Annual vaccination for your dog - Yes or No?

An alternative to annual vaccinations for your dog

If you are one of the growing number of people who have concerns over the need for yearly booster vaccinations you may opt for titre testing which measures the level of antibodies in your dog's blood and indicates whether there is a need for a booster. There is now a new tool to help make the decision for you.

A product that can assist in reducing over vaccination of our dogs is now available for vets to use. The ImmunoComb Canine VacciCheck is intended to be used as a diagnostic tool to detect antibodies in whole blood or serum to the core vaccination or infection by Parvovirus, Distemper and Adenovirus (Hepatitis). 

It is a unique and patented technology, and the kits are also available for cats. The test is cheap and easy to carry out in-house, using a small sample of your dog's blood, with results available in approximately 20 minutes. 

The results will show the antibody levels for each of the three diseases, allowing you to make an informed decision whether or not to re-vaccinate. The test can also be used as a diagnostic tool when infection by one of these diseases is suspected. When an animal’s vaccination history is unknown, for instance when a dog is being rehomed, the VacciCheck would prevent unnecessary vaccination.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association states that vaccines should not be given needlessly as they may cause adverse reactions. If you are worried about the consequences of over vaccination, ask your vet if he knows about the VacciCheck from Biogal. It is available in the UK from:

Complete Veterinary Care

01923 470010
www.cvcgroup.co.uk

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