Bailey got her titers... $165!!! HUGE hassle too.

I think there is a point to running titers -b/c for most animals the shots will be very long lasting.  But, we don't know that it's for all animals. 
 
At first glance, t makes sense that it would last a lifetime- as an example, we humans only get certain shots once in our lives and not again.  BUT:
 
But, there are other shots that we do need boosters on - a tentnus shot, for example.  It only lasts 5 - 10 years. 
 
I also suspect a dog's immune system play a large role as well.  One dog can be fine for lifetime, but another might not be.
 
I have read that even if the titers don't show up strong, that the "memory" cells would still be there.  But, I don't trust memory cells that might gather strenght and show up.  I just spent a horrible weekend being really, really sick.  A strain of something or the other.  One would think that at my age, my memory cells would catch on quicker!  LOL.  Yes, I know, I talking about something different here - but it's somewhere along the same lines.  So, me, and adult, calls her mom for help b/c I'm so sick.  My mom can be around me and not catch what I've got.  Different immune systems.  Same with dogs.  Different immune systems.
 
Now, you shouldn't vaccinate an older dog.  But, they think now the shots can last 5-7 years up to lifetime.  So, maybe it would be good to get a parvo and distemper (assuming rabies is given more frequently), somewhere around middle age if the dog is in a healthy state.  I would first do titers, though, to see where they were at.  It would be great to do titers in the meantime and then you have a record of how the immune system is holding up.
 
I also suspect that dogs that are around other dogs might keep those titers up b/c it might keep the body on defense.  Don't know.  Just a theory.
 
I mentioned earlier that I had full titers done.  I didn't know better and had those all-in-one shots done.  Now, my guys are only 3 years old - so, it hasn't been that long.  But, I didn't do the 1 year booster shots b/c they weren't well enough, IMO to do them. But, all titers came back good -except for Lepto.  I've never done Bordatella.

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

Some owners are choosing to skip alternate years, just doing the rabies on schedule.

 
That's exactly what I do.

They do Titers for Rabies also, right? 

Sallya,
 
It is my understanding that they do.  I will be trying that next year.  From my research, I chose MSU (see earlier post) for titers -- but they don't do rabies.  I found out that Kansas State or Kansas U does do them.

ORIGINAL: sallya

They do Titers for Rabies also, right? 

 
Yes, you can get a rabies titer. They are quite a bit more expensive though. Probably because few people request it.
 
Even if your dog has an acceptable titer level for rabies, you are still required to get the rabies vaccine according to your state and local laws. So there isn't a lot of point in getting the titer done.

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

I get full vaccines done every year and feel good about it. I'll risk a million to one chance of a vaccine reaction against death by parvo or distemper anyday.

The issue with vaccinating every year is not a vaccine reaction- it's the unnecessary stress on the immune system and the possibility of immune mediated diseases. Nutrition is not the only key to good health- not pumping unnecessary chemicals or vaccines into their systems is also very important. The fact is it's likely that when a dog is vaccinated after 16 weeks of age he/she will have immunity for many years, if not their entire life. And with the new vaccination protocol adopted by all veterinary schools of vaccinating every 3 years, I think it's a bit outdated and unnecessary to vaccinate every single year. [8|]

Yeah Im a little concerned about the way it all panned out to be honest.  She said the parvo/distemper was one test and that was $65 and the lepto was another which was $100 and they were both sent to the same place... I will call and get the name tomorrow since its not on my reciept. 
 
Lets see my appt was Wednesday and I got the call on the parvo/distemper Thursday... everything high enough there.  I got the call on the lepto today and she said that was fine too so we're good until next year.
 
I was SHOCKED at the cost and even more so now after hearing what you all paid.  I dont know how the results came back so fast either.  Grr, now Im all flustered over it.  Although she did say while I was in the office it would be a day or two so I dunno really.  I mentioned Cornell to her as a place to send them and she said they dont work with that particular lab. 
 
I guess the have a new policy but she took Bailey to the back to do this stuff... out of the exam room and to the back.  Kayla had to go back there everyday for 3 days while being treated for pacreatitis (brought her early and picked her up late) but that was different.  Never other than that did she take Kayla out of the room, not blood work, shots, anything.  So, Im going to ask about that tomrrow as well.  Why they took her out of there for the stuff.  I really really hated it, sitting there waiting, wanting to be with her.  Of course it was an afterthought and it caught me off guard at the time, but thinking back I would have never allowed it and in the future she will be in my sight 100% of the time, if for nothing else than to appease my anxious mind.

vaccines don't stress the immune system. They strengthen it. Fighting off distemper stresses the immune system because the virus attacks the body; all the vaccine does is stimulate the immune system to prepare antibodies against distemper.
The idea that vaccines are somehow dangerous is pseudoscience quackery at its worst.

If you dont like the description of stressing how about taxing?  I mean I agree with you to an extent, but its not like it doesnt effect the immune system at all other than strengthening it.  And if it was already strong enough in the first place, why put more chemicals and crap into their bodies.

My thoughts are... that Kayla was that one percent or less that died after succesfully completeing treatment for pancreatitis due to some unlucky unfortunate thing that rarely happens, but does.  I no longer and will never again have any sort of mind frame that feels like I will never be that small small statistic because guess what, somebody is gonna be that 1 in a million.  Now, if they dont need it anyway, why chance a life on it?

Also, for dogs that havn't handled them too well in the past is even more a reason IMO.  I cant know the exact reason Bailey got Demodex but I know over vaccination is certainly one of the possiblities and one I can certainly eliminate as much as possible for her in the future. 

Kayla got her vaccines yearly and we never had a problem.  Not that I saw.  My moms dog before when I was little did the same and lived to 13.  Nope, its not the norm, but not worth it to me either way. 

And I guess theres that little part of me that wonders if she would have been able to fight the weak pancreas a bit better if her system had not been unnecessarily taxed with vaccines that she didnt need.

I guess the have a new policy but she took Bailey to the back to do this stuff... out of the exam room and to the back.

 
Yuck. I always expect that kind of thing, so I'm ready to say absolutely not, but otherwise I'd probably just sit there and let them too. They're not taking Cherokee out of my sight. I don't care if they think she acts worse with me there, I don't care if they think they can control her better, it ain't happening. []
 
And I totally agree with you about vaccines. Cherokee hasn't been vaccinated at all in three years, and a few vaccines in 5ish. I just don't see the point. She's never around other dogs, and she's got some major allergies. She's due for rabies now though, I guess. [&o]

In October I had Guinness titered. She was ok for everything and she had the three year rabies shot so she is still good on that.
 
Last week, I had the same done for Marley, with the same results except she was due for the 3 year rabies. That is the law and nothing can be done about that. The titres cost me $85 for each dog. The results came back in two days.
 
The vet is willing to only vaccintae every three years assuming everyones titres come back high enough.
 
We did have to do bordatella vaccine as I kennel my dogs and the kennel will not take them without it.
 
As far as taking them into the back room. They did it for both of my dogs. I think it is becasue of the volume of blood that they need to draw. They stick them in a neck vein and for safety sake, they do not want them moving during the process.
 
I don't know about you guys but I trust my vet. If he says it is safer to do it in the back room, I do not argue.

vaccines don't stress the immune system. They strengthen it.

 
 
Meep. I can't agree with that. So so so so many diseases, both human AND canine/feline, are attributed directly to vaccine use that many diseases are being termed, as they are discovered, as "Vaccine-induced ________". Current research is linking so many human diseases to childhood vaccines that a LOT of people are even beginning to refrain from giving their babies vaccinations.
 
Vaccines most certainly do suppress the immune system, and continual exposure to vaccines can only be a bad thing. And the recent epidemic of health issues that were not a problem even 30 years ago, that are linked to vaccine use, is very frightening.
 
Now, I'm not totally anti-vaccine, but I'm not for what the majority of us are doing to their animals either. My girl had her puppy shots, and her one year booster, simply because I still live at home while attending university and my mother insisted on it. However she did not have any other vaccines, nor flea treatments. Now that her papers are in my name, I make the decisions for her wellbeing. She will not have any vaccinations for at LEAST three years, and that is if I decide that she needs them at all. The more I read and the more I learn, and the more I study, I might just forego all vaccinations because by that time she will be 4.5 years old, and her immune system will be running optimally. And even if I do decide to vaccinate her, Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies will not be on that list (unless where I'm living at the time requires Rabies, but it's not law here thank heavens, and even if it was I'd be fighting it tooth and nail). And the Bordetella vaccine is a joke IMO, I wouldn't give that to my girl if you paid me to.
 
The more I learn, the more I want to steer clear of these poisons and chemicals.
 
Kim MacMillan
 
 

Amy,
 
I did the same thing as you the first time ---aaacckkk, they took my dog away from me, and I can't see what's going on?  So, I asked, why did they do that?  It was as Patty said - because they have to draw from the neck, and they need an extra person to hold the dog steady.  Now, every time they brought either of my dogs back, they would comment, with some amount of suprise, about how wonderful and easy my dogs were.  I think they must get alot of dogs that don't co-operate very well.  But, mine do.  And, the next time,  they brought the extra person into the room with me and did the vein draw there.  But, boy, it takes a long time, and the "parent" (me) started getting ansty as to why it took so long.    Now, one day, they said they needed to take one of them in the back b/c that person couldn't leave the back room at the moment and they needed their help.  But, then, in that same visit, they came back into my room for the next dog after I think they told my vet I was asking about it.  So, apparently my vet then directed them to do it in the room with me.  But, it might depend on how an individual dog acts as well.  They don't need a squirmy dog, AND a freaked out owner b/c of that big, huge needle. So, overall, I get why they do that most of the time.  But, with a good dog, and a good owner, they should agree to your request without any hassle.
 
About the vaccines:  In a way, we are splitting hairs somewhat.  I also don't really agree with Mudpuppy's feelings on this subject -- but I come from a lifetime of mecury toxicity from d____ (fill in the blank) (sorry, guys - but it's how I feel)  Dental amalgams.  you know, those really safe "silver" fillings that the gov't and ADA just swear are not a problem, what-so-ever.  Never mind the fact it was a hazardous waste for the dentist, but gee, once it's in your mouth - it's completely harmless.  Yeah, where's that bridge for sale?  So, I've personally paid a huge price for being lied to.  And my dog's do also have health issues. Which may or may not have been from the 7-in-1 shot they got as pups.  Both dogs have some issues, they are different breeds, but from the same litter.  One does have worse health issues that the other, but maybe their is a heireitary issue involved in the way immune systems work.
 
Yes, I agree vaccines save lives, and I would never, never, ever say don't get them at all.  Just being sensible about it.  If I had had only one or two amalgam fillings, and not the20+ I had (some over and over again), then I wouldn't be filled with as much mercury and suffered enourmously for decades, IMO.  So, yeah - a little can be lifesaving, but a lot can be, for some people / dogs, very harmful.  
 
Oh, got off on a tangent;  the splitting hairs part:  I'm not sure if it is the vaccine itself or the carrier for the vaccine that causes the most problems -- but either way  - it's the same to me.
 
SO:  why not titer instead?  What's the harm in playing it safe, other than losing a few extra dollars at the vets?   Really, what's the harm in that?  ( and I still say this with recognition that another "booster" around middle age might be needed)  Not saying to ignore the whole thing and never give shots after the one year booster.  It might be needed in some dogs.

Oh yeah she said Bailey was excellent, sounded shocked too like you said.  I wasnt shocked, I knew she would be fine. 
 
She used to call Kayla her best patient.  Used to talk to me about how problematic so many of them are, or at least have that look of unsureness... but Kayla was just wonderful.  Bailey was too, what a shocker...  Im sure if I said no way your not taking her away that would be fine and I wish I woul have, just being caught off guard and not ready for it I sorta just sat there like a dummy wondering about it instead of acting lol.
 
If I had a dog that was gong to be a problem I would let them know and be more understanding but I dont.  I certainly dont freak out sice I was a vet tech for a while.  Taking blood was always the worst, way more stressful for the dog than a shot.  I took it from the front arm, usually.  I really wish she would let me do all the holding but I understand thats asking way too much since its a trust thing with the tech. 

Well, mine went out a number of times before I requested it.  Silly, isn't it, sitting there all worried?  But, that's how I was!  I told my vet I couldn't hold my dogs.  They might let you for a front arm, but probably not for a neck vein.  That is getting more hairy, and they would want someone that actually works there and has been tested.  But, no reason not to do it in your room with you.

I hope you can get better prices next time.  Sometimes just asking very politely will go along ways.  Like the time I very nicely asked for a rescription instead of getting the meds there.  I was then informed that they would meet the price of heartworm meds online + shipping if I brought them a copy of the prices.  I still had to order though, b/c I was also getting thyroid meds (much cheaper from Omaho Vaccine) AND weirdly enough, my girl would not, not, not take the pills from the vet.  It was a different manufacturer and she didn't like the taste of them.  Changed pills - same med -same color - same dosage - different brand - and she takes it just fine.  Out of my hand or off the floor - where ever I put it. Go figure.  And, can you imagine how I look to my vet trying to explain that my girl just doesn't like the taste of the pills from the vet's office? But, it's true!!
 
edited:  it seems silly to worry about your dog in the back w/o you, but I really don't think it is silly.  Just the thought of it now makes me a bit nervous.  I didn't mean to say it was silly.  It's not.  And I agree with you!