07/12/2023
๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐
๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ง
๐
๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ, ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐กโ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ถ๐ป๐ถ) ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ ๐ค๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐ต๐๐๐ก๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ข๐๐ ๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ 1990๐ ), ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐-๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐? ๐ด๐ ๐ท๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐, ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐คโ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐. ๐ท๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐โ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ต๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐ & ๐ถ๐๐ก ๐ป๐๐๐๐กโโ โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ท๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐. ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has issued clear and detailed scientific guidelines informing dog carers and veterinary staff on the safe and correct use of vaccines for dogs and cats. It is worth noting that these guidelines aim to minimise the number of vaccines given to each animal while still ensuring maximum protection. It is a huge step forward for the health of our dogs that these guidelines now exist, so that we can use vaccines in a way that is based on independent expert advice rather than on mere assumption or commercial interest โ and it falls to every vet to follow them. Unfortunately you may still encounter veterinary practices that have not yet updated their protocols, indeed some still refer to โthe annual vaccinationโ โ a truly outdated concept.
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ง-๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ
The WSAVA guidelines divide dog vaccines into two groups: ๐๐๐๐ and ๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐.
The core vaccines are those against parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus, given together in one shot. Once a puppy has been successfully immunised, he will, in virtually all cases require no boosters. Ever. The core vaccines have been shown to provide life-long protection in 98% of dogs. It is this ongoing protection that can now be tested through a titre test.
The non-core vaccines frequently given to dogs are those against kennel cough and leptospirosis. The WSAVA states that a main reason for publishing the guidelines is to minimise the use of these vaccines. They are classified as non-core because, in the case of most dogs, the benefits do not outweigh the risks connected with these vaccines. If given, they need to be repeated annually, but the point to remember is that for the average pet dog it is the expert recommendation that they should not be given at all.
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ - ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ (๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ) ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐
A titre test is a cheap, easy and simple way to check if your dog or cat remains protected by the last core vaccine, whenever this was given.
Your vet or veterinary nurse will take a small blood sample, which is then checked for specific antibodies. Your vet may send the sample to a lab, of course, but the test can now be done using a simple test kit, and takes just half an hour, so more and more veterinary practices offer this as an in-house service, which greatly reduces the cost.
The presence or absence of antibodies against a given disease provides a clear yes/no answer to the question of whether or not the animal is protected. There is no degree of protection, it is an easy, all-or-nothing situation. An animal who tests positive is protected, and will gain nothing from further vaccines.
Revaccinating an adult dog or cat without first checking for antibodies exposes the animal to unnecessary risk, and simply makes no sense.
๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐?
In the past, experts have discussed what level of antibodies constitutes protective levels, and advocates of the status quo approach to vaccination have tried to cast doubt on the reliability of titre testing (old habits die hard, and vaccination is, undeniably, big business). This doubt has now been settled, and today experts agree that titre testing (including the use of in-house titre test kits) is, as the chair of the WSAVAโs Vaccination Guideline Group puts it, โthe new revolutionary tool in veterinary medicine.โ
The WSAVA stresses that titre testing is not only reliable, it constitutes a higher standard of veterinary practice. This is not just a matter of striving to reduce the incidence of vaccine side effects; rather, it reflects a core principle of good medicine: that we should never perform a procedure (in this case a vaccination) without first establishing that it is indicated and in the patientโs best interest. I would even go so far as to recommend using a pet clinicโs adherence to WSAVA vaccination guidelines (including the use of in-house titre testing) as an easy way to tell the good from the bad. Good medicine is just good medicine.
๐๐จ, ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ?
If your dog is five months or older and has never had a titre test, it is overdue.
Get the test done at a veterinary clinic that has the equipment to offer in-house testing. This not only reduces the cost, it also ensures that the vet is able to advise on the basis of the test result. This is not always the case when the sample is sent to a lab and a vet who is not yet familiar with titre testing (they sadly still do exist) is then asked to interpret the test result.
Take 15 minutes to sit down and call the nearest veterinary clinics. Simply ask if they offer โin-house titre testing to check for lasting immunity following vaccinationโ. Most of us have several clinics available within an hourโs travel. If you live in a remote area and your local vets are a bit old fashioned, you may have to make a day trip of it or maybe time the test to coincide with your holiday plans. Just get it done.
The current vaccination guidelines can be found in their entirety at www.wsava.org
๐โ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ต๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐ & ๐ถ๐๐ก ๐ป๐๐๐๐กโ Dr Lise Hansen is published by Hubble & Hattie (https://www.hubbleandhattie.com/shop/HH5415/).
๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ -๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ '๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ' ๐ก๐ญ๐ญ๐ฉ๐ฌ://๐ก๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐.๐๐จ๐ฆ/๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐/
