Titre Testing for Dogs, all you need to know.
You may or may not have heard of Titre testing for dogs but it is becoming far more common place as people worry about over vaccinating.
In short a Titre Test determines whether your dog has enough antibodies to protect him against a specific virus.
How Does Titre Testing Work?
A Titre Test involves taking a sample of blood and testing the level of antibodies against a particular disease. When your dog has his first vaccinations he will develop antibodies to fight a specific virus in the future. It is advised that your dog should have his fist set of vaccinations at 8 and 12 weeks and then again at 12 months. Thereafter one can use a Titre Test to check his level of natural protection. If the test results show that his antibodies are at a level to fight a specific infection you can choose not to have further vaccinations at that time.
How Often Should a Titre Test be Done?
This is open for debate and veterinary experts may have differing views. To be on the safe side it is recommended to complete a Titre Test every 12 months after the dogs first year booster. Some vets say 3 years however I would always rather be safe than sorry.
How Much Does a Titre Test Cost?
Prices vary and are still relatively high compared to vaccinations. Expect to pay between £80 – £100 for a Titre Test to cover the core diseases that are covered by standard vaccinations. These are Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, and Canine Parvovirus. You should speak with your vet to obtain their specific prices and also ascertain if Titre Testing for dogs is a service they provide.
What are the Risks of Titre Testing?
In some cases we can gain false negative and false positive results on titre tests. False negative are not too important, however false positive can lead you to believe your dog is immune when they are not and therefore would not receive a vaccination and not be protected.
As with all medical decisions we would always suggest that you seek the advice of your usual veterinary professional. If you have recently been lucky enough to welcome a dog into your life but have not yet decided on a vet you can find a list here through the RCVS (Royal Collage of Veterinary Surgeons) .
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