Vaccines and Titre Testing - Protecting Your Fur Kid
At Pandosy Vet, we get a lot of questions when it comes to vaccines and titre testing! As pet parents, we want to protect our fur kids in the best way possible, and there is a lot of information out there! Read on to find out what vaccines we recommend your fur kids have and to learn more about Titre Testing.
What Are We Protecting Against?
Canine Core - protects against Distemper, Adenovirus, and Parvovirus - all highly contagious viruses that can be fatal. It is initially given in a set of three shots, four weeks apart and boosted after the first year. It is then boosted or titred every three years.
Bordetella - similar to the human flu shot, the Bordetella vaccine is an annual vaccine that protects against "Kennel Cough." We recommend considering this if your dog spends time around a lot of other dogs, and grooming, boarding, and daycare facilities often require it. There is no titre testing option for Bordetella.
For Cats
Feline Core - protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia. It is initially given in a set of three shots, four weeks apart and then boosted after the first year. After that, the vaccine is boosted or titred every three years.
Rabies - this vaccine is recommended in Canada as Rabies is found in our wild mammal population, even for indoor cats, as creatures like bats can sometimes be found inside. While rabies is only endemic in bats in BC, it can be found in land-dwelling mammals such as skunks and raccoons in other parts of Canada. This vaccine is boosted after the first year and then boosted or titred every three years after that.
Feline Leukemia - recommended for outdoor cats or cats that are boarded/come in contact with other cats, this protects against a highly contagious virus.
Titre Testing
As they age, we recommend testing your cats' or dogs' blood with titre tests to find out what immunity they have developed. This enables you to know what they are or are not immune to, so you don't unnecessarily routinely vaccinate them.
Titre (pronounced tight-er) testing is a medical alternative to routine vaccinations. Testing titres means testing your pet's immunity level to see if they need a vaccine boost instead of just boosting a vaccination without knowing if they need it. Our veterinarians recommend that every adult dog and cat receive a titre test before administering vaccine boosters as this approach prevents over-vaccination and unnecessarily stimulating your dog or cat’s immune system
A positive titre test means that your dog or cat has immunity to a virus and is less likely to contract or spread it.
What's Best for Your Fur Kid
At Pandosy Vet, we're here to help! If you have questions about vaccines or titre testing, our team can talk through the options with you and help you decide what's best for you and your family.
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