Would welcome any comments on titre testing.  I have a small dog that was vacc as a pup and is now due for a booster.  I welcome for and against comments.

I have decided against annual vaccs.  Both have had puppy vaccinations, and they may have another one when they reach 4 or so.  Have read a lot about both sides of argument and have opted against.  My opinion is that one dose of vaccs should be enough to immune.  A lot of dogs are having adverse reactions to vaccs, and vets are seeing a huge increase in number of auto-immune diseases, and some symptoms appear days after the routine vaccinations.  I know that vets have more knowledge about this sort of thing, and my vets keep trying to change my mind.  But, as I say to them, vets in USA and Australia now disagree with annual vaccinations, and they are experts too surely? 

> vets in USA and Australia now disagree with annual vaccinations

Which vaccines are you referring to?  Most brands of vaccines marketed in the UK are not annual either.
Tadog, if you use the search facility, in particular the search facility at the bottom of the page which will give you older threads, you will find titre testing has been discussed many times with every possible pro and con debated.

If most vaccines are not annual, why do vets (and insurance companies) insist we vaccinate every year?  They know that they are over vaccinating, but continue to do so.  You can get separate vaccines, but not all surgeries offer these, and they are more expensive than having the multiple one.

>If most vaccines are not annual, why do vets (and insurance companies) insist we vaccinate every year?

Because the lepto vaccine isn't guaranteed for more than 12 months, and needs to be boosted annually. The distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus part needs only be done every 3 years.

Hi Tadog

I titre test all my dogs before deciding to booster them, I personally like to know what levels my dogs have before adding more vaccine.  Have you spoken to your vet about their opinion? Not all vets will poo poo titre testing and I know of at least 2 in my area who recommend testing if the owner is unsure about boosters nowadays.  I think you may find, however, that lepto is not able to be tested, as one of the other posts mentioned, why not have a look back at some of the other posts regarding vaccines and/or titre testing?

Ultimately its up to you whether you decide to booster your dog, everyone has the right to make their own choice without being railroaded or made to justify yourself.  You've made a good start, asking for other people's opinions and being open to hearing them, both for and against.   

But you are rail roaded into it if you want to kennel your dogs!!! As the insurance companys of the Kennels INSIST in Vaccinated dogs!!!!
You cannot kennel your dogs if they are not vaccinated due to the insurance guide lines!!!
Thankfully the kennels I use dont insist on KC vaccines like some do!!!
Lea :)

I agree, I think your vet is the best person to ask to explain all the pros and cons and put them in their context and proportions, Tadog. 
I think you will know if they are interested enough to examine it all with you and if not I would seek out a vet that will as there are many more who will appreciate that people have concerns about these things these days. 

> As the insurance companys of the Kennels INSIST in Vaccinated dogs

I wonder why :-)  Insurance companies are usually pretty good at assessing risk and they have no personal gain in insisting on vaccination.
They don't insist on KC at our kennels, nor do any others in our area, which makes me think ponder again that they insist on all the others.

My friend used a kennel who accepts homeopathic nosodes and one of the other kennels she used was happy providing the dogs had an initial puppy course.  She did find quite a few who did insist on up to date vacs so there's a mix of them in our area.

Hi tadog, as Debussy says once dogs have immunity then they shouldn't need any further vaccines.  So titre testing is a good way of knowing whether or not a booster is necessary.  Not all vets are forward thinking though and will just do as they have always done and vaccine every year regardless.  So you have to insist on a titre test which all vets CAN carry out.  The blood sample will be sent away and you should get your results in about 10 days.  (the same way as titre tests for rabies are sent away) so if it works for rabies and pet passport then why not all the other diseases?

Some vets administer parvo and distemper vaccines every year and the manufacturers say every 3 years.  Lepto on the other hand is only effective between 3-7 months and doesn't protect against all the strains found in the uk so even if a dog has a lepto vaccine (and this is the most likely vaccine the dog reacts to) they are unlikely to be protected, so not worth having anyway.  And I have that advice from an expert in the field.

Kennels, I have found a kennels that accept either high titre test readings or homeopathic nosodes, so they are around if you search.

Might be worth having a look at Catherine O'Driscoll's website she has recently brought out a new dvd it makes interesting viewing, the views of experienced vets who are now against over vaccination,   http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/

Many of us who have seen a dog suffer from adverse reactions and many of us have had dogs die from them, as we also love our dogs we want to do the best for them and keep them safe, so it is important that you find out all the info that you can and make an informed decision for your dog, it isn't easy, there is lots of conflicting advice around as you can tell from this thread.

The best protection a dog can have against these diseases is a healthy immune system and the best way of ensuring this is to feed a healthy diet and not to bombard their systems with chemicals.

The kennels I used last year were happy to take my dog with proof of titre testing.

>Lepto on the other hand is only effective between 3-7 months and doesn't protect against all the strains found in the uk so even if a dog has a lepto vaccine (and this is the most likely vaccine the dog reacts to) they are unlikely to be protected,

Except for the strains it does cover.
Some of us have also lost dogs from the diseases we vaccinate against so appreciate the value of it.  The trouble with this sort of internet "research" is you are only going to get peoples limited personal experience.  Veterinary research involves much broader scientifically gathered data which is then broadly analysed and this, thankfully, is what is used when establishing best practice.

Except for the strains it does cover

But what about the strains it doesn't? 

And the effectiveness for the strains it does cover wane between 3-7 months so for at least so whatever you choose the dog is not going to have protection for at least 5 months of the year anyway.

Yes, I wish there was cover available for all strains but don't see why that makes the cover we do get of no use.
Similarly I wish the cover was for a full year but I have always managed to edge our boosters to the spring to ensure the best cover during the summer months when the rat population is at its highest and my dogs are more inclined to be using waterways etc. but perhaps we should be considering boosters biannnually for Lepto.