Titers--Dr. W. Jean Dodds Interviews

[Kris Christine]

Dr. Karen Becker's article & interview with Dr. W. Jean Dodds on veterinary antibody titers: What Exactly Are Antibody Titers? | Types of Titer Tests

"Dr. Dodds explained that certain diseases produce what we call 'sterile immunity.' Those diseases include distemper, parvo, and hepatitis in dogs, and panleukopenia in cats. When an animal is exposed to these diseases and recovers, or is vaccinated properly against them, the animal becomes immunized. ....
When an animal is properly vaccinated and becomes immunized, he receives sterile immunity, which is long lasting -- a minimum of seven to nine years, to a maximum of lifetime immunity -- as measured by titer tests. This means the pet cannot become infected, nor will he shed the virus should he be exposed."

"There are antibody titer levels, and there are things called immune memory cells, which remain for a lifetime. Even with low titer values following vaccination, pets may still be protected for up to a year or even longer by immune memory cells...Dr. Dodds explains that she’s not overly worried about a low distemper titer unless the pet is around wildlife. She does worry about parvo. If a parvo titer comes back negative on an ELISA and positive on an IFA, again, the results go to the animal’s vet so he or she can make the judgment call. But Dr. Dodds does discourage vets from delivering combination vaccines and recommends instead a single parvovirus vaccine booster. Single-agent vaccines are significantly less stressful to the body immunologically."

Dr. W. Jean Dodds videotaped interview on veterinary titers

Dr. Becker and Dr. Dodds Talk About Titers -...

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[Kris Christine]

Dr. Jean Dodds' Pet Health Resource Blog | Frequently Asked Questions about Titers and Vaccination Protocol by Dr. Dodds

Frequently Asked Questions about Titers and Vaccination Protocol by Dr. Dodds

We frequently receive questions regarding Dr. Dodds’ Canine Vaccination Protocol and thought we would put together a short FAQ to help your dog. We also invite you to explore the section tagged "Vaccines" “on our blog as we have several posts about specific vaccines, viruses, and titers.

Question: The breeder vaccinated before nine weeks of age. How do I start your vaccination protocol now?
Answer: Just continue with the regular minimum vaccine protocol of Distemper and Parvovirus at 9 and 14 weeks.

Question: It is difficult to find a veterinarian who gives only the DPV (Nobivac Puppy-DPv) per your vaccination protocol. Can you recommend a vet?
Answer: You or your veterinarian can purchase it online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply. Your vet can then administer the shot.

Question: We purchased a puppy from a breeder who only vaccinates for Parvovirus. Should my dog also have Distemper?
Answer: Your dog does need a distemper virus shot – in fact two doses are needed 3-4 weeks apart. You can purchase it yourself. The only monovalent, single distemper shot on the market today is NeoVacc-D by NeoTech – available online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply. (Note: you can also purchase a single shot of Parvovirus from the same places.)

Question: What kind of rabies vaccine should I get?
Answer: The rabies vaccine should be thimerosal (mercury) – free – i.e. Merial IMRAB TF.

Question: Are there any methods to stop the potential side effects of vaccine reactions?
Answer: You can pre-treat dogs with the oral homeopathics, Thuja and Lyssin, to help blunt any adverse effects of the rabies vaccine. For other vaccines, just Thuja is needed. These homeopathics can be given the day before, the day of, and the day after the vaccine. Some product protocols suggest a different regimen for them.

Question: Why won’t my state take my dog’s rabies titer test so he can avoid the vaccine?
Answer: At this time, no state will accept a rabies titer in lieu of the shot. Additionally, a rabies titer does not satisfy any state’s medical exemption clause. For a list of states with medical exemptions, please visit The Rabies Challenge Fund Duration of Immunity Study for Rabies Vaccine - Rabies Challenge Fund. There are currently 18 states that officially recognize exemptions from rabies booster, but only on a justified case-by-case basis and following the specific requirements of that state.

Question: What is the point of a rabies titer test if my state won’t accept it as a medical exemption?
Answer: There are two reasons:
1) Rabies titer results are required by many rabies-free countries or regions in order for dogs and cats to qualify for a reduced quarantine period prior to entry. Some of these regions are Hawaii, Guam, Japan, St. Kitts and Nevis, Australia, New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom. Always check with the destination authority to verify the pet importation.
2) The CDC states that a rabies titer of 0.1 IU/mL or higher is acceptable to protect a person from rabies. Further, the results of the 5-year Rabies Challenge Fund Study showed that immunologic memory for rabies vaccination remains at or above that level of immunity. This information is helpful for pet guardian peace-of-mind in areas where clinical rabies cases occur, and the dog or cat is medically exempt from further rabies boosters.

Question: Every year, the titer shows them as low on their distemper antibodies. What should I do?
Answer: I do suggest titer testing your dog every three years for both distemper and parvovirus.

Additionally, any measurable titer to either distemper & parvovirus means that the dog has specific committed immune memory cells to respond and afford protection upon exposure. If your dogs consistently have no measurable titer to canine distemper virus, it means mean that they are distemper “non-or low-responders”, an heritable trait where they will never mount immunity to distemper and will always be susceptible. These dogs should not be used for breeding.

As non-or low-responders to distemper are rare (1:5000 cases), my suggestion is that you retest at least one of them at Hemopet.

Question: My veterinarian believes anytime dogs are in contact with water that they are at HIGH risk for contracting leptospirosis.
Answer: Not so. Most Leptospirosis strains (there are about 200) do not cause disease, and of the seven clinically important strains, only four — L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. canicola, L. grippotyphosa, and L. pomona serovars — are found in today’s vaccines. So, exposure risk depends upon which serovars of Lepto have been documented to cause clinical leptospirosis in the area where you live. You can call the county health department or local animal control and ask.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet / NutriScan
11561 Salinaz Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843

[Wylie's Mom]

Kris, as always thanks so much for always thinking of us and keeping us informed. It's truly appreciated!

Help me work this out in my head. I'm a little surprised at how heavily Dr. Dodds relies on titers when titers aren't wholly accurate. In other words, a dog can show humoral immunity, but not have cellular immunity; in the reverse, a dog can have cellular immunity but not show humoral immunity. Titers don't / can't provide a truly accurate and reliable picture of immunity.

So, does Dr. Dodd's use them, despite this, because it's really the only available tool we currently have that at least gives us *some* idea as to what's going on, even though it may not be totally accurate?

[Maximo]

I agree, Ann, about titers. But my vet wants to do them on my boys because I am refusing the 3 year DHPP.

[Kris Christine]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Kris, as always thanks so much for always thinking of us and keeping us informed. It's truly appreciated!

Help me work this out in my head. I'm a little surprised at how heavily Dr. Dodds relies on titers when titers aren't wholly accurate. In other words, a dog can show humoral immunity, but not have cellular immunity; in the reverse, a dog can have cellular immunity but not show humoral immunity. Titers don't / can't provide a truly accurate and reliable picture of immunity.

So, does Dr. Dodd's use them, despite this, because it's really the only available tool we currently have that at least gives us *some* idea as to what's going on, even though it may not be totally accurate?

Yes, Dr. Dodds absolutely does use titers & I believe she concurs with Dr. Schultz on this (see below).

This is what Dr. Ronald Schultz had to say in his 2007 presentation to the AKC Canine Health Foundation entitled,What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines and Vaccination Programs: What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines

"An antibody titer no matter how low shows the animal has immunologic memory since memory effector B cells must be present to produce that antibody. Some dogs without antibody are protected from disease because they have T cell memory, that will provide cell mediated immunity (CMI). CMI will not protect from reinfection, but it will prevent disease."

My own dogs, those of my children and grandchildren are vaccinated with MLV CDV, CPV-2, CPI, andCAV-2 vaccines once as puppies after the age of 12 weeks. An antibody titer is performed two or more weeks later and if found positive our dogs are never again vaccinated. " I have used this vaccination program with modifications (CAV-2 replaced CAV-1 vaccines in 1970's and CPV-2 vaccines were first used in 1980) since 1974! I have never had one of our dogs develop CDV,CAV-1 or CPV-2 even though they have had exposure to many dogs, wildlife and to virulent CPV-2 virus. You may say that I have been lucky, but it is not luck that protects my dogs, it is immunologic memory.

[Mork]

What's a titer test? Is this something Mork should have?

[IDPiper]

Does anyone know about how much it costs to have titers done?

Originally Posted by Mork

What's a titer test? Is this something Mork should have?

If Mork has been vaccinated and you want to verify that the antibody is present before re-vaccinating to avoid over vaccination then you would have titers done. It's some interesting reading if you have the time.

[Mork]

Hi IDPiper,

Thanks! I talked to the Vet about this yesterday (before I saw your response). He suggested that since she's a puppy and receiving her puppy shots that it wasn't even an option yet.

Thanks,
Mork's Mom

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Kris Christine

Yes, Dr. Dodds absolutely does use titers & I believe she concurs with Dr. Schultz on this (see below).

This is what Dr. Ronald Schultz had to say in his 2007 presentation to the AKC Canine Health Foundation entitled,What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines and Vaccination Programs: What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines

"An antibody titer no matter how low shows the animal has immunologic memory since memory effector B cells must be present to produce that antibody. Some dogs without antibody are protected from disease because they have T cell memory, that will provide cell mediated immunity (CMI). CMI will not protect from reinfection, but it will prevent disease."

My own dogs, those of my children and grandchildren are vaccinated with MLV CDV, CPV-2, CPI, andCAV-2 vaccines once as puppies after the age of 12 weeks. An antibody titer is performed two or more weeks later and if found positive our dogs are never again vaccinated. " I have used this vaccination program with modifications (CAV-2 replaced CAV-1 vaccines in 1970's and CPV-2 vaccines were first used in 1980) since 1974! I have never had one of our dogs develop CDV,CAV-1 or CPV-2 even though they have had exposure to many dogs, wildlife and to virulent CPV-2 virus. You may say that I have been lucky, but it is not luck that protects my dogs, it is immunologic memory.

So, are effector B cells indicative of humoral immunity or cellular immunity? If they're indicative of just humoral immunity, you're saying we're still okay bc the low titer is still proof that the body is producing the antibody? So in a nutshell, you're saying - even though humoral immunity doesn't verify cellular immunity...we're still okay? Bc this is different from what I've always heard in the past. Why/how/when has this changed?

In the past, it's always been: a low titer proves humoral immunity but not cell mediated immunity. A negative titer shows no humoral immunity, however, a dog could still have cell med immunity (thereby being protected).

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by IDPiper

Does anyone know about how much it costs to have titers

I live on Long Island, New York, and the cost of having Katie titered instead of her booster shot was $70.00. Dr. Dodds recommends titering every three years, but I believe Dr. Schulz and my vet recommend it be done every year. I really trust my vet, and I truly believe he has Katie's best interest at heart.

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by Kris Christine

Yes, Dr. Dodds absolutely does use titers & I believe she concurs with Dr. Schultz on this (see below).

This is what Dr. Ronald Schultz had to say in his 2007 presentation to the AKC Canine Health Foundation entitled,What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines and Vaccination Programs: What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines

"An antibody titer no matter how low shows the animal has immunologic memory since memory effector B cells must be present to produce that antibody. Some dogs without antibody are protected from disease because they have T cell memory, that will provide cell mediated immunity (CMI). CMI will not protect from reinfection, but it will prevent disease."

My own dogs, those of my children and grandchildren are vaccinated with MLV CDV, CPV-2, CPI, andCAV-2 vaccines once as puppies after the age of 12 weeks. An antibody titer is performed two or more weeks later and if found positive our dogs are never again vaccinated. " I have used this vaccination program with modifications (CAV-2 replaced CAV-1 vaccines in 1970's and CPV-2 vaccines were first used in 1980) since 1974! I have never had one of our dogs develop CDV,CAV-1 or CPV-2 even though they have had exposure to many dogs, wildlife and to virulent CPV-2 virus. You may say that I have been lucky, but it is not luck that protects my dogs, it is immunologic memory.

Thank you so much for this information.

[Nancy1999]

Wow, now I'm really confused, the last time this was discussed, it seemed like everyone told me titers were worthless and a waste of money. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...-our-pets.html

[Kris Christine]

Originally Posted by lisaly

Thank you so much for this information.

You're very welcome.

[Kris Christine]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Wow, now I'm really confused, the last time this was discussed, it seemed like everyone told me titers were worthless and a waste of money. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...-our-pets.html

To shed some light on titer testing, the following is from Page 19 the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines under the heading "Serological Tests to Monitor Immunity Leerburg | Special Report : it states that "Although the committee does not feel it is necessary to determine titers to these core viruses on an annual basis because of the long minimum DOI [duration of immunity] for these products, titers can be used for your and/or your client's assurance that the animal has immunity. Experience with postvaccination titers for CDV [distemper], CAV [hepatitis], and CPV [parvo] shows that sterile immunity lasts for years...........The primary reason for the test is to ensure that you have a positive test after completing the puppy vaccination series."

2011 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocume...Guidelines.pdf p. 17 "Despite the confusion and controversy surrounding antibody testing, these serologic tests are useful for monitoring immunity to CDV, CPV-2, CAV-1, and RV. .....On completion of the puppy core vaccination series with the last dose given at 14-16 wk of age, a dog can be expected to have an antibody titer or positive test result, regardless of the serologic test performed, provided the serum sample is collected > 2 wk after the last dose of vaccine." (CDV=distemper, CPV-2 = parvovirus, CAV-1 hepatitis, RV= rabies)"

From Page 16 of the 2003 AAHA Guidelines it reports that, "The MLV [modified live virus (such as distemper, hepatitis, parvo)] vaccines create an immunity that is similar to immunity after an animal recovers from infection." Further, on Page 17, " When MLV [modified live virus (such as distemper, hepatitis, parvo)] vaccines are used to immunize a dog, memory cells develop and likely persist for the life of the animal."

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

So, are effector B cells indicative of humoral immunity or cellular immunity? If they're indicative of just humoral immunity, you're saying we're still okay bc the low titer is still proof that the body is producing the antibody? So in a nutshell, you're saying - even though humoral immunity doesn't verify cellular immunity...we're still okay? Bc this is different from what I've always heard in the past. Why/how/when has this changed?

In the past, it's always been: a low titer proves humoral immunity but not cell mediated immunity. A negative titer shows no humoral immunity, however, a dog could still have cell med immunity (thereby being protected).

Kris, if you get a chance can you answer these questions? Bc in the past, we've been informed of info that is now different than the new info you're posting. I'd really like to know how/why/when this philosophy toward titers changed.