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Did you know that the world's oldest dog lived to be 30 years old? That's 210 dog years!
Her name was Maggie and she was a Kelpie living on a dairy farm in Australia. I often think about Maggie and wonder how long my dogs will live now that I've made so many positive changes to their diet and lifestyle. Rodrigo and Sydney were three years old when I became a raw feeder, feeding my dogs a hybrid diet of Darwin's Natural Pet Food and kibble. Scout and Zoey transitioned to raw when they were six weeks old. The difference in their health is astounding and I attribute the differences to diet.
While I'm constantly managing Rodrigo's digestive issues and Sydney's joint issues, Scout and Zoey are 100% healthy. We had one issue with Scout, a fever of unknown origin, two years ago. He hasn't been sick since. Zoey has been stung by a bee twice – the incident didn't require a vet visit. That's it!
Source: Cat's Cradle Catahoulas
Will My Dogs Live Long Life?
When I began to feed raw, I honestly thought all of my dogs' health issues would vanish. My dogs would be perfect and live a long life. Today, I know that raw feeding is only part of the answer, not the entire answer. Knowing several raw fed dogs that were diagnosed with cancer, I've become extra vigilant about my dogs' diet.
This is Maggie's, the Kelpie I mentioned above, diet:
- raw, unpasteurized milk – 1/2 cup twice daily with her human
- table scraps, raw grind (ground meat) raw bones
- vegetables
- raw placenta
Maggie also self-fasted, which is a great way to reset a dog's digestive system because a dog's gut shouldn't be work 24/7. A fast jump starts the gut and the immune system.
My dogs eat a raw diet, they enjoy raw goat's milk and kefir a few days a week, and I ferment the vegetables that I add to their grind. And I fast my dogs once a week.
My dogs haven't tried placenta. Yet.
Extending the Lives of Our Dogs
Extending our dogs' lives doesn't stop at diet. The increased toxic load (vaccinations, processed foods, air fresheners, weed killers) in our dogs' lives is also shortening their lives.
- I'm careful about where I walk our dogs; I don't have them they're not traipsing through grass that was just treated with weed killer.
- I only burn Pet House Candles in our home because they're the only scented candles that aren't toxic to pets that I trust; unless we start making beeswax candles.
- I use natural dog shampoo, feed natural treats, and I give my dogs CBD oil. And I'm conservative about vaccinations.
Fear of Over Vaccinations
My fear of over vaccination started after hearing stories of dogs that developed a serious illness as a result of too many vaccinations. This could be vaccinating too often or one of those combo vaccinations that deliver several in one syringe.
The damage that vaccinations can do over the lifetime of a pet is scary and I hope to see Washington State (where I live) accept current titer testing as an alternative to vaccination records for pets.
What is a Titer Test?
A titer test is a blood test that is taken by a veterinarian and sent to a lab to test for antibodies of previous vaccinations. Many people opt to do a titer test instead of vaccinating their dog to avoid over vaccinations or the side effects brought about by vaccinations:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Loss of Appetite
- Rash/Hives
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pain/Swelling
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Flu-like Symptoms
- and more
A veterinarian told me that these symptoms are normal. But should they be normal? I can't imagine why I would revaccinate my dogs when their first vaccination is still protecting them. And I'm not alone in this line of thinking. Recently, I was challenged by The Two Crazy Cat Ladies to called my vet and ask if they offer titer testing and request the rates.
Affordable Titer Testing for Pets
I've been watching people share the titer testing rates quoted by their veterinarians all week and I think the rates that were quoted to me are some of the most expensive in the country.
No worries because there are less expensive options for pet parents. Two veterinarians, Dr. Robb and Dr. Jean Dodds, are offering more affordable titer testing for pets.
- CLICK HERE to download Dr. Jean Dodd's form.
- CLICK HERE to download Dr. Robb's form.
- CLICK HERE to read The Two Crazy Cat Ladies' blog post about titer testing our pets.
And, before you leave, do me a favor and call your vet and find out if the clinic offers titer testing and, if they do, ask about the rates. Please share what you learn in the comments. Thanks!
Hi Sandra…
I don’t believe that you have to titer your dogs annual. They are done to prove that your dogs still have antibiodies from their initial vaccinations. I would think that you would need to titer every three years unless you take your dog to a doggy daycare or kennel that requires more up to date information. The veterinarian does sign the results; for more details, you’ll have to contact their clinic to learn the process followed. Please let me know if you have to titer annually, I don’t know many people who can afford that and my friends who titer only do it every 3-5 years.
I want holistic care for my 2 Golden Retrievers. They are 1 1/2 years old and need their annual. I would like to Titer. When I asked my Vet the price was $212.29 for Rabies Titer, and $128.79 for DA2PP Total cost per dog would be $341.08!!! And I assume annually?? But I have 2 dogs so that would run me $682.16 a year!!!! That is not affordable for me. I don’t mind spending money on my pets to get healthier care, but I don’t want to be over charged either. So I hope my vet will be willing to do the blood draw so I can mail it to one of the labs you mentioned above. Does a Vet sign the Titer Results? To be accepted by the State of Florida it has to be signed by a Veterinarian.
Since WA doesn’t accept rabies titers, do you vaccinate for rabies every 3 years? I have a 15 year old lab who is due…OR does accept titers, but only for 1 year at a time and they won’t accept back to back titers. His current vet charges $200 for a rabies titer. Insane! At this stage in the game, I’m not getting him vaccinated; I’m just trying to figure out how to be in compliance with licensing law. I’m exploring getting an exemption. Wish I never would have licensed him in the first place…so frustrating!
At the bottom of this blog post are links to download forms from one of two veterinarians who offer affordable titer testing.
In New York City several different vets that do titer testing told me $350 for rabies! They said that’s because of what the lab charges them for the results. I simply cant afford this! Does anyone in NYC know of a vet clinic that does their own testing or a cheaper lab i could request results sent to?? Thanks
WA doesn’t except them either. Bummer.
I’m in Northern VA, and our titers test for Distemper/Parvo cost us $150! I’m floored at how much more we are paying for that test. I’m so glad we found this site so we can do the testing on our own.
Also, VA doesn’t accept titers in lieu of vaccination.
Very interesting, Agatha! If you recall that article/blog post, please be sure to share it with me. I’d love to learn more. I have plans to interview Dr. Dodds in January and want to bring this up. Thank you.
I read that titer test results could be controversial. Dogs that didn’t have any exposure to distemper and/or parvo woul show the lower immunity numbers, but would still be immune.
I thought this was interesting.
I believe the titer test is a great tool, but not to many vets are supporting it.
Hi Nana – I’d expect you to be able to find a vet in CS who supports holistic practices. My vet is in Englewood, which would be quite a drive for you, but here is the website:
http://belleviewanimalclinic.com/
It’s not a totally holistic practice but a hybrid. I’ve always had good support for raw diet, minimum vaccination, etc.
Hey Ellen and Kimberly! Thanks so much for the great info on titers testing.
Ellen, do you mind sharing your vet’s website? We’re new to CO (Colorado Springs) and looking for a holistic vet that understands our desire to limit our girls’ vaccinations to just the bare minimum.
We get ALL the funny looks when we tell folks that our dogs have only received the rabies shots. It also prevents us from boarding them when we need to. We moved here from Austin, TX and had no issues with these things there, but it seems that Colorado is a bit more strict than we expected.
Thanks!
That last sentence made me laugh out loud. That was a very good question.
This is from my vet’s website (Colorado). The “normal” price would be if you had blood drawn at an office visit. The lower price is if you sign up for a clinic and have it done there. They host clinics pretty regularly.
Date: 05/05/18.
Cost: Distemper $45 (normally $58)
Rabies: $80 (normally $96)
A rabies titer doesn’t do you any good except for information because by law you have to have them vaccinated – an initial one-year shot here and then every three years after. Of course the one-year and three-year vaccines are the same stuff….
I’ve had testing done on my Rotties a couple of times, right after a puppy shot or two to see if they needed additional shots, which I didn’t want to give unless necessary. Since it was some years ago, those prices would have changed. At that time the test covered all distemper, parvo, and adenovirus/hepatitis, not just distemper, and maybe that’s what the above covers too. I don’t know.
My girls were interesting. One had good titers after a single shot. The other had had two shots at the time we tested and her only titer result was for adenovirus/hepatitis. Distemper and parvo were 0. So the vet then gave her a single distemper-only shot and a single parvo-only shot (not at the same time), and bingo she had those titers on the next test. You do have to wait a couple weeks after the shot to give the body time to build the titer.
Many years ago I asked a vet why the vaccinations I got as a child lasted my whole much longer lifetime and dogs, cats, and horses needed annual vaccination – he got mad at me.
The State of SC does not acknowledge titers therefore many organizations, pet facilities do not accept titers. It’s hard to find a vet who will give them. Strange I know, but true. The Medical University where the pet therapy program lives is a State hospital, so therapy dogs will not be allowed to get one and remain in compliance, as well as many therapy organizations that register/certify dogs will not approve them. Again, strange I know, but true….