Does My Dog Really Need to be Vaccinated?

Have you ever wondered if your dog really needs a recommended vaccine booster shot? With Titer Testing you can find out! Here’s how it works: After vaccination, dogs often maintain protective antibody to core diseases (like Canine Hepatitis Parvovirus and Distemper) for three or more years—which is a longer period of time than the err-on-the-side-of-caution revaccination schedule dictates. Enter Titer Testing, a blood test that allows your vet to test the antibody levels of your dog to determine the duration of immunity—in other words, whether your dog needs to be re-vaccinated or is still protected.

If the test results indicate antibody is present, you can wait to revaccinate your dog for the specific disease being tested. If antibody titer is absent, your dog should be revaccinated (unless there is a medical reason for not so doing).