Received the Dreaded Postcard

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

If your vet (and the practice) is pro-vaccination (meaning $$$$$$) you will have to arm yourself with as much information as you can find and stand firm!!! It really helps to print off one of the recommendations from Dr. Dodd's or the writings from Dr. Tarefaj.

And you are correct on the titers. Dr. Tarefaj's writings suggest titer testing if you are unsure, but also says not to rely on them as a rule. If the same exact lab isn't evaluating the titer each time you have it done, they are not reliable and a titer indicating low immunity does not mean your pup isn't protected. Plus, the titers are expensive tests. I'm going with my gut on this one. My girls had their puppy shots and boosters and will not be getting anything else other than their 3-year rabies.

That is why titers irritate me.
Just because one comes back low does not mean that the dog isn't protected. They are really a waste of my time and money but it is a compromise, so we will probably continue to do them.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

If your vet (and the practice) is pro-vaccination (meaning $$$$$$) you will have to arm yourself with as much information as you can find and stand firm!!! It really helps to print off one of the recommendations from Dr. Dodd's or the writings from Dr. Tarefaj.

And you are correct on the titers. Dr. Tarefaj's writings suggest titer testing if you are unsure, but also says not to rely on them as a rule. If the same exact lab isn't evaluating the titer each time you have it done, they are not reliable and a titer indicating low immunity does not mean your pup isn't protected. Plus, the titers are expensive tests. I'm going with my gut on this one. My girls had their puppy shots and boosters and will not be getting anything else other than their 3-year rabies.

I could not agree with this more !!!!

What people really, REALLY need to understand is that they (we) are the advocates for our own pets' health - and you truly must arm yourself and stand FIRM, as stated above, for what you know is BEST for your pet - no matter what some vets try to sell you. If you're not confident in your words, just say "here's what I want to do, period - and I brought some printed material for you to read later for why I decided this, in case you're interested".

[MyFairLacy]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

That is why titers irritate me.
Just because one comes back low does not mean that the dog isn't protected. They are really a waste of my time and money but it is a compromise, so we will probably continue to do them.

I won't do titers on mine either...I don't think it's accurate. I believe my dog is protected and the only shot required is rabies so I think it's my choice on whether I want to vaccinate for non-required shots

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

I won't do titers on mine either...I don't think it's accurate. I believe my dog is protected and the only shot required is rabies so I think it's my choice on whether I want to vaccinate for non-required shots

This is exactly what I'm battling internally right now. Should I titer Wylie or not? He is UTD on everything. He is 4 years old. It has been 3 years since his last Distemper and Parvo; the dist. vax likely provides lifetime immunity (even though they made the "3 yr. compromise" w/ vets) - the parvo vax provides at least 7.5 years immunity, but is also likely a lifetime immunity.

So, technically I'm supposed to titer - but really, I should not need to at all.

[Wylie's Mom]

I wonder if we need a sticky for vaccines....

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

This is exactly what I'm battling internally right now. Should I titer Wylie or not? He is UTD on everything. He is 4 years old. It has been 3 years since his last Distemper and Parvo; the dist. vax likely provides lifetime immunity (even though they made the "3 yr. compromise" w/ vets) - the parvo vax provides at least 7.5 years immunity, but is also likely a lifetime immunity.

So, technically I'm supposed to titer - but really, I should not need to at all.

Lol, good question.
What does your vet think? (not that I trust any of them on the subject but thought I'd ask)

It wouldn't hurt to titer but if they do come back low, that means nothing and the vet will panic and rush to more vaccines...

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Lol, good question.
What does your vet think? (not that I trust any of them on the subject but thought I'd ask)

It wouldn't hurt to titer but if they do come back low, that means nothing and the vet will panic and rush to more vaccines...

Yup, that's exactly why I'm torn. I don't even have a vet I want to talk about it with but there is a new vet I'm considering, so maybe it'd be possible.

Maybe the titer would be worth getting at this point - if only to confirm that he indeed has the antibodies (even if they are low) - is that what you're kind of thinking too?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I wonder if we need a sticky for vaccines....

I think we do but there are so many views on it and so much to cover unless you just list the research articles and sites but there are so many questions beyond that and they come up all the time.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Yup, that's exactly why I'm torn. I don't even have a vet I want to talk about it with but there is a new vet I'm considering, so maybe it'd be possible.

Maybe the titer would be worth getting at this point - if only to confirm that he indeed has the antibodies (even if they are low) - is that what you're kind of thinking too?

Because it has been three years, I might lean toward titers.
Most likely he is protected for life but we still can't be 100% sure.
I would guess with an MLV vaccine the conclusion will be that dogs are totally protected for life if it is given after the immune system is mature (like people). That is what Dr. Schultz does with his dogs but Dr. Dodds still does titers and she is very knowledgeable. Sorry, no help.