The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

[quote="debbiefive"]I wasn't aware they offer 3 yr shots for anything but rabies. Is this something new?

Until last year when I needed to change vets, I didn't know there were any 3 yr vaccines other than rabies, either. But upon interviewing this vet, he informed me that he does indeed administer a 3yr. DHP. So I opted to do just that, and four weeks later returned to get their 3 yr. rabies. So far so good. I was very pleased to have been given this option. But, from here on out, besides the state mandated rabies, my boy's will be titered. My new vet has been wonderful and is very receptive to the titer idea, although it isn't his normal course of action. But I'm hoping I will help him find that titering is a much better and more logical way to go for our furbabies health. The only thing I do yearly now is their heartworm test.


Sandy.... back to my original question..... of the places you listed, do you know which ones issue # values? Thanks

All the ones I listed give numeric ratios:

Distemper 1:32 is considered good protective immunity. Callie was 1:1024.

Parvo 1:64 is considered good protective immunity. Callie was 1:4000.

A "titer" is a measurement of how much antibody to a certain virus (or other antigen) is circulating in the blood at that moment. Titers are usually expressed in a ratio, which is how many times they could dilute the blood until they couldn't find antibodies anymore. So let's say they could dilute it two times only and then they didn't find anymore, that would be a titer of 1:2. If they could dilute it a thousand times before they couldn't find any antibody, then that would be a titer of 1:1000.

A titer test does not and cannot measure immunity, because immunity to specific viruses is reliant not on antibodies, but on memory cells, which we have no way to measure. Memory cells are what prompt the immune system to create antibodies and dispatch them to an infection caused by the virus it "remembers." Memory cells don't need "reminders" in the form of re-vaccination to keep producing antibodies. (Science, 1999; "Immune system's memory does not need reminders.") If the animal recently encountered the virus, their level of antibody might be quite high, but that doesn't mean they are more immune than an animal with a lower titer.

Just had titers come back just fine for parvo and distemper on both dogs (did the three-year rabies booster, but not the others this round). I am so thankful for this forum -- would never have thought about titering instead of vaccine. Our vet said that in a dream world, everyone would do this for their pets. Thanks to everyone for sharing all this info; my dogs are healthier because of it!

Julie --

THANKS for the link!! I asked for titer estimates from our "lesser expensive" vet that we use. I can't find the printed estimate right off, but it was well over $400!! Sammy's vaccinations were "due", and I declined them.....then got the "eye roll" from the vet tech.

Terri

Terri,
My vet down in Oregon will do both parvo + distemper for $80 and the rabies titer (the one that is needed to get a dog to Hawaii) for $150. It is a lot cheaper than the Seattle price. I remember paying $150-$200 for Louie's parvo and distemper titer in 2009 here.

Also, the same Oregon vet fixed Cherry's patella for less than $400 (I was quoted $2200 in Issaquah, WA, which only included deepening the groove).

Anyways, email me if you want to get it done down there.

I just took Buddy for his yearly checkup and told my vet I wanted him to do titers instead of vacines and he had not done this before but said he would look into it and get back with me. He did though suggest that I get the three year shots for Buddy just like I do for the rabies shot. I wish he had told me that before and I would have done that in the beginning. But he did say that once a dog gets to be
5 years old and that is what we believe Buddy to be he suggests that they get their shots only every three years as he feels that that is enough to keep up their emmunities. I was so happy to hear him say that also. So if the titer is over $300 my husband said we will go with the every 3 year shots. So his check up was on Monday and I am waiting for his call on the titers. I really trust him and he is a wonderful vet. I would suggest that everyone ask their vets if they offer the 3 year vacines for the
Parvo etc along with the 3 year rabie shots. They may be surprised to hear their vet does agree with that schedule. Kris

Kris, I know a couple of people who titer their pets and after their puppy boosters, they have not had to have boosters, even at three years (other than rabies, which is required in many states). I would really suggest you ty the titers to see if the shots are necessary. I wish now that I had known about the titers when I had my cocker, as I would not have done the shots. There is no point in over-medicating if it is not necessary.

I just had Gromit titered for distemper and parvo yesterday. My vet is wonderful - the cost for the two titers was $58.00, she just charged me what the lab charges her (plus an office visit fee of 32.00). She said that as a result of my requesting the titers, she had to educate her staff on what titers are and why! She totally understands why, as a cocker owner, I want to have Gromit titered. She also complimented me on having the healthiest cocker she's ever seen. She said she believes it's because I was so proactive about having her allergy tested, and getting her on the right food based on the test results. No itchy, smelly skin, no digestive issues, and no ear problems ever (I think the Zim ear formula helps with the ears). So, except for a few extra pounds that Gromit needs to lose (she takes after me, lol), she's perfect. Gromit also had her eyes cerf tested a few weeks ago, and they're fine, too. I'll let you all know what her titer results are once I get them back.

I have decided for sure to get Buddy's titers done. I called his vet today and he said to bring him in any time to get his blood drawn. I need to take him in one week to get a recheck on an ear infection so I will take him then to get it done. My vet said he was happy I had decided to go that route and said he wishes that more of his people would do the titers. I am so thankful for this forum as if it were not for reading about them on this forum I would not have known anything about them. Thank you to everyone who wrote about them. Kris

Kris
Earlier in this post I already did the legwork on what the various labs charge. I would suggest copying the info and having it in hand when you go to the vet, so if he says the titers will cost you $300, then show him the actual lab cost which is only $33, and ask why the huge markup. My friend in Leesburg, Florida recently titered her dog and the total charge was only $79.

My buff Riley is 4 and now due for his 3 yr shots. His appt is in a few weeks, and I will have him get rabies at that appt and have his blood drawn for his titer-if he needs a DHLPP booster then he can come back a month-6 weeks later and the vet tech can do it. I have done this with my other 2 at age 4, and no DHLPP needed for both, and I expect the same results for Riley. I now have them on a schedule, at ages 4, 7, 10, etc. Please post Buddy's titer results when you get them.