Vaccinations are incredibly useful in animal health, and we rely on them to:
- Protect animals from various diseases,
- Reduce the risk of infection and spreading of disease to other animals,
- Improve the overall health of animals, and
- Reduce the need for medical treatment.
The WSAVA have produced a set of protocols which are endorsed by the AVA, to help veterinarians implement optimal vaccination schedules for their patients. These schedules ensure that we are:
- Keeping our pets protected from potentially life-threatening diseases, and
- Not subjecting our pets to vaccinations that are not needed.
The duration of protection each vaccination provides against a particular infectious disease can vary from patient to patient and from disease to disease. This is particularly true for our canine core vaccines - against distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. Because of this, it is not certain whether, at its scheduled vaccination time, a pet still maintains immunity, or if another booster is required. At this stage, there are two options:
- Vaccinate as per the schedule - this is the most efficient option, and ensures that the dog continues to be protected
- Test the dog's antibody levels - also known as titre testing
- If the dog's antibody levels are sufficiently high - we can delay vaccination for another year
- If the dog's antibody levels are insufficient to protect against infection - it's time to vaccinate
At Nelson Bay Vet, we have the capacity to test your dog's antibody levels in the clinic on our Vcheck analyser, via a simple blood test, while you wait. Please let us know if you would like this when booking your appointment!
Case study: Lucy-Lou
Lucy-Lou, a 4-year-old female Jack Russell Terrier, came to see us as a recent adoptee. Her vaccination history was unknown, and her new owner was concerned about excessive vaccination. They elected for Lucy-Lou to be titre tested, to find out her true immunity status:
Her results demonstrated clearly that she had excellent immunity against parvovirus (CPV) and canine adenovirus (CAV, also known as hepatitis) and good immunity against distemper (CDV). Therefore, vaccination was not necessary at the time, and her owner was able to take her home feeling secure in the knowledge that she would be protected for another year.