Animal vaccinations & titer testing - Shorts

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, April, 2003 by Jule Klotter

Taking pets to the vet for yearly vaccination boosters is considered by many to be the hallmark of responsible pet care. Over the past decade, however, some researchers as well as pet owners have begun to question whether yearly boosters are truly necessary or even safe. Over-vaccination appears to be a contributor to the rise in chronic health problems among pets. On November 15, 2002, the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents published a report on vaccinations in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. A summary, posted on www.avma.org, stated that, contrary to popular belief, "Optimal revaccination intervals are not known... Information collected thus far [by veterinary professionals] indicates that immunity inducted by some vaccines lasts longer than one year, while immunity triggered by other vaccines lasts less than one year."

In a letter to the Texas Office of the Attorney General, Bob Rogers, DVM, of Spring, Texas, (www.critterfixer.com) points out "a modified live virus vaccine must replicate in order to stimulate the immune system, and antibodies from a previous vaccine will block the replication of the new vaccinate virus." Giving an animal with antibodies to a virus a vaccine for the same virus will not increase their protection. Further, Dr. Rogers states, "The USDA Center for Biologic and Therapeutic Agents asserts that there is no scientific data to support label claims for annual re-administration of modified live vaccines...." Frustrated by the refusal of other vets to follow the new research on vaccines that calls for caution in over-vaccinating, Dr. Rogers filed a complaint accusing Texas veterinarians of committing fraud. His letter to the Texas Attorney General's Office and his reason for taking such an action are posted on the web at forum.cathobbyist.com

An article in The Whole Dog Journal (Dec. 2002) by Lorie Long explains that the vaccination schedules currently used by most veterinarians are set by the vaccine manufacturer. Jean Dodds, DVM, a veterinary hematologist who has studied vaccine protocols for decades, says that at least 95% of the dogs vaccinated for distemper and parvo retain immunity for several years. Some vaccines, such as one for canine corona virus vaccine (an intestinal illness), have questionable effectiveness, according to Dr. Rogers and Dr. Dodds.

Instead of annual vaccine boosters, some veterinarians are offering to test vaccine titers in dogs. Dogs with satisfactory titer levels are believed to have "good 'immunologic memory,' and not in need of further vaccination against the disease at that time," according to The Whole Dog Journal article. (Titers, in most cases, cannot be used in place of rabies boosters that are required by law.) Dr. Dodds asserts that measuring vaccine titers for canine parvovirus and canine distemper provides a reliable marker for the health of a dog's immune system.

Lone Long's article stresses that veterinarians checking for immunological competence must order vaccine titer testing from a major professional or university veterinary laboratory. The titer levels for a normal healthy dog are lower than for a dog actively fighting the actual disease: "... if the veterinarian orders a disease titer test, but actually wants to check vaccine titers, the laboratory may deliver a 'false negative,' indicating that the laboratory does not find the high titer levels required to declare the presence of the active disease." An in-office titer test called TiterCHECK[TM], licensed by the USDA, is now available for canine parvo and canine distemper.

The Whole Dog Journal, which provided the information on vaccine titer testing, is a wonderful resource for people interested in a holistic approach to the care and training of their dogs. The journal does not accept any commercial advertising so it is able to evaluate all kinds of foods and products freely. For subscription information call 800-829-9165; www.whole-dog-journal.com

Long, Lorie. Take the Titer Test... The Whole Dog Journal. December 2002.

American Veterinary Medical Association. Interpretive Summary of AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agent's Report on Oat and Dog Vaccines (published November 15, 2002, in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association); www.avma.org