Should You Vaccinate Every Year?

🩺 The Truth About Yearly Vaccines And Why I Stopped Doing Them

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know I’m not afraid to take a stand, dig deeper and find alternatives about topics that matter, especially when it comes to the health of our furry family.

One of those topics? Vaccines.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-vaccine. In fact, I believe in their power. Zaner was vaccinated when I first got him, just like he should be.

But as I started learning more about the immune system, chronic inflammation, and long-term health…I realized something didn’t quite add up.

➡️ Why are we vaccinating our pets year after year…if they're already immune? When was the last time you were vaccinated for chickenpox? As children we are vaccinated to help our own immune system strengthen and provide the immunity we need. We do not go back every year to be vaccinated for things like chickenpox, so why are our pets being vaccinated annually?

That mindset completely changed how I make decisions around vaccines for Zaner:

We need to remember this...

Vaccination is not the same as immunization.
We vaccinate to become immune. But once your pet is immune…they’re protected. You don’t need to keep vaccinating. 

⛽ My Gas Gauge Analogy That Explains Everything

If you've been in the store, we may have had this conversation, but if you've never been in, here’s how I explain it to customers in the store. Using this analogy will make it click! You may have even seen our video that sums up this email in under 90 seconds!

Let’s say you’re walking through a parking lot. You see a car.
Can you tell how much gas is in the tank just by looking at the car?

Of course not. You have to get in, turn the key, and look at the gauge.

➡️ Your pet’s immunity is the same.
You can’t see it. You can’t guess. And giving a vaccine “just in case” is like filling up a tank that’s already full…except in this case, you might flood the engine or do even worse harm.

We don’t want to overfill, we want to check the gauge.
And that’s exactly what a titre test does!

🧪 What Is a Titre Test?

A titre test is a simple blood draw that tests the antibodies of your pet's blood and proves immunity exists. Titre tests show a number between zero to 100 and the beautiful thing is that any number means immunity exists! Many integrative vets don't even share the number with their clients because as humans, we're used to thinking "the higher the number the better" but that's not the case with titre tests! Literally any number proves your pet possesses immunity to the diseases we are trying to prevent.

Canada is a little behind when it comes to their requirements for vaccines and let me tell you why! "Proof of vaccination" only proves I poked my dog with a needle. It does not guarantee immunity. Remember, vaccination and immunization are not the same thing, we vaccinate to become immune. If Zaner was genetically non-responsive to vaccines, then vaccinating him would not provide him with immunity. A titre test, on the other hand, will prove he actually has the immunity I want him to have. 

It’s a safe, science-backed way to find out if your dog is protected either from past vaccines or their own immune system. Spoiler: they almost always are, especially if it’s been less than 3–5 years since their last one. Research suggests, most vaccines last far longer than 3-5 years and most last a lifetime, especially since they boosted the immune system to do it's job.

I started titre testing Zaner as soon as I learned there was an alternative to over-vaccinating and now I use it to check his immunity every few years instead of blindly doing a booster. Zaner's first vaccine was hard on him and I could see the adverse effect it had on him. About six hours after the vaccine, he kept his distance, he tried to hide and would yelp anytime I touched him. He was obviously sore from the needle, but these symptoms lasted for almost three days. Thats when I started questioning if I was doing the best thing for him.

Zaner still goes for his annual Wellness Check, but we're not going to blindly vaccinate, we titre test about every three years. If the titre shows he’s still immune? I don’t vaccinate. Period. There’s no need. But if his "tank was empty" after looking at his "gas gauge" then I could vaccinate with confidence, knowing I wasn't subjecting him to unnecessary over-vaccination.

💉 When We Recommend Titre Testing

We recommend titre testing for any pet over 4 months of age who’s finished their core puppy vaccines.

➡️ This gives their immune system time to build antibodies, so the test actually gives you accurate results.

Here’s when we especially recommend titre testing:

• You’ve been told your pet needs yearly vaccines, but you’re unsure why

• You've rescued a furry guy and you don't know their medical background

• Your pet is a healthy adult or has a sensitive immune system

• You’re worried about vaccine reactions or previous side effects

• You’re looking to make the most informed decisions about your pet's health, not just pharmaceutical influenced predetermined ones

And yes, you can request it from your vet, even if they don’t offer it by default.

💬 How to Talk to Your Vet About Titre Testing

Here’s something I’ve seen firsthand: Many vets will happily support you, but you have to ask. If they don’t offer it in-house, they can often send it to a lab.

If the price is over $100, it’s usually being sent out to a third-party lab. Some clinics now offer in-house titre testing, which is typically no more than the cost of your annual vaccine and in some instances, less than vaccines.

Here’s a simple script I share with customers that will allow you to have a conversation with your vet about choosing to do a titre test versus over-vaccinating:

🗣️ “Instead of doing the annual vaccine, I’d like to run a titre test first to check immunity. Can we do that today?”

If they say something like “We just vaccinate every year,” you can respond with:

🗣️ “I want to avoid unnecessary immune stress, over-vaccinating and make the most informed decision for my pet's health. I’d prefer to check their immunity first.”

It doesn’t have to be confrontational. You’re being an advocate for your furry family member who can't speak for themself. You’re asking for information before medication and that’s a smart way to care for your family when you are their voice. If your vet refuses to titre test, it may be time to find another doctor. Working with a doctor who is aligned with your personal beliefs on how you want to care for your pet is an important part of their health and wellbeing. 

🌿 What If You Do Need to Vaccinate?

Sometimes, we still have to vaccinate, especially if we’re starting from scratch with a rescue, a puppy or a kitty. Oftentimes, different facilities we take our furry guys to insist on "proof of vaccination". This is where you should ask if they accept titres. If they are unwilling to accept your titre test results, it may be time to look for a new facility. Remember, your titre test proves immunity exists, "proof of vaccination" proves your pet was poked with a needle, we still don't know if they actually have immunity. The more pet parents requesting acceptance of titre tests, the more we can push Canada ahead to be more aligned with other countries.

When you do have to vaccinate, we recommend using Rebalancer from Adored Beast.

It’s a gentle, homeopathic formula designed to support the body after a vaccine, helping to detox any preservatives, adjuvants, or metals without interfering with the purpose or effectiveness of the vaccine. It’s not about avoiding vaccines. It’s about supporting the body through it. If you've ever been sick after a flu shot, you know how it could feel for your pet after receiving a vaccine. 

🐾 Let’s Make Confident Choices Together

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’re new to titre testing or just starting to question the vaccine reminders that land in your inbox each year, I get it, I’ve been there too!

And if you want help? We're always here for you!

Come visit us in store. Ask your questions. Let’s look at your pet’s history together and help you feel confident in your next steps.

This is not about fear-mongering or being anti-vaxers, it's about knowledge and choices you make for your furry family. It's about being empowered to make the best decisions when it comes to the health and happiness of your furry family. We’re here to support you, so you can make the best decision for your pet’s body, not someone else’s protocol.