Hi there. I am curious if you do blood titers to check your dogs immunity to common diseases that vaccines protect against? If you do, does that mean you are not revaccinating after three years? If your titer is low though do you revaccinate? What determines a low titer- anyone know off hand?
If you don't titer, and instead stick with the every three year protocol, are there special reasons why you choose that (outside of that it is the normal thing to do)? For example, do you participate in dog events and are therefore at a higher risk of contracting a disease? Or even more so, go to dog parks or social dog places?
As a follow up to those questions, I noticed our sticky notes on vaccines referred only to dr dodds reccomendations but she stated in an article I read of hers about half dose vaccines that dogs start losing their 'baby vaccine immunity' around age ten at which point they are seniors anyway, have a higher risk for vaccine reaction and don't get out much- but our breed generally speaking does have a longer life span so if you did follow that vaccine protocol for your dog how do you or might you behave differently to respond to the needs of your dog with a longer life span?
Dr. Jean Dodds' Pet Health Resource Blog | A Pilot Study: 1/2 Dose Vaccines for Small Dogs
Sorry guys, I know I am always such a babbler but I have another part to this query: what is your take on half dose vaccines for smaller breed dogs? Does anybody do that? I am a vaccine advocate, love my Lilah not getting parvo, think it is super cool my kids don't get polio, that said, it sure does seem strange that the same dose applies to an eight week old yorkie puppy and a Saint Bernard (as is pointed out in that article). I wonder too though, since she wrote that article on the basis that repeat vaccines were not necessary;if the smaller dose a small breed dog would receive would cause a requirement for more frequent re vaccination?
Anywho, I would love to hear what you guys choose to do for your pups and hear any input on these pondering you have to share. Thanks!