your information and concern for your doggies health is always informative to myself and others!

Rhiann @ Butlerbullz

They do all the obedience, handling, rally, and also have doggie daycare and pet sitting. I like that it's all wrapped up in one. She's got SO much energy, I'm debating the daycare just for fun. So, all the info is the same to me... but you're right, spaying her isn't for classes. All the show dogs would be out of luck then, huh? Hahaha.


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very informative..
I use the titers here too

I've decided to seriously limits vaccines for my crew.... and would like to have more knowledge.

That's a new one on me....

My trainer doesn't require it for this beginner's obedience, but if I stick with her, I'll need it. And I do understand. It's her daycare too. She does require rabies at 6 months, as it is required by law and she needs her ducks in a row... but I'm trying to postpone that. I don't want to spay her anywhere near the rabies vax. And I have to spay her by 6 months for this training facility as well. LOL... I can't win.




Website ::: Blog ::: It's Not Over 'Til It's Grover
All photos and designs above copyright Salty Grapes Photography.

I couldn't grasp it until I saw what was good and what was "bad."

That's all specifically from IDEXX and her titers were tested through the University of Colorado. I happened to have her chart sitting on my desk this afternoon (I wanted the records in case I do bring her somewhere that needs them) and figured I'd share it since I had it.

I'm by no means and expert and I only do what I think is right for me and my dogs, but I'm happy to try and share what I know.


Website ::: Blog ::: It's Not Over 'Til It's Grover
All photos and designs above copyright Salty Grapes Photography.

Christie Keith? I'm a member of her yahoo group for dog owners interested in minimal vaxing and other issues related to it. If anyone is interested I can send info.

thanks for posting it

Thanks Julia!

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! THANK YOU!The article talked about the immunity levels, but didn't say what exactly the numbers were. I am going to take some time and really try to digest what you wrote, then I'll probably pick your brain some more. I am numerically challenged, soemtimes I need a little extra help figuring things out.
Thanks so much again!

Cathy
when she first came home

as least all that I have taken classes at did....but again - different state/different climate, etc..

I gave Grover his puppy vaccines (everything under the sun because I was naive!) and then learned everything I know now when he was a year old. I titred him his whole life after that and he always showed as having all the necessary antibodies. The drug companies mis-lead you into thinking you constantly need to booster the dog. They are generally good for something like 7+ years or more... and almost always good for the life of the dog.

By titering, you check the dog's blood for the antibodies. Essentially, if it's over a certain amount, they're considering protected. More specifically, I vaccinated Gretl only for parvo and distemper, and I only gave her one shot. That's it. My breeder didn't give any and we only gave her the distemper and parvo once I brought her home, got her settled in, built up her immune system, and made sure she was strong and as healthy as possibe. I titered her a few weeks later.

For parvo, anything less than 1:8 indicates a lack of immunity and susceptibility to the virus. Titers of 1:16-1:32 indicate limited protection. Titers of 1:64 and higher indicate probably protective immunity. Higher titers indicate better protection.

Gretl's Parvo titer after only ONE vaccine --- 1:256 --- as you can see, she's considered immune.

For distemper, titers of less than 1:2 indicate lack of immunity. Titers of 1:2-1:16 indicate limited protection. Titers of 1:32 and higher indicate probably immunity.

Gretl's Distemper titer after only ONE vaccine --- 1:128 --- as you can see, she's considered immune.

The way it works is how many times they can dilute the blood before they can find traces of the virus. So, for her Parvo test, they had to dilute her blood 256 times before they could finally find a trace of it.

Read up on all the links Michele is posting. And research Dr. Ronald Schultz. I've heard him speak twice and they are invaluable lectures. I've been doing this for 7+ years. My vet is on board with it. Obviously I do rabies by law, but I'm putting it off as long as possible. I never gave Grover bordatella, and really don't want to give it to Gretl, but might have to for doggie daycare or sitters requirements... we'll see.

I will not give Lyme, though I did give it to Grover before I knew... and I live two towns from where it got its name. He always tested positive for Lyme and never HAD it. The test they would run in house couldn't differentiate between virus and antibodies. They would always have to send out for the Western Blot to determine that they were actual antibodies... they finally stopped doing that.

I hope my particular situation helps...


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http://www.caberfeidh.com/CanineTiters.htm

Do you have a good integrative vet near you that you could consult?

that's why Twister & Dixie see a "bulldog special" vet for all their vaccinations and any breed specific things - he's been in the breed and practicing in my state/area for 30+ years and knows what's out there, what is needed and what is not - he tailors a dogs vaccinations to their specific needs & lifestyle and is not a fan of over vaccinating either.

I know when I got Twister, my first EVER bulldog puppy, everyone had me a nervous wreck with the "what if's" on side effects of vaccinations, I suppose it was good to have a heads up in case he demonstrated any signs, but he was fully vaccinated at 16 weeks, including rabies & bordatello and never had any reaction in the least bit....but boy, you ask an opinion on what people vaccinate and what they don't and you sure open a can of worms...but you also have to take into consideration where they all live - in my state (Florida) it's a hot bed for things spreading..because of the climate, not always the case where you get snow..

vaccines, you don't need titers or vaccines for it because it's good for life. I just had a good article on this. Let me try to find it.

for parvo ....dont do all of them...i always do my puppy vaccines...then titer every two years...you have to decide for yourself....
if i lived in an area that was high in distemper...i would do it every two years....we dont vaccinte our kids every year....and thats how i look at it....
and i was raising and training rottweilers in the 70s and 80s when parvo was raging...vaccines did not cure nor stop parvo...the virus ran itself out and becasue of the vaccine we got corona virus not as deadly but an off shoot of pravo....
their is now a "new" strain of pravo...due in my mind becasue of vaccines....

will be an accurate way to guarantee my dog has immunity. I am still not sure what to do! The akc insurance pays for the titer tests now, and I believe it's an either/or situation, but I'd still just be paying for one or the other without reimbursement. For my old dogs though, I still am unsure what to do. Parvo is so prevalent here and they are so old I don't think they'd handle it very well. On the other hand, same applies to vaccine reactions, although at 12 years old they have never had any reactions to vaccines.

Cathy
when she first came home

You said you would not forgive yourself if something happened...and knowing you live in a prevelent parvo area. You answered your own question about what boosters are to come in the next few months..

I also live in a prevelent parvo area. My vet understands my choice on the matters. I will do yearly boosters until my dogs reach senior ages and or get to a pont where they rarely or never leave my house.


Rhiann @ Butlerbullz

I have mixed feelings about titers after dealing with it first hand - 1) it's way more expensive than vaccinations and 2) the first year I pulled titers on Dixie all levels were fine then the 2nd year I pulled titers again and her parvo levels were low so I not only had to pay for the titers I also had to vaccinate anyhow....what's the point!?

When I discussed this with my bulldog vet he said the titers could have a million different results to he did not recommend them

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/titer_test.htm