Titers Testing

[tanza]

The DHPP, is now recommended by 90% of Vets after the first year be done every three years, just like Rabies.

[Duke]

@tanza:

The DHPP, is now recommended by 90% of Vets after the first year be done every three years, just like Rabies.

OK thanks. Sorry - feeling confused again - I'm on a learning curve on this. The info in Lisa's link indicated specifically that Distemper and Parvo immunites are for life. That leaves Hepatitus and Parainfluenza out there (every 3 years?) What I need to do is dive into learning more about the titer test to eliminate unnecessary vaccines.

[lvoss]

The reason why most vets still recommend boosters every 3 years is because most people will not pay for the titers to be done and some dogs will not get lifetime immunity from Parvo and Distemper after the 1 year booster. So they err on the side of caution and go with the what studies are showing to be the shortest span of protection.

[Duke]

@Kebasmom:

My dog is due for some shots including distemper. I'd rather do titers testing but the last time I talked to my vet he didn't know where to send the sample to.
Does anyone out there in the north east (PA, MD, VA) area do titers? If you do will you please tell me send me your lab or vet info so I can pass it to my vet?

Thanks,

Karen

Karen - I seem to be having the same problem with our vet. They don't do titers testing. I asked if they would and how much it cost. That was this morning - it's now 6:15 pm and just got a call from a vet tech. Said she talked to the Vet and that if it was done, it would include testing for multiple-multiple diseases, i.e. (6) tests for 6 Distemper diseases, and so on….And, she didn't find out what the cost of each test was - more like discouraging me from the titers test. So I asked if the vet would be able to refer me to a vet that does the tests...Well that'll have to be looked into on Monday - they're busy. :mad:

To those who do have the titers test done annually - How much does it cost? I'd like to have a ballpark figure to compare with my vets office price-if I get one on Monday.

Oh. and they don't have the intranasal Bordetella vaccines - shots only.

[lvoss]

You can always see about making your own shipping arrangements and send blood to Dr Dodd's lab. Her price list is on the web at
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/DrDoddsInstructions.htm

[Duke]

Great idea Lisa! Thanks - I now have some prices too!

[mauigirl]

I just looked at that price list and I couldn't believe her heartworm test was $15!! I was quoted $42 at my vet. I know he's not a cheap vet but he's familiar with basenjis. I really like the vet himself. But come on. That's ridiculous. They test it themselves there at the vet hospital and the results come back in 10-15 minutes. Could that be why it's so much more expensive? Thoughts? Should I have them draw blood during Zip's exam next week and send it in?

[Duke]

Thank you for the affirmation here, MauiGirl - I got prices from the vet a few days ago - they would, as lvoss indicated send them thru their lab to another lab - prices as follows:

Distemper-parvo-corona = $40.75
Lepto = $49
Hepatitus= $51.25
Parainfluenza = $51.25
Bordetella = $26.75
Rabies = $86.75

Seriously - do all of these? What's really necessary - Pay the total amount - which is a fortune with these fees in total. If I sent them off myself - I believe it would be less - after the vet spinned the blood (kwim) then I'd pay for the transport.

What Titer tests are necessary, how much annually - I'm trying to justify doing these vs. the cost of the shots.

[tanza]

@Duke:

Thank you for the affirmation here, MauiGirl - I got prices from the vet a few days ago - they would, as lvoss indicated send them thru their lab to another lab - prices as follows:

Distemper-parvo-corona = $40.75
Lepto = $49
Hepatitus= $51.25
Parainfluenza = $51.25
Bordetella = $26.75
Rabies = $86.75

Seriously - do all of these? What's really necessary - Pay the total amount - which is a fortune with these fees in total. If I sent them off myself - I believe it would be less - after the vet spinned the blood (kwim) then I'd pay for the transport.

What Titer tests are necessary, how much annually - I'm trying to justify doing these vs. the cost of the shots.

Well, here is my opinion…. don't bother with rabies, you have to give that by law... Lepto, I do not give it or Bordetella, and if you do give Bordetella (as if you board your dog or go to a doggy day care, I believe it would be required annually regardless, so I would not bother with that either. I don't give Corona either, but looks like that is included in the titer test. Did you check out the prices on Dr. Dodds site? Hemopet? To me the most important is Distemper and Parvo.

[Rivermoon]

I just took Chey in for her titers and heartworm test. I paid 90.62 for the Distemper/Parvo titer and 46.50 for her heartworm test.
My vet doesn't vaccinate for Lepto anymore and I can't remember any of my 3 now getting a Corona.

Personally, I prefer to pay for the titers then take the risk of over-vaccinating the dogs.

[sharronhurlbut]

My vet charges me about $5.00 more for the blood titer than the shots.
That sure works for me.
Besides rabies which we have to do by law, my 2 b's have not had to have shots.

[MacPack]

We usually pay bout $50 or $60 for the titer, and heartworm is $35 (average in our area). I figure I don't go to the vet often (fortunately), and I buy my Heartguard and Advantage on-line, so vets have to make a profit or go out of business.
I will be going to a new vet this year for physicals. When we had Topper there a couple of months ago, and I told him I didn't like to do shots, but to titer, & he was hesitant. But I know he will work with me and draw blood for me to ship off, if I need to, so thanks for Dr. Dodds website!

We do the rabies ever 3 years, of course, but miner haven't had shots in over 4 years, the titers are always high.

Anne in Tampa

[Duke]

Thanks for sharing and advice. Hepititus and Parainfluenza titers are not necessary? If not, then I'll let the vet just do the Distemper-Parvo-Corona test and hope for the best results. As far as Bordetella, I take them to a groomer about 3 times a year - does that constitute a "day care"? My vet only has the Bordetella shots - not intranasal. Vet tech said giving intranasal is a struggle that they get what they need for it to be effective - does anyone have that problem?

[tanza]

Well, groomers get all types of dogs and I would bet that many are not vaccinated at all… so you might be safer with the Bordetella... of course there are so many different strains ... that the intranasal or injections only cover a couple of them... works out to 6 of 1, half dozen of the other... Vets or Techs that are very good at nasel usually don't have a problem with the dose... but I will agree it is not the easiest to give.

[Duke]

OK - we're back from vet's office.

Daisy got heartworm test $24 and DHLPP-C vaccination $24.

Duke got heartworm test $24 and Distemper/Parvovirus Titer $60

They got Daisy's blood from her front leg, but they took Duke to a different room and got blood from the neck juggular. Said they needed to take 4 cc's for the titer. Is that normal procedure? I realize I paid way more to titer than for the vaccination - but think if it's healthier than to over-vaccinate - I'll do it. Vet's office wouldn't let me take the blood to send out to Dr. Dodds - her fee is $36, so figuring that by the time I paid vet for the blood, ship it and pay Dr. Dodd - it'll end up being $60…Vet said it'll take 3-4 days for test results.

We skipped bordetella - My kids aren't at the groomers long enough so few times a year...

[tanza]

@Duke:

OK - we're back from vet's office.

Daisy got heartworm test $24 and DHLPP-C vaccination $24.

Duke got heartworm test $24 and Distemper/Parvovirus Titer $60

They got Daisy's blood from her front leg, but they took Duke to a different room and got blood from the neck juggular. Said they needed to take 4 cc's for the titer. Is that normal procedure? I realize I paid way more to titer than for the vaccination - but think if it's healthier than to over-vaccinate - I'll do it. Vet's office wouldn't let me take the blood to send out to Dr. Dodds - her fee is $36, so figuring that by the time I paid vet for the blood, ship it and pay Dr. Dodd - it'll end up being $60…Vet said it'll take 3-4 days for test results.

We skipped bordetella - My kids aren't at the groomers long enough so few times a year...

I think on Dr. Dodds site it says how much blood is needed for the Titer…

And just curious?... How come for Daisy you gave Lepto and Corona?

[Duke]

She got the whole sh'bang because they said the shot is pre-mixed. So at that veterinarians office, they don't have the option of selecting between the DHLPP - it's an all-in-one script. Have you ever heard that? For me - I never questioned the vet, relying on them to do right for my dogs. But in reading about the titers tests, I'm becoming more involved. This was her first adult vaccination - so between now and the next annual check-up - I'll do some re-thinking/research for another vet. I did however, delay her 3yr rabies two weeks from now.

Oh yeah - Dr. Dodds needs 1 ml of separated serum - so I don't know how many "cc's" they need to get 1 ml of the separated (spinned) serum. Does anyone?

Both, Duke & Daisy are doing well. They're happy going outside, but when inside - quickly find a place to snooze.

[lvoss]

Corona should have been a separate vaccine so no reason to give it and Lepto is in a separate liquid carrier solution so they can just rehydrate the DHPP with saline solution to avoid the lepto part of the vaccine.

[Duke]

@lvoss:

Corona should have been a separate vaccine so no reason to give it and Lepto is in a separate liquid carrier solution so they can just rehydrate the DHPP with saline solution to avoid the lepto part of the vaccine.

hmmm - makes me think they say what they want me to know. :mad: The vet bill lists -C as opposed to +C on the end of DHLPP. I should contact them and ask if she did or didn't get the Corona. Other than that, they said it's a pre-mixed group of vaccine - so felt I had no choice if I wanted specifically Distemper and Parvo. Gosh - this is a "pia"! But I want to learn, thank you.

[lvoss]

The DHPP part of the vaccine are premixed. The L part of the shot is in a liquid suspension and is not mixed until the time of injection. So the vet can use sterile saline instead of the liquid suspension with the Lepto when administering the shot. This is what my vet does since I do not want the lepto portion of the vaccine. It is not a big deal but I do always remind them when I make the appointment and again before the shot because if they pre-mix before I arrive sometimes the tech will accidently add the lepto and then they have to mix a new one.