Companion Animals

Canine Vaccination Welfare: Core Vaccines and Titre Testing

Vaccination protects dogs from life-threatening diseases and is a cornerstone of preventive welfare, but evidence-based protocols and titre testing allow individualised approaches.

Key Facts

Core vaccines protect against distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis
Leptospirosis vaccination requires regular boosters due to shorter immunity
Kennel cough vaccination may be required for boarding and dog groups
Titre testing for distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus can replace annual booster in some cases
WSAVA guidelines recommend evidence-based vaccination protocols for all dogs

Welfare Considerations

Vaccination prevents diseases that cause extreme suffering including parvovirus, distemper, and leptospirosis. Core vaccination is a welfare imperative. Evidence-based approaches using titre testing for core vaccines can reduce unnecessary injection while maintaining protection. Non-core vaccines should be risk-assessed based on individual dog lifestyle and exposure.

What You Can Do

Maintain core vaccination schedule recommended by your vet
Discuss titre testing for core vaccines if concerned about over-vaccination
Risk-assess lifestyle vaccines including kennel cough with your vet annually
Keep vaccination records up to date and bring to all vet appointments
Ensure newly adopted dogs have vaccination history and update where needed