How to Read Titer Test Results for Pets
3rd Oct 2020
As a pet owner, you may have heard about Titer testing. However. If misunderstood, this can cost you money and harm to your pet.
Titer Testing - What is It?
In a quick explanation, Titer testing measures the amount of antibody to a given disease in your animal.
If the results come back positive for a specific disease, that can indicate your dog has some protection against that disease.
This may sound simple enough, but common mistakes can happen when it comes to Titers.
Mistake #1-Vaccinating Every 6 Months
Vaccinating your pet can be one of the most important decisions you make. But what is happening is over-vaccinating.
The first decision you make is whether or not you’re going to vaccinate.
The second decision is if you do vaccinate, how often? This can be quite dangerous if you’re over-vaccinating your pets (every 6 months).
Mistake #2 - Titers Must Be Done Yearly
This is not necessary, but entirely up to you. There is no limit as to how little or how much you should Titer test.
The only harm this does is to your wallet, but it’s up to you if you want to repeat it to stay updated.
Mistake #3 - Titers Change Frequently
Chances are, you don’t need to Titer test annually. If your pet shows a positive for a disease, chances are they will continue that immunity for years to come.
Mistake #4 - Titer Testing is Expensive
This all depends on where you go. It doesn’t hurt to shop around.
It can be much cheaper if you do this at a vet clinic. However, if blood is sent to a lab, it could be more expensive.
Just shop around and see what you can find. You might find a cheaper price somewhere else.
Mistake #5 - Revaccinating When Titers Fall
The biggest danger to your pet is vaccinating an already vaccinated animal, whether or not they have had a Titer test.
You will find many people who have stories in online forums speak about the drastic decline in their pet’s health after vaccinating their pet.
Just because Titers fall does not mean the immunity is gone!
Titers will fall eventually, but years from now. If your pet is already vaccinated, re-vaccinating is not only useless, but dangerous.
Mistake #6 - Falling For A Number Game
When you get the results of a Titer Test, the numbers do not matter.
If your pet gets back a positive, they are immune regardless of the number associated with the positive.
Ultimately, Titers can be a good way to gauge where your pet is regarding immunity, but you should avoid these mistakes. It can quite literally save your pet’s life.