Holistic Medicine for Dogs: What are Vaccine Titers?

Holistic Medicine for Dogs: What are Vaccine Titers?

As pet parents, we want the same great care for our fur children as we do for ourselves. Therefore, it is important to fully understand all of the care and treatment options for our pets so we can make informed choices. As a mobile vet at SagePet, I take my time to explain your pet’s condition, all of the possible treatment options, and help you to choose the best path forward. I understand that different paths are right for different families and that each pet is an individual. An in-home veterinary visit gives us the time and space we need to create personalized care plans for each pet!

 

Deciding When a Vaccine is Right

As part of your pet’s personalized care plan, it is important that we discuss which vaccines are appropriate for your pet, and when it is best not to vaccinate. These decisions are made with a holistic approach that considers your pet’s lifestyle and how we can best keep them safe and healthy.

Sometimes the safest choice for your pet is not to vaccinate. This can be true for pets with autoimmune diseases, severe vaccine reactions, or compromised immune systems due to illness or advanced age. One way a mobile veterinarian can skip the vaccines but ensure our pets are safely protected is with a vaccine titer. 

 

Vaccine Titers: Testing Your Dog’s Immunity

A vaccine titer is a test that measures the amount of antibodies against a specific disease that are present in your pet’s blood. Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign substances, such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins. They are created by a type of white blood cell called B cells. Each antibody is designed to recognize a specific antigen (a unique marker on a foreign substance). Once an antibody binds to an antigen, it can neutralize the threat directly or signal other parts of the immune system to destroy it. 

For example, if you were infected with chicken pox virus as a child, your body created antibodies to help fight this infection. For years following the infection, your body’s B cells will keep a memory of this virus. This allows the immune system to be alerted to an infection quickly and work to fight it off. Providing you long-lasting immunity against the chicken pox virus.

Antibodies are the foundation of how vaccines work. Vaccines expose the body to a weakened or inactive form of a virus or bacteria, which causes the body to produce antibodies. These antibodies then protect your dog (or you) from getting sick if they are exposed to the virus or bacteria in the future.

 

Titers Mean Vaccinating Only When Necessary

Titer tests are often used to determine if a dog needs a booster vaccination. If a dog’s titer levels are high enough, then they are considered to be immune to the disease and do not need a booster vaccination. However, if the titer levels are low, then the dog may need a booster vaccination to boost their immunity. Titer tests help us make more informed decisions about when to vaccinate. 

As a mobile veterinarian I regularly perform titer tests on my patients, and my own pets! These tests require a small blood sample that can be collected in the home. Titer tests are most commonly run for canine distemper virus and canine parvovirus. Titer tests can be performed for rabies, but may not be legally recognized. Titers are not commonly run for cats or other species of pets.

While vaccines are very safe and effective to prevent disease in our pets, they are not always right for each patient. Vaccine titers help us ensure a vaccine is truly needed and can help limit unnecessary vaccination.