18 Oct Titre Testing vs Vaccinating: Explained
Did you know Tallebudgera Veterinary Clinic offers canine vaccination titre testing?
What is titre testing?
Taking only a small drop of blood from your dog, a titre test allows us to measure the level of protective antibodies for Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper Virus, and Canine Adenovirus (infectious hepatitis). These three viruses are what make up our canine core vaccination (C3 vaccine).
Antibodies are large Y-shaped proteins that are found in the blood or other bodily fluids of animals. They are key components of the immune system and are what make our vaccines effective. A certain level/number of these antibodies are needed to protect our pets from these deadly diseases. If the levels drop too low and your pet is exposed to one of these viruses, it is likely that they will become very sick. A vaccination stimulates the immune system and ‘boosts’ these antibodies to levels where they remain protective. Even older dogs can get sick if these antibody levels drop too low.
Should I try titre testing?
Titre testing has been used to establish whether the C3 vaccine has been successful in providing virus immunity. This can be useful in young puppies or in dogs where vaccination may be a risk (e.g. if a dog has had an adverse reaction to a vaccination in the past). Our C3 vaccine lasts at LEAST 3 years, but in some patients this immunity may last longer. Titre testing provides another option in assessing whether your pet needs a booster vaccine for the C3 component. A KC booster for canine cough is still needed annually though.
Your pet’s vaccination plan using titre testing
At Tallebudgera Vet we give a C5 vaccination, which includes the C3 vaccine component (3 yearly) and the KC vaccine component (yearly). Therefore, after giving your dog a C5 vaccination, we will give a KC booster for the next two years, and on the third year we will do a titre test. If the titre test confirms that your dog’s antibodies are normal, we can skip the C3 vaccination and do a titre test again the following year. A titre test is then needed yearly to monitor these antibodies until the test picks up that a C3 vaccine is needed again. A yearly titre test means your dog will still get their annual health check!
If you would like to know more or to book your dog in for a titre test and health check, don’t hesitate to give us a call on (07) 5522 4566
