TaraBear's Titer Tests

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I thought I would update you with the results of Tara's titer testing in case some of you have an interest in or questions about titer testing in lieu of vaccinations. Tara is the first dog that I am doing titer testing on instead of doing scheduled vaccinations for Parvo and Distemper.

So far she has had the following vaccinations for these two diseases:

1 Distemper/ Paro at 9 weeks

1 Parvo-12 weeks

1 Parvo-15 weeks

When she was due for her 1 year booster I had her titers tested instead and they were strong meaning her body was still producing  a large number of antibodies against those illnesses.

She is now 3 years old and I had her tested again last week.  I was pleased to find out that she is still showing strong immunity against the Parvo and Distemper viruses.

At this point I plan to have her titers tested again in 3 years.It is certainly raising questions in my mind about the frequency of vaccinations that are recommended for our pets.

[Joyce & Wilson]

 Wow that is amazing! TY for posting the results.  I think I'll have Wilson's titers done too when hes due for shots.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Joyce I am pretty amazed too! In a good way though!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Tara is a lucky doodle to have you for a mom. So glad her immunity is strong and she's such a healthy girl.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks Karen-the luck goes both ways! :)

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Hmmm... Something to think about when the time comes for Sedona's boosters.  Thanks for posting...

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm glad to hear that using titers has worked well for you. It is good to know!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

  Thank you so much for posting this.  What about Bordatella, did you vaccinate again for this.  Does anybody know what the cost of the titers are in relation to the vaccinations?  I am going to do the titers on Riley in June and just wondered.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I don't vaccinate Tara for Bordatella for a number of reasons. I don't think that there is a titer test available for it but I am not sure.  I don't vaccinate her for it because she is rarely around other dogs and because I haven't been convinced that the vaccine is actually effective. I used to vaccinate my dogs for it because they had to be kenneled occasionally and they still came down with the illness at times. I have also done some research on the Bordatella virus and there is some belief that it mutates similar to the human cold virus which could explain why a vaccine would not always work.I am only vaccinating Tara for life threatening illnesses because I am concerned about the long term effect of frequent vaccinations on the immune system.

I have found that here in my town it pays to shop around for titer testing rates. My vet charged $89.00 for the two tests but only after I asked her to match the price I was quoted from one another vet. Otherwise she is charging $103.00 for the two and both are using the same lab.

[Martha & Cooper]

Thanks for that info!   I was just going to ask what others are paying.   Cooper is past due his vaccinations and not recommended to get them at this point, but I was thinking about having his titres ran, so I could have a little peace of mind when he is around other dogs.  

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I would certainly stop vaccinating if my dog had any kind of health challenge. But I understand your concern about exposing him too. Titers would be a good way to go.  In Oregon you can get a vet's exemption for the rabies vaccine as well if they believe it would not be in the animal's best interest to have the shot even though it is mandated by law. Maybe you can check into that for Cooper too. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Thanks for posting that information and it's interesting that you don't vaccinate for Bordatella.  Riley is not often around other dogs and he did pick up Bordatella but he had a very mild dose of it and this may be due to the fact that he was vaccinated.  

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

It's hard to say if Riley's case would have been worse without  the vaccine but I find it interesting that he got it after being vaccinated. That was my experience too.

Like I said there are different opinions about this vaccine as there are with the others! :)

Dogs Naturally Magazine article 3/11

There are at least forty agents capable of initiating Bordetella so vaccination might appear to be prudent if it weren’t for the fact that only two of these agents are contained in the intranasal vaccine. This poor percentage truly makes the Bordetella vaccine a shot in the dark. The lack of efficacy is well summarized by noted immunologist Dr. Ronald Schultz: “Kennel Cough is not a vaccinatable disease”.