I just had all three dogs titered.

Nico has medical exemption from any further vaccinations of any kind so with her I was just curious.

Loki had a single parvo shot because we were thinking of getting a new pup and wanted to make sure he wouldnt transmit anything.
He also has had one rabies shot at 8 months, he is now 2 1/2
I actually believe he still got a mild case of parvo as a teenager but recovered quickly and with ease, and Levi was a pup at the time and was exposed and never got ill.

Fargo has had a single parvo and a single distemper in early january. I chose to do those because he wasnt the healthiest little thing and i was really worried exposure would be fatal in his case.

All three dogs showed good immunity to both Parvo and distemper, well above the standard. Loki never had a distemper shot and his titer was well above the standard.

Both Nico and Loki showed titers to rabies which I expected, Nicos were extremely high and she has not had a rabies shot in over 7 yrs.

Fargo also showed titers to rabies which I found very interesting, He certainly hasnt been chasing rabid animals, and he hasnt had a rabies shot yet.

The park we often go to does have a large Fox population in the neighborhood and I know there are racoons living in the street drains near our house so while he hasnt had contact with wild animals beyond mice and squirrels there are some in the area.

I will still give him a rabies shot at 1 yr because they werent as high as I would like in order to make me feel comfortable with total immunity.

Legally do they except titers for rabies? If I was just a homeowner I would care about the rabies law but we run a horsr training/boarding/lesson barn. 3 of our client are sm animal vets and with all the kids through here my husband once to be covered legally. I hate the idea of vaccinating but will do the 3 yr rabies.

No they dont accept the titers for rabies, But if his levels were higher I might have waited until he was one and half or two.

And honestly it is one of those things that I just am horrified of the dogs getting because it is always fatal.

I do think that more than likely once they have a rabies shot at a year they are probaly immune for life. At seven years Nico was still over 1:100 or however it is written out lol.

I have all the actual numbers but they are in the car and it is sleeting..so I will post them later!!

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I will still give him a rabies shot at 1 yr because they werent as high as I would like in order to make me feel comfortable with total immunity.

It is my understanding with titers that if your dog shows immunity, they have immunity. You can't get more immune, just like you can't get more pregnant. The only thing a lower titer would mean is that he hasn't been exposed recently to the virus, so his immune response hasn't been kicked into gear. The memory cells will be there if he is immune, waiting to do thier jobs. Although there is some discussion on whether immunity is life long or not, it seems most studies show 5-7 year duration at minimum.

If you vaccinate a dog that has immunity already, even if his titers are somewhat low, aren't you really just throwing your money away? It seems the only result is that the vaccine will kick the memory cells on, they will launch a response, and kill the agents in the vaccine. They will have actually done nothing but rev up the immunity that was already there, while exposing your dog to the dangers of vaccines.

At least, that is my understanding. Maybe Connie or Cindy or someone will let me know if I am wrong.

Now for vaccines that are required by law, you have to either give them, or take your chances if you are caught or your dog bites someone....

 Quote: Shody Lytle

it seems most studies show 5-7 year duration at minimum.

And this is only because longer test results are still in the works. When its all said and done I bet they will show lifetime immunity.

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It is my understanding with titers that if your dog shows immunity, they have immunity. You can't get more immune, just like you can't get more pregnant.

I am often in conversations about immunity/vaccines and I have been looking for a way to describe how you can't get more immune by boostering. The pregnancy reference is perfect. Thank you. I can hardly wait until the opportunity arises for me to use it.
Shannon

If they use dead vs live is that alot safer?

from what I understand the dead vaccine actually poses more risks for side effects.

That is good to know about the titers showing immunity even if the numbers are low.

So then they aren't indicative of a certain level of antibodies needed for immunity, which is sort of what I was thinking with the rabies levels.

We have too many kids around to risk not being vaccinated for rabies as per the law.