Heard of titre testing and want to know more? Or perhaps you have no clue what a titre test is, but you are concerned about vaccinating your fur pal. Either way, keep reading to discover what titre testing actually is and whether it might be a viable alternative to annual vaccinations.

As responsible pet owners, we like to take preventative pet care seriously, right? This no doubt means keeping up to date with annual vaccines and vet check-ups.

However, in light of the often-heated discussions we get into, overhear or read in the media about children’s vaccinations, some pet owners question the need for annual pet vaccines. The big uncertainty is: does the protection vaccines offer our pets outweigh the possible unwanted consequences?

Hello, titre test!

In the simplest of terms, a titre test is used by vets and pet owners to reduce the need for unnecessary vaccinations and limit the risk of infectious disease.

A titre test can be conducted to measure the level of antibodies in the blood, as well as the existence of bacteria or disease. It can be used to determine if a dog is immune to a virus or whether they require vaccination for protection. Essentially, it helps reduce the risk of over-vaccination.

Furthermore, vets can use titre tests to provide an individually tailored vaccination schedule for every dog. This is great for ensuring our four-legged pals are protected against nasty diseases but don’t run the risk of over-vaccination and the associated side effects.

The downside of titre testing

Of course, there are pros and cons to most things and titre tests are no different! In some circumstances, the results can create false positives or false negatives, which doesn’t exactly give much peace of mind.

In fact, titre test results have caused some debate amongst pet professionals. Some argue that having antibodies present doesn’t necessarily mean a dog is immune to a particular disease. Similarly, a low number of antibodies does not always mean a dog is highly vulnerable to infection and in need of a booster vaccine.

What’s more, pet owners looking to reduce the costs associated with unnecessary vaccines may be slightly disappointed. Titre tests are not cheap. They cost approximately $70-80, plus the cost of the vet consultation.

Currently, titre tests only test a dog’s immunity against canine distemper, canine parvovirus and canine hepatitis. If you use boarding kennels you’ll still need to get your fur pal vaccinated against canine cough.

Confused?

Certainly, there are some grey areas when it comes to titre tests. Ultimately it comes down to individual choice. It’s really important to talk with your vet about titre testing.

A vet will help you weigh up the risks and benefits, based on your dog. After all, if your dog happens to be one of the few dogs that react badly to vaccines then titre testing may be just the ticket to keep him well and adequately protected.

Similarly, titre tests can be useful in cases of pet adoption where the dog’s immunisation history is unknown.

What are your thoughts on titre testing? Would you use a titre test to determine whether to re-vaccinate your dog or not?