What are Canine Titer Tests?

Canine titer tests are performed to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood. The level of the antibody detected tells the story of your dog's past immune system response to specific diseases.

Titering your dog is an effective way of determining if your dog possesses immunity to Parvo Virus and Distemper and if your dog tests positive for immunity from these core diseases then it will also be protected from Adenovirus. It simply tells you something that annual re-vaccination can not - if the vaccine took.

Titer Tests are also useful if your dog has an adverse vaccine reaction especially the Rabies Vaccine (as it is mandated by law in most states), titer results can reduce the risk to your dog by preventing needless and unnecessary exposure to the allergen if the previous vaccine took and your dog is already immune.

It is also useful for determining whether or not your dog has developed Heartworm.

To Revaccinate or Not To Revaccinate...That is the Question?

Research has shown that vaccinating an animal for something it has already developed an immune system response for can lead to hypersensitivity disorder.

Long and Short Term Vaccines

Long term vaccines are vaccines that are known to last over several years even if the exact duration is unknown. These vaccines include; parvo virus (CPV-2), distemper (CDV), adenovirus (CAV-1), parainfluenza (CPI) and the rabies vaccine.

Short term vaccines last a year or less. These vaccines include bordetella, lyme, leptospirosis and as these are non-core the dog really needs to live in a high risk area in order to need them in the first place.

Corona Virus and Giardia Vaccines are considered unwarranted for most all situations.

My Recommended Approach

Vaccinate your puppy according the schedule that you feel accurately suits your dog's risk. The schedule will include a series approach to the vaccines to ensure that the mother's antibodies have not interfered with the desired immune response in the puppy.

Titer at this point only if the puppy displays an adverse reaction. Most reactions are greatly minimized by breaking out the vaccine combos into their separate parts such as giving a 3 way puppy shot for Parvo, Distemper and Adenovirus rather than a 7 way vaccine.

If your dog remains reaction free for the first year of shots (as is the normal case) titer test your dog when it comes time for their annual vaccinations beginning with year two for the long term vaccines of Distemper and Parvo to determine if they are necessary for the coming year. This will prevent your dog from developing an unnecessary sensitivity to vaccines.

If your dog is high risk for short term vaccines such as Bordetella, Lyme or Leptospiria then vaccinate annually according to their risk unless adverse reactions are present.

Test yearly for heartworm as well, starting at 18 months of age.

How to I Get Titer Testing for My Dog?

Most veterinarian's send their test samples out to labs. I've been quoted upwards of $275.00 from local vets to perform the test however if your vet has the TiterCHEK™ test in office, they can perform the test and have an answer in 15 minutes. This test is typically less expensive than the lab.

Another option is to send the sample to the lab yourself which typically cuts down the price significantly. For example I can send a sample to Hemopet and get my dog tested for Parvo, Distemper and Heartworm (which remember also proves immunity to Adenovirus) for $51.50 not including shipping and handling.

However if I send it to WSU's Veterinary Lab (I live in the Seattle area) then I would pay $65.00 just for Parvo and Distemper not including Heartworm.

So my recommendations are to call your local vets and see if they can beat Hemopet's pricing and if not then following the instructions in Hemopet's forms and submit your samples to them directly.


Return from Titer Tests to Our Dog Allergies Page