I am probably moving my dogs across to titre-testing.

I wanted to ask people who give puppy shots and then maybe 1st year boosters, and after that titre test:

1)  How often do you titre test?  Given that the core vaccines from some manufacturers are proven to last for 3 yrs and it is thought last for at least 7 yrs, when do you next titre test after 1st yr boosters?

2)  How much does it cost?  My vet quoted me £90 today for all 3 core vaccines in one test.  Does that sound about right?

3)  My vet (who doesn't have any other clients doing this, but is supportive of my choice) says that the titre test gives a snap-shot of the dog's immune system at that time.  It provides no guarantee of future immunity, tomorrow or next week let alone next year.  What do you say in response to this?

Thanks for your help.
R

We do the titres appoximately every three years.   Our vets charge for taking the blood - not sure how much to be honest - maybe £25 - £30, then I think the lab charges are £38.00, plus postage, maybe plus VAT

I think £90 is top end, but not too bad.

Jo

My vet recommends it every 3 years, which to my mind isn't quite right.  Obviously 3 years after a vaccination is fine, but it would make sense for it to be yearly thereafter - just because a dog still has immunity 3 years after a booster, doesn't mean that it will have protection for another 3 years.  I'm going to explore that further with them anyway :-)

As for cost, my vet charges a total of £55 which included a checkup, so not too much more than a normal booster. 

> It provides no guarantee of future immunity, tomorrow or next week let alone next year.

That is my understanding too.  Never saw the point of it.

Thanks.  Sounds like my vet is v top end, but I live in an expensive part of the country and he hasn't done this before.

I would be happy not to re-vaccinate.  (Or perhaps to give a booster at 5-7 yrs and then that's it.)  However our kennels won't accept that - but they will accept a titre test.  So, it's mainly to have a bit of paper to show the kennels.