Vaccinating Your Pet - Helpful or Harmful?

Several weeks ago my colleagues at Pet Allies Network asked me to write about the titer (pronounced tighter) test as an alternative to annual vaccinations.  Coming from a non-scientific background as a writer, I was reluctant to take on the assignment.  Then the notice from the vet arrived in the mail reminding my husband and me that our 16-year-old cat, Mrs. Bean, was due for her annual FVRCP and 3-year rabies shots.  The subject suddenly became very timely.  

The titer test is a simple blood test that determines the “level of antibodies to disease in the blood.”  The results are used to evaluate whether your pet needs to be revaccinated.  There is growing concern among many veterinarians that repeated vaccinations are both unnecessary and unhealthy.  A research study published as far back as 1996 connects vaccinations in dogs with a serious immune disease that “attacks red blood cells as though they were foreign.”  No less alarming is the evidence pointing to vaccine-associated sarcoma in cats.  It results in uniformly fatal tumors located in the neck and leg areas where the shots are administered.

Though the titer test is simple, the cost can be prohibitive, starting at about $100 depending in part on whether the blood is tested in-house or shipped to a lab.  My vet quoted me $350!  She also indicated that Mrs. Bean most likely did not need either the rabies shot or the titer test based on numerous previous vaccinations and lack of exposure to infected animals.  While those opposed to the titer test argue that it would need to be done annually, those in favor suggest that it is a one- or two-time expense at most and much less costly than treating some of the diseases associated with over-vaccinating.

To be sure, all puppies and kittens should be vaccinated at the appropriate ages.  But are we over-vaccinating our pets by doing so annually, spending more money than necessary and perhaps needlessly jeopardizing their health?  To help people understand the practice and potential drawbacks of vaccinating, Drs. Will Falconer and Janet Tobiassen Crosby have written several comprehensive yet easy-to-understand articles on the subject.  The two questions Dr. Falconer would like pet guardians to keep in mind are 1) are the vaccinations beneficial and 2) are they safe?  Further complicating matters is the fact that the law requires dogs and cats to be vaccinated in order to be licensed.

Much to my relief, my vet was eager to discuss titering and help me make a decision that would best serve Mrs. Bean.  We decided to forego another round of vaccinations for now.  Our collective goal is to do what is best for the cat, allowing her to live a long and healthy life.  Since Mrs. Bean often collaborates with me on these articles, I hope to have my partner around for a long time.

I realize that the subject of vaccinating is as controversial as it is complex so I have noted my sources in the article above.  There is much more information on both sides of the argument.  Ultimately, we all want to make the right choices for our pets and we at Pet Allies hope this helps start or further the discussion in your household. 

Mrs. Bean at work

by Elizabeth Sundstrom