pet vaccinations and titer tests

Vaccines are beneficial for preparing your pet’s immune system to fight disease-fighting organisms. The vaccine fluid contains only a tiny piece of the disease-causing infectious organism or a version of the organism that is dead or very weak and typically does not cause the disease we are vaccinating against. Instead, just the opposite happens. The vaccine’s altered infectious organism “teaches” the dog’s protective immune system to make specific antibodies against these germs to fight off a similar infectious organism if it is encountered in the future. In most cases, it means the pet won’t get the illness at all; however, sometimes, they can still get a mild case of the illness. For example, this can happen with kennel cough in dogs or chickenpox in children.

Our vet will work with you to determine the best vaccination schedule to keep your pet safe. Factors include the type of vaccine, how old your pet is, their medical history, the environment in which they live, and their overall lifestyle.

Core vaccines are considered vital to the health and well-being of your pet based on both their risk of exposure and their transmissibility to humans. For cats, core vaccines include feline panleukopenia, feline calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis, and rabies. For dogs, core vaccines include canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, and rabies. Illinois law also requires that every owner of a dog or cat over four months old requires a rabies vaccine in addition to receiving one within the first year of the original. Our team will provide your new family member with the necessary vaccinations and ensure they stay up-to-date throughout the course of their lives.

As pet parents become more concerned about over-vaccinating their pets, you may have heard of titer tests increasing in popularity. Titer testing determines whether or not your pet has a sufficient amount of antibodies to help protect them from viruses for which they have previously received vaccinations. The test occurs through a blood test that measures the number of antibodies in your pet’s system. In the case that there is a sufficient amount of antibodies left over, some pet parents may choose to opt out of boosters or other annual vaccinations. It’s important to note that titer tests don’t cover canine leptospirosis, bordetella, or Lyme disease because of the short-term protection that these vaccines provide.

Turn to our experts at Urban PetRx with further questions about vaccines for your cat or dog.