Thanks for the links!

Sounds like it is good for peace of mind on an adult, but can't give a yes or no. Only a better guess.

It would be nice if it was normal procedure to vax pups(for those that choose to) then titer to see if it took rather than vaccinating over and over and over. That sounds like a good use for it.

Thanks again for the deeper understanding!

 Quote: michael_wise

Thanks for the links!

Sounds like it is good for peace of mind on an adult, but can't give a yes or no. Only a better guess.

The way I read it, it CAN give you a yes (from either vaccination immunity or infection immunity) .... but its "no" could be false.

I had a very interesting conversation today with my vet today. He was very frank about vaccines and very honest about where things stand these days. He says that the FDA only requires testing on human vaccines, as far as how long they last in the body. It does not require this testing on dogs/cats. This is why they must recommend they be performed yearly. Interesting thing was that some vets have gone off on their own and done their own testing. He said that they found the Parvo titers came out high even at the 12 year mark, which is basically a lifetime for most dogs. However, the Distemper markers came out much lower, showing that they do decrease in effectiveness much quicker. Three years was the time frame for distemper, although this was not the end all of the distemper findings. They just decided to use the three year mark because that is as far as they went out on the time frame, they could be longer. No one knows just how long before they started decreasing in their effectiveness. Rabies also was given a three year marker for effectiveness because there have been tests done to prove that it lasts that length of time. Thing is, it could probably test much longer. He says he is tested yearly for the antibodies in his own system for rabies to make sure that the vaccine that he had administered to him in 1985 is still effective against a rabid bite. He said he was tested last year and the antibodies were still very high! Another thing, the one year vaccine is no different at all than the three year booster of rabies. They are exactly the same. He and I had a very lengthy discussion on vaccines and wormers today. It is so nice to have a vet tell you the truth! He told me that if I don't want to regularly vaccinate that he was fine with that, however, he did recommend that every three years when I go to get the rabies vaccine that I have titers run so that we can keep track of how his immunities are holding up. Just a little food for thought.

 Quote: connie sutherland

The way I read it, it CAN give you a yes (from either vaccination immunity or infection immunity) .... but its "no" could be false.

I think I meant the same thing, just worded wrong.

The "false no" is what I've been analyzing so much. Thats probably why it sounded like that. I can really see the usefulness of titers now. Still don't think I'll bother, but at least it makes sense to me now.

For those that do titer testing, if your dogs titers came back low or no antibodies would you re-vax?

 Quote: shody lytle

... I have been really wrestling with this whole issue because my dog will be a year old soon, and I don't want to vaccinate him any more. But for some reason I still feel the need to justify my actions I guess. And then there is the mandatory rabies vaccines.....And Cal. won't accept titers for this. So do I just titer for my own piece of mind, and not vaccinate again for this unless I get "caught"? or need to travel?

Aside from the titer question, if your dog is not current on his rabies vaccination and bites someone he will be taken from you and quarantined in isolation for a minimum of 10 days. Further, the courts may consider it a very irresponsible act and a mitigating factor when awarding damages for the dog bite.

 Quote: susan tuck

Aside from the titer question, if your dog is not current on his rabies vaccination and bites someone he will be taken from you and quarantined in isolation for a minimum of 10 days. Further, the courts may consider it a very irresponsible act and a mitigating factor when awarding damages for the dog bite.

Honestly, when thinking about whether or not to re-vax my dog, THAT scenario scares me more than my dog actually getting rabies! Through training, handling and prevention, I'm not REALLY concerned that Oscar is going to end up in court for biting someone... but for his fate to be decided by a choice I made in the best interest of his health is just so unsettling...

~Natalya

I live in a very law suit happy state and I train in a bite sport - I think I am protecting my dog and myself by following the law and vaccinating for Rabies every 3 years! For everything else I am having my dog titer tested.

Sorry for asking the same question twice. I was afraid it might get lost in the rest of the thread and be overlooked.

I never thought about using titer test for puppies and reducing the amount of shots they get or adoptees that you don't know their history.

That would be really helpful if they came back with a titer so you would know not to re-vax, but....

For those that do titer testing, if your dogs titers came back low or no antibodies would you re-vax?

Mike, I haven't done titers yet, but this is what I think, FWIW...If my dog had had a previous titer that showed sufficient immunity, I would not re-vax. If your dog was immune I don't beleive that the immunity would go away. It would just mean that there had been no exposure to the virus/agent to cause the memory cells to produce the antibodies. And giving a vaccination would really be worthless, the memory cells would come to life and kill what was in the vaccine, so you would be wasting money on the shot and the follow up titer to tell you basically he was immune all the time. Does this make sense?

However if I had never titered and they came back no antibodies, I would have to worry and would probaly re-vax. Low I don't think I would worry, it means the memory cells are there, just haven't been stimulated recently.

Just my unprofessional opinion though drawn from what I have read.

Shody

 Quote: Michael_Wise

For those that do titer testing, if your dogs titers came back low or no antibodies would you re-vax?

For distemper & parvo...no, I wouldn't(and will never)re-vax.

For rabies...depends on the titre result and what's been learned in 3 years about rabies vaccinations. I don't have to think about it for awhile and I'm hoping/praying/wishing protocols and state law will be different by the time my dog needs it again.

I'm really indulging in wishful thinking, huh?