Titer Prices?

[Ellie May]

For those who don't mind sharing, what do you all pay?

[KellyV]

About $50

[Yorkiekids]

I have a probably stupid question, but what is it?

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Yorkiekids

I have a probably stupid question, but what is it?

Not a stupid question at all! It's a blood test that they do to see if your dog has built up immunity to the vaccines. I am having it done for the girls this fall. I just don't feel that giving vaccines every year is necessary..



I am paying $50.00 as well

[KellyV]

Originally Posted by Yorkiekids

I have a probably stupid question, but what is it?

Here's a good article on titer testing:
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-...titer_test.htm

[Yorkiekids]

Thanks everyone.

[Superstarkba]

I didn't know either Mrs. Susan! But now I do.lol.

[Sharonandtink]

I had no idea either good question and great answers.

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by KellyV

About $50

Is that $50 for one titer that gives information about all vaccinations, or $50 for a titer for each? I have a 10-year-old Bichon that I don't want to vaccinate every year any more, but $50 each for a titer for distemper, hepatitis, kennel cough, and lepto would be expensive.

[KellyV]

Originally Posted by ladyj

Is that $50 for one titer that gives information about all vaccinations, or $50 for a titer for each? I have a 10-year-old Bichon that I don't want to vaccinate every year any more, but $50 each for a titer for distemper, hepatitis, kennel cough, and lepto would be expensive.

It's $50 for a distemper and parvo titer.

I don't think hepatitis is titered because it's so rare (I think that's why, not sure though)

Bordetella (kennel cough) is a bacteria and the protection from the vaccine is short lived. If you need that one for grooming/boarding/training/etc, you'll still need to give it annually.

I don't titer for lepto since I won't give the vaccine for it. It causes the most adverse reactions, it's not very effective (only protects against a handful of the many strains of it and there's no cross protection between strains) and it's short lived, so it needs to be given yearly (which I wouldn't want to do because of reasons #1 & 2). So even if my kids didn't have a "protective" titer for lepto, I wouldn't vaccinate them anyway. IMO, the risks outweigh the benefits for this one.

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by KellyV

It's $50 for a distemper and parvo titer.

I don't think hepatitis is titered because it's so rare (I think that's why, not sure though)

Bordetella (kennel cough) is a bacteria and the protection from the vaccine is short lived. If you need that one for grooming/boarding/training/etc, you'll still need to give it annually.

I don't titer for lepto since I won't give the vaccine for it. It causes the most adverse reactions, it's not very effective (only protects against a handful of the many strains of it and there's no cross protection between strains) and it's short lived, so it needs to be given yearly (which I wouldn't want to do because of reasons #1 & 2). So even if my kids didn't have a "protective" titer for lepto, I wouldn't vaccinate them anyway. IMO, the risks outweigh the benefits for this one.

That's what I thought was probably true. Have never asked my vet about titers. I don't give the lepto vaccinations either and haven't for years. My vet agrees with that. Both of my dogs go to the groomer, so they need kennel cough and rabies is required. My therapy dog is out and about a lot, so I get him all of his vaccinations except lepto. My other dog only goes to the groomer and vet, so she gets rabies and kennel cough every year and the others every other year, except lepto. I'm thinking of dropping all of her shots except rabies and kennel cough. I always break up the vaccinations, getting rabies and kennel cough and then the rest a week or 10 days later. There is a lot of discussion about the necessity of yearly vaccinations. I've never had a dog that had a bad reaction to a vaccination, but I can understand how upsetting it would be. I do think that by the time a dog is 5 or 6 years old, he's probably immune for the rest of his life.

[Ellie May]

We just got Ellie's done the other day and it was $85 altogether (for parvo and distemper).