What is a titer test?

"Titer" is a method of measuring antibodies against a specific disease in a blood sample. Your veterinarian will draw a small amount of blood and then run the blood through tests. Titers are usually expressed as a ratio; if the titer number is high, it means your dog has enough antibodies to fight that specific disease and is considered immune. Titers accurately assess protection against so-called "core" diseases (canine distemper, parvovirus, canine hepatitis and panleukopenia in cats), allowing veterinarians to judge the need for booster vaccinations. Serum antibody titers could be measured in all animals without receiving a vaccine booster. The only exception is rabies revaccination. There are currently no countries that generally accept titers in place of rabies vaccines, which are required by law.

How often to do a titer test

Recommendations on the frequency of titration tests vary. Some veterinarians say to do it once a year just to be safe. Others say to do it every three years, while others recommend every five to seven years. Many titer tests indicate that dogs vaccinated against parvovirus and distemper are immune for 5 to 7 years, or they may be immune for life. Because there are different opinions, the specific frequency of titer depends on the condition of the dog (reference: Chopper is an elderly dog ​​and currently does it once a year, and has not been vaccinated for many years)

Can vaccination improve immunity? What should we do if the titer test shows that we are not immune?

Too long to read: Vaccine ≠ immunity. Vaccination does not mean avoiding disease. Premature vaccination will not be effective at 1:1. Vaccines can last for several years. The most effective titer is Testing is done after one or two vaccinations. The decrease in titer test values ​​only represents a decrease in antibody levels, but does not mean the disappearance of the immune system. Antibodies will also be produced when the virus invades.

The reason these titers may be of concern is that the numbers from titer tests correlate well with immunity. Immunity is resistance to disease. This is what we want our animals to have.

But: Vaccination ≠ Immunization

People often think that automatically injecting a vaccine into an animal means that he is now protected from a terrible disease that could kill him. not like this! ! ! For example, if you vaccinate your puppy at 6 weeks of age, or even younger, immunity against distemper or parvovirus is hardly 50:50. Why? Mom's colostrum gives your pups antibodies that are preventing vaccines from stimulating their own immunity. Mom's protection is temporary, we need long-term protection. Many people also believe that immunity "exhausts" on the 364th day since the last vaccination. Then make an appointment with the veterinarian to take the "vaccination book"Vaccines for next year.

But the truth about immunology is. . . .

“Immunity to viruses can last for years.”

Another veterinary immunologist:

"Furthermore, revaccination...cannot stimulate...(further immunity)"

Titers are limited. Any immunologist knows this. They were unable to measure an important type of immunity called cell-mediated immunity.

The most effective time to do a titer test is after your furry baby has been vaccinated. Especially if you only had one or two vaccinations, the last of which was after 16 weeks, it is likely that your furry baby has been granted a lifetime exemption (lifetime immunity). immunity).

If you want to know how effective your vaccine is at conferring immunity (i.e. vaccination = immunization?) after a few weeks, have your veterinarian check the titers.

Here's a useful way to evaluate these numbers:

If there is any measurable titer against the disease (it doesn't matter how many, just show the number), your goal has been met. Your child actively develops immunity to the viruses you inject through vaccination.

You can confidently say "I don't need more vaccinations!". for how long? lifelong.

Yearly testing will eventually show a decrease in antibody titers. Does this mean the immune system is gone?

No big deal! This just means that antibody levels are declining. Continuously making more antibodies without being exposed to more viruses is a waste. In its wisdom, the life force thinks its work is done in this area and stops pumping more antibodies into the bloodstream.

But here’s the good news: If your furry child is exposed to the virus again, the antibody production plant will explode and the antibody titers will rise again, and quickly.

Therefore, it is wrong to interpret a drop in titers as a lack of protection, and a bigger mistake is to think that more vaccine is needed to re-establish protection. In fact, the immune system is still there, quietly and vigilantly vigilant.

Why does my vet say titer testing is useless

We’re not sure why some doctors say this unless they don’t understand basic immunology. Titration tests are used every day in veterinary practices to diagnose diseases such as heartworm and feline leukemia infections. Veterinarians who regularly administer rabies vaccines frequently test their titers to determine if and when revaccination is needed.

What are the side effects of vaccines on furry children?

Vaccination should be understood as the interference of vaccination with vitality leading to mental, emotional and physical changes.In some cases, this change may be a permanent condition.