If you have ever worried about whether your dog is being over vaccinated, you are not alone. As our pets get older, managing their health becomes a delicate balance.
We wanted to share a quick update on our own pack, a veterinary gold standard we are exploring, and some exciting news about our involvement in the local community this year.
From 16 year old German Shepherds to our Egyptian Rescue Pack
Years ago our two German Shepherds received their core vaccinations and boosters as puppies. The other time they received jabs was for rare kennel stays. They both went on to live until the ripe old age of sixteen with no health issues at all.
Today we care for our 3 beautiful street dogs (Baladies/Canaan Dog) rescued while we were living in Egypt back in 2014. They are now 12 years old, and two of them are managing Stage 2 Kidney Disease. Thanks to a strict kidney diet, we managed to bring their levels back to normal in just a couple of months.
Because of their age and health, protecting their organs is our top priority. Putting extra strain on their kidneys with unnecessary booster jabs this year is something we strictly want to avoid. That is why we are currently looking into Titre Testing (we did this for their rabies jabs before coming to the UK).
What is Titre Testing?
Instead of routinely giving out booster jabs by default, a Titre Test is a simple blood test that measures the exact amount of antibodies remaining in your dog’s blood.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) actually recommends Titre Testing as the gold standard of care.
- Why is matters for older dogs: Contrary to popular belief, testing is highly important for senior dogs because immunity changes with age.
- The reality of boosters: Most dogs maintain lasting protection from previous vaccines and do not actually require their scheduled boosters.
- Note: Titre Testing applies to core DHP vaccines (Distemper, Parvovirus and Hepatitis). It cannot be used to assess protection levels for Leptospirosis or Kennel Cough.
Big News: We Are Sponsoring the Kington Show
We are thrilled to announce that we are officially sponsoring the ‘The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Stakes’ at the Kington Show this year!
As part of the event the team at A P Vet Limited will be running a special pop-up Titre Testing clinic right on-site. We are planning to reach out to them to see if we can book our own three senior rescues in for a check.
If you want to skip the guesswork and protect your dog from unnecessary over-vaccination, we highly recommend securing a slot while they are in the area. Spaces are limited!.
Click here to book your dog’s Titre Clinic slot.
We hope to see many of you and your furry friends at the show!