He also goes to daycare, so we did titers so he'd have "proof" for them. (Unfortunately, he had to go back for one last time, but at least we didn't have to do both parvo and distemper. )