Hi Lindsay,
A vaccine titer test measures the level of antibodies in the body to the disease that the vaccine is used to prevent. It is generally accepted that if the antibody level is over a certain limit, it is considered ‘protective’ and the vaccine booster is unnecessary. This is how it works in theory, however, many specialists do not agree that vaccine titer testing for dogs is completely reliable. You’ll want to discuss the pros and cons with your primary veterinarian and get their opinion.
If you are currently using titer testing to guide your vaccination choices, then it is generally accepted that you would perform it annually and then base your decision to booster on the results that you receive. You have the choice to perform it more often which would increase the chance of finding out when the antibody level falls from ‘protective’ to ‘unproductive’ which would then necessitate a vaccine booster at that time rather than waiting until the end of the year.
I hope this helps. Thanks for the question and good luck!
Dr. Clayton Greenway
