Canine Vaccination and Titre Testing

Regular vaccinations are important to keep your pets protected and boost their immunity to important and potentially life-threatening diseases. Melbourne is still exposed to outbreaks of a number of the diseases that we vaccinate against, and pets without up-to-date protection are at risk.

There are six diseases that your dog needs to be vaccinated against:

• Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus, combined into a C3 triennial injection – needed every 3 years, for adult dogs
• Two of the Canine Cough complex (C2) – needed annually
• Leptospirosis – needed annually

We believe there is no need to give your dog unnecessary vaccinations; at DVH, we use a three-yearly (triennial) C3 vaccine because we know that it provides sufficient protection for at least three years.  Furthermore, at the time that the 3 year injection is due, for suitable patients, we are able to offer instead a small blood test (known as an antibody titre test) to assess their existing protection levels, and if they pass this test they do not require re-vaccination for at least another three years.  This avoids over-vaccinating patients that do not need it.