Tetanus shots...

[Gayle]

Polly said:

There is a way to check to see if you really need that booster now. Ask your doc to draw a titer to see if you still have adequate protection from tetanus. If so, you can delay the shot.

Sara said:

I'm embarrassed to say, I would have thought of this *for my dog* but somehow for gotten that drawing titers would be an option for this other sort of mammal...

Yes, since you harbor concerns regarding immunization, Blood Titers could be done. You do need to also be informed about the expense, and check with your insurance regarding coverage, as this may not be a covered expense in your situation??? These facts may have an influence in your decision, or -- may not be an influential factor in you decision at all?

Year ago I was required to have Hep B vaccine. All of us were followed with titers to prove conversion. Most of the group converted on schedule. Not me. --- I had to have additional dose to get to satisfactory/required level!

Still say, If I were having titers done, and have never personally had whooping cough, I would inquire about that also, as Pertussis is highly contagious, where at least Tetanus is acquired in another manner. Odds much higher of getting Pertussis than of getting Tetanus – at least I would strongly suspect. Then on the other hand, while Pertussis in the adult is quite the nasty experience, Tetanus presents much more serious implications.

Commonly, with our dogs, that decision of doing titers is at least in part made with regard to which costs more, as well as some other considerations including the possibly of needing the booster anyway. Pet health insurance is not generally depended upon for such needs, so whichever is done is on a cash transaction basis. Puts things in a little different light.

As a result of the big push to move to titer testing in certain canines before ‘shooting up’, the frequency protocols for vaccinations for dogs have been vastly reduced. Rabies being the exception here. A date current Rabies vaccination is a legal requirement of State law.

Keep us informed on where you go on this and what you learn. Very interesting topic.

Cheers.

Gayle

[sarkin]

Thanks, Gayle - actually, I'm not thinking our pup's due for his rabies vax, which is every three years here. It is interesting how the changes in frequency have been changing, but slowly. Some vets were reluctant, because the requirement for yearly vaccines leads to at least annual visits, which is good not only for income, but also potentially for health outcomes, if they are able to spot a change in the dog's health status that came on gradually, so the owner didn't pick up on it...

I am still undecided (would certainly choose the vax if a deep/dirty puncture were to befall me), but this gives good perspective for my dithering. I know what you mean about likelihood vs. consequence, Pertussis vs. Tetanus. Net/net, both would be bad (and neither is terribly likely). I certainly have been vax'd for both in the past (& the diphth), but that doesn't mean I'd be protected. I'm not sure that titers are a perfecty accurate predictor of immune response, either... but that's a topic for a whole 'nother round of dithering

When I was vaccinated for measles/rubeola in 2001-ish, there was no followup... so I might still not be immune. I know my round of german measles/rubella in childhood gave me long-lasting immunity, because all manner of doctors have tested me for that, over and over again, over the years, some of them within a few months of each other. To my extreme irritation, since I was contributing to the high cost of health care...

I appreciate your thinking,

Sara

[Gayle]

Sara said:

Some vets were reluctant, because the requirement for yearly vaccines leads to at least annual visits, which is good not only for income, but also potentially for health outcomes, if they are able to spot a change in the dog's health status that came on gradually, so the owner didn't pick up on it...

Yes, you are spot on here. And if one has done a lot of chattering with their Vet about such things, as I do, they would acknowledge this a their primary reason for re-vaccinations. Annual visits are certainly good policy, IMHO anyway. I would do that anyway, and you probably would do so also, but a lot of folks do not.

Since we happen to live within walking distance of our Vet, I frequently would take a dog, during a walk, in to be weighed on the scale in the waiting room. This way they were used to going there, always got a warm welcome and bone, and were never nervous when we entered for whatever reason. (And NO, one wouldn’t do this kind of thing with young dogs that are not fully vax protected .)

But in trying to remember how this question regarding the frequency of boosters in dogs began, it was really only about 20 + years ago, that a Dr. Jean Dodds – I think at that time she was associated with UC Davis (??), -- started to raise this question. Her questions had arisen because of findings with her “Kennel” of donors for her “Doggie Blood Bank” mission. She came to deliver her spiel as the main speaker at the educational forum for our breed club back then. Fascinating. All the changes to the frequency protocols have developed since, and primarily because of her push …

The specific Rabies vaccine a particular Vet practice uses determines what is put on the certificate, and that is sufficient for legal requirements. 3 year vaccine is common for what I always have looked at as the dog’s “right to bite” protection. Not that I expected my dogs to ever bite anyone, --

I'm not sure that titers are a perfecty accurate predictor of immune response, either...

Nor am I , but best alternative your gonna get at present.

CHAO,
Gayle

[Gayle]

Sara said:

Some vets were reluctant, because the requirement for yearly vaccines leads to at least annual visits, which is good not only for income, but also potentially for health outcomes, if they are able to spot a change in the dog's health status that came on gradually, so the owner didn't pick up on it...

Yes, you are spot on here. And if one has done a lot of chattering with their Vet about such things, as I have a tendancy to do, they would acknowledge this a their primary reason for re-vaccinations. Annual visits are certainly good policy, IMHO anyway. I would do that anyway, and you probably would do so also, but a lot of folks do not.

Since we live within walking distance of our Vet, I frequently would take a dog, during a walk, in to be “weighed” on the scale in the waiting room. This way they were used to going there, always got a warm welcome and bone, and were never nervous when we entered for whatever reason. (And NO, one would not do this kind of thing with young dogs that are not fully vax protected .)

But in trying to remember how this question regarding the frequency of boosters in dogs began, it was really only about 20 + years ago, that a Dr. Jean Dodds – I think at that time she was associated with UC Davis (??), -- started to raise this question. Her questions had arisen because of findings with her “Kennel” of donors for her “Doggie Blood Bank” mission. She came to deliver her spiel as the main speaker at the educational forum for our breed club back then. Fascinating. All the changes to the frequency protocols have developed since, and primarily because of her push …

The specific Rabies vaccine a particular Vet practice uses determines what is put on the certificate, and that is sufficient for legal requirements. 3 year vaccine is common for what I always have looked at as the dog’s “right to bite” protection. Not that I expected my dogs to ever bite anyone, -- unless given approval to do so!

I'm not sure that titers are a perfecty accurate predictor of immune response, either...

Nor am I , but best your gonna get at present.

CHAO,

Gayle