Titre testing, also known as serological testing or antibody testing, measures the levels of antibodies in a dog or cat’s blood. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to exposure to a disease or a vaccine.
What diseases can we test for?
Titre testing helps to determine whether a dog or cat has adequate immunity against specific infectious diseases. Currently we have titre tests available for canine parvovirus, adenovirus, and infectious hepatitis (the viruses covered by a C3 vaccine) and feline parvovirus, herpesvirus, and calicivirus (the viruses covered by an F3 vaccine).
Who is suitable for titre testing?
We recommend C3 vaccines are given every 3 years, and F3 vaccines are given every year. If your pet is immunocompromised, has a negative reaction to vaccines, or you would prefer to vaccinate less often, titre testing may be a great way to track their immunity & vaccine requirement. It does not replace your pet’s critical annual health check, and is about the same price as a C3 or F3 vaccine. Titre tests are performed on site and take about 1 – 3 hours to complete.
Other essential vaccinations for dogs, including those against kennel cough and leptospirosis, only last for 12 months and cannot be tested for, so titre testing does not replace the need for all vaccinations.
Please also bear in mind that not all boarding facilities accept titre test results in place of proof of vaccinations, so if your pet regularly boards it is best to check with the facilities what their vaccine requirements are.
What about cats?
Titre testing is available for cats, though we test less often than dogs as their vaccine needs & social levels are often different. An indoor cat who does not interact with other cats or board is at low risk for infectious diseases in general, and neither vaccinating nor titre testing may be necessary.
The best plan is a custom plan
For more information & to chat about a customised vaccine plan, please get in touch with one of our vets.
Dr Caroline Wood
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