With a growing trend of people moving toward more natural choices for their family, it is not surprising this trend does not stop just with our human family members, pet owners are looking for more healthy options to offer their furry family members.
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Over the last decade we have seen a revolution in the pet industry with none possibly more marketed than pet food. With a drive toward Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) owners now prefer to feed grain free, air dried, freeze dried and frozen raw complete meals over commercially processed tinned and dry foods for their beloved dogs and cats.
We are fast becoming a generation of pet owners that need to know and understand what we are offering our pets in terms of nutrition and healthcare. We now question what the experts claim is the best care for our pets.
Arguably one of the most important aspects of healthcare that you need to choose for your pet is vaccinations. Every good pet owner wants their dog or cat to be healthy and safe from infectious diseases such as Distemper, Parvovirus and Hepatitis, however, studies on vaccinating are beginning to show a greater link between over vaccinating and auto immune related disease such as Addisons Disease, Lupus & Thyroid Disease to name just a few.
So what choice do you have? Well have you ever heard of Titer testing?
What is Titer Testing?
More veterinarians are offering Titer tests for dogs and cats that may be in a greater risk group for over vaccinating side effects. This is a way to help minimise the risks of contracting infectious diseases and unnecessary vaccinations.
Titer testing is a means of determining whether your dog or cat has enough antibodies to defend against viruses that they have already been vaccinated for in the past. It is understood that some dogs and cats will have enough antibodies from past vaccinations making annual or boosters unnecessary. But the only way to determine if your pet carries enough of these antibodies to remain safe is by Titer testing.
My own dog Indy has an autoimmune disease: Meningitis. He “contracted” Meningitis coincidently just after his 1st annual booster vaccination. Was this a coincidence? We will never really know, but there are enough studies around that indicate a possible connection.
After nearly losing him to this terrible disease I was very reluctant to vaccinate again. When he was due for his third year booster our veterinarian and I thought the safer option would be for Indy to undergo a Titer test. This would at least indicate whether we had no option than to vaccinate.
It was explained to me that if Indy’s results returned low or mid for antibodies (1/20 is considered “mid range”) this would indicate he may not have enough antibodies to keep him safe from infection. Indy’s results returned as 1/80. Meaning his antibodies is quite high and has likely enough to keep him safe.
My other dog Amber had already received her booster vaccination the year before, when she is due in a couple of years I will be opting for her to undergo a Titer test before making any decisions.
Pressplay Pets recommend that all pet owners speak to a veterinarian that you trust and listens to you before making any decisions with the health and care of their pet; this includes whether to vaccinate or titer test your pet. Always do your own research, so YOU can make an informed decision.
Read about my beautiful dog Corey that had Autoimmune Disease – Addisons Disease.
Always do your own research, so YOU can make an informed decision
Author Bio: Nikki is pack leader at Pressplay Pets, a blog for the modern age pet parent interested in health & care, news, reviews & personal accounts of unconditional love & at times heartfelt pain of pet parenting. She is also proud mum to cute and cheeky Papillons ‘Amber’ and ‘Indy’ and one crazy Rainbow Lorikeet named ‘Ralph’!
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Pressplay Pets a blog for the modern age pet parent interested in health & care, news, reviews & personal accounts of unconditional love & at times heartfelt pain of pet parenting!
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