Vaccinations vs. Titers: Which is right for your pet?
[dropcap]V[/dropcap]accinations for a wide variety of diseases have been standard care for humans and animals for many years. It is very clear that vaccines have improved the health and well being of mass populations of humans as well as animals, and some diseases have been or nearly been eradicated. However, where there is good there may also be bad. In recent years, vaccinations for animals have been challenged, and vaccine manufacturers have done more research allowing for extended lengths of time between vaccinations. Dr. Jean Dodds has been a leader in the veterinary community to research and advocate for minimal core vaccines, lengthened vaccine intervals and titer studies. We will discuss pros and cons to vaccinations as well as a discussion about titers.
Basic Vaccination Protocols
Newborns will have some immunity from the mother, assuming the mother has been properly vaccinated and has immunity herself. Vaccination for puppies and kittens typically begin at 6–8 weeks of age when maternal antibodies (protection) begin to wane. Depending on the disease being vaccinated for, there are typically at least 2 doses administered 3–4 weeks apart (except Rabies, which offers protection for 1 year with 1 dose). This initial protection will last for varying amounts of time with an average of 1 year being the accepted and documented length of protection. Boostering the animal at the 1-year mark is generally required to offer additional years of immunity. This is where the dispute comes in – how long does that protection really last? No one knows for sure.
Titer Basics
Various labs are able to run what is called a titer, a number value predetermined to show if there is adequate level of protection against a specific disease. This test result can offer some level of assurance that the pet is protected from disease, however, there has always been some question about protection in the “real world”. How well protected is the animal really if challenged by a virulent strain of virus? Or if the animal’s immune system is not at an optimal level? Or if another disease process is also ongoing? There is no way to know how long the animal’s titer level will remain at that protective level either.
This is where the debate comes in. How is adequate protection determined? Does every animal need to be at the optimal protective level? What is the animal’s risk of exposure to a particular disease? How does a veterinarian decide, along with the pet’s families, what is best for each individual animal? What are core vaccines? Which diseases are dangerous to humans? When is a vaccine more harmful than risk of disease?
Not all of these questions can be answered within the scope of this article, but it does offer the opportunity for discussion and raises awareness of an interesting dilemma confronting veterinarians and pet owners.
Ultimately, each animal must be treated as an individual with vaccine needs or titers being tailored to each animal’s situation. The one exception should be Rabies vaccine. Rabies is a human health threat with no treatment available, and Rabies is an active threat in all of New Jersey. A Rabies titer is not legally considered acceptable proof of vaccination, and in case of a bite, only a current vaccination certificate is acceptable. In rare instances, a veterinarian may deem a patient unable to safely receive a Rabies vaccine, and appropriate forms must be filled out.
Have a discussion with your veterinarian to tailor your pet’s care to the risk of exposure and what can be safely done keeping your pet’s health and age in mind.
Dr. Karin Derfuss graduated from Cook College (Rutgers University) before attending Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. She is IVAS certified in veterinary acupuncture and continues her integrative studies through IVAS, CIVT and the Chi Institute.
Dr. Derfuss practices at the Branchburg Animal Hospital, 1167 Route 28, Branchburg. 908-707-0045. BranchburgAnimalHospital.com. Facebook: BranchburgAnimalHospital.
