#34 Could YOU start a titer clinic?


Titer clinic: Lisa Rosamino is ready to host one now that COVID-19 pressures are letting up for her pet food buying club.

She learned about titers from Dr. John Robb and me but wanted to make it easier for her many pet food customers to get that testing done easily and affordably.

If your local vet has either refused to do titer testing or made them prohibitively expensive, you’ve got options. Recent reports from listeners that some vets are even refusing to draw blood for you to get a titer done spurred me to explore titer clinics as a viable workaround.

Tune in to see what it takes and maybe you can organize a titer clinic in your neighborhood or pet store. I’ll bet you could do this!

I also review why yearly titers are both unnecessary and potentially dangerous if you misunderstand this test’s results.

Links for this episode

You can find Lisa, her raw food wisdom, and buying club on Facebook under rrrRAWSOME!!
or by email at lrosamino5@ gmail dot com

For help on getting the blood sent to the right place, check with Dr. John Robb on Episode 4

Why are yearly titers NOT recommended? Two past episodes will answer that for you:

  1. Listen to Dr. Robb’s interview on Episode 4 “Titers and Immune Certificates”
  2. …and my interview by Julie Anne Lee on Episode 16 “Titers: Are you Using them Wisely?”

The Fallacy of Titer Tests This article will help you understand what titer tests can and cannot tell you.

I mentioned rabies as a bit more complicated a disease, as there are “laws” to compel vaccination in most states and a titer may not be viewed legally everywhere as proof of immunity.

A good place to deepen your understanding of this disease and its “laws” is my free Rabies Short Course.

Addendum: Successful Titer Clinic!

Lisa recently sent an update I’ll share to inspire YOU to set up your own titer clinic. Here’s what she said, and some pics from the day. Boo YAH!

I just wanted to share with you that we had our Titer Clinic today and despite not getting as many dogs as hoped (due to the 4th of July Holiday Weekend) we had 23 dogs get their blood drawn and things went off without a glitch. About 15-20 more dogs owners wanted to participate but the holiday weekend was an issue.

We had a couple volunteers and I served all the workers a nice lunch, the weather was cloudy and cool, and we held the clinic outside with the 2 vets and techs being spaced apart.

I just wanted to thank you for your encouragement! I was half tempted to have my Aussie Pipers blood drawn, today,just because…but declined, as I had it drawn through Dr. Robb in 2017 and it showed adequate antibodies, and I guessed it would be a bit redundant.

All the helpers involved agreed that we had a great day, and all the dog owners expressed their gratitude for us offering this service in such a nice stress free setting and with 2 wonderful vets and 3 techs who donated their time and efforts! I hosted it and my volunteers were super helpful.

I intend to write down all the little and big details involved in offering the clinic so if anyone out there wants some tips, I will be able to provide some advice to simplify their efforts.

I have had a few people reach out to me after listening to your podcast 34, expressing that they passionately want to host a titer clinic and I’ve had a bunch of people join my FB page as a result of listening to your Podcast 34 😉

Thanks again Dr. Will! 

Some of the pics Lisa shared, for your inspiration:

Thanks for listening! AND: YOU can do this! Get a titer clinic rolling in your area!

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Next week: How to ask the right questions of your current or future vet to get your needs met. I hear you floundering over this, yet savvy pet owners get just what they want from their vets when they make themselves clear. Don’t miss this if you’ve ever felt powerless at a vet visit!

Let us know in the comments below if you could see a titer clinic in your future. And tell us if you’ve stopped retesting titers yearly.

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34 Comments

  1. Victoria Blair on November 2, 2021 at 11:41 pm

    Hey! I’m a mobile groomer with a past life being a vet tech! Hmmm…I’m already set up with a table and counter space for a centrifuge. I just wonder if the vets in this area would be able to come after me for drawing blood? BTW, I’m in CA. But pretty much stay under the radar.

  2. Andrea on July 9, 2021 at 4:29 pm

    Don’t most vets now have the Vaccicheck in clinic test for titers which is done in minutes? https://www.vaccicheck.com/
    I had mine done that way through a mobile vet I sometimes use and my holistic vet charges around $65 plus blood draw etc. I also had a vet draw blood and sent it myself to Dr Robb before vaccinating for rabies for the first time at 6 yrs old (for emigration) just to see if my dog had rabies antibodies from natural exposure living in the woods as I personally know someone that had this happen and I’m sure it happens in others but never gets tested. Unfortunately out of the two vials the one they chose for rabies titer was not viable for testing for some reason so I will never know.

    • Will Falconer, DVM on July 9, 2021 at 10:42 pm

      In house titer checks with kits like this are okay, just not as accurate as the “gold standard” test done by KSU. And they don’t test for rabies. Yet. Maybe that day is coming.

      “Natural exposure” positive titers for rabies are rare and unpredictable in that the virus travels by saliva from a rabid animal. And it doesn’t survive very long in the environment. I don’t think you could set out to get one with any reasonable hope you’d be successful.

  3. Beth Blankenship on July 4, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    Hi this is very exciting. I’m opening a home based doggie day spa on my property next year. I had already planned to offer this to my clients but never thought about doing a titer clinic per se. I can draw blood myself as I’m a retired vet tech but I’m not licensed. Would I have to get a vet to run it with me to comply with laws ?

    • Will Falconer, DVM on July 4, 2021 at 10:40 pm

      No, Beth, you’d just need a tabletop centrifuge (Amazon?) to spin down the cells and contact with Kansas State lab, who’ll send the shipping materials for each owner to pack their tube into and ship UPS. Listen to my first episode with Dr. Robb for details. You are in a perfect position to do this! (And, if it were me, I’d suggest “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy about the blood draw.) Your skill set is perfect for this service and your intent is to help people and their pets. Go for it!

  4. Lorraine Sullivan on July 4, 2021 at 7:55 am

    This is GREAT! Thank you so much for getting the word out about starting these titer clinics. So many pet parents were not able to get a titer done on their dogs because of the outrageous cost of getting it done through the vets office or being denied when asking their vet to draw a vial of blood from their dog so they could go elsewhere for the titer. I hope these titer clinics start popping up all over the place.

  5. Leah on July 4, 2021 at 6:50 am

    How wonderful! Thanks for posting the update Dr. Falconer. Thanks for hosting the clinic Lisa. You both inspire others.

  6. Lury Budde on July 4, 2021 at 6:35 am

    Hello from Temple Texas we have 2 Australian shepherds and I talk to 3 vets here and refused to test and 1 asked for 200.00 dollars to draw blood but said she would not send it I would have to find a place to test it. She also has said I’d I don’t vaccinate she is required to notify the authorities. I feel threatened that the city will take my dogs from me if she decides to start trouble. This is crazy! What rights do we have? My dogs haven’t seen a vet in over 3 years now and I feed raw my cat as well. They are all healthy 6 and 7 years old cat is 3 I just hope we never have any emergency. If you know of any doctors who are holistic friendly in the central Texas area I would appreciate the information.
    Thank you for all you do.
    Lury

    • Kathryn on July 4, 2021 at 11:06 am

      I’m also in central TX (Austin) & would love to participate in a titer clinic.! I’m sure there must be many others who share the sentiment in Austin…

      • Will Falconer, DVM on July 4, 2021 at 11:56 pm

        YES! Organize among other like minded folks and make these clinics happen!

    • Starr Phillips on July 4, 2021 at 6:30 pm

      Hi Lury Budde,

      I live in Nacogdoches, Texas. Wow, after reading your experience with this vet, I’m not sure if I could of held my tongue towards her! (Back to that in a minute). Continue searching for a Holistic understanding Vet. As I am doing the same. I did research, School of Veterinary Medicine University of Wisconsin-Madison. Find the area that says CAVIDS Titer Testing. The pricing for testing is very very affordable. I spoke to them, they were very helpful.

      My Vet, has agreed to pull my dogs blood, Spin it to seperate the whole blood from serum and hand me the vial. Then I am going to send it in myself, and get the results sent to ME.

      My vet will charge around 20.00$ to draw the blood and spin it.

      I have not done this yet, this is what I was told from my Vets office. So I will let you know if I have any hang ups.

      NOW……

      This Vet you went to, that basically threatened you, well I would defintely never go back to her! What a Rude, and Bullie she is! People like that are just “small”.
      I really do not know how she looks at herself in the mirror and truely thinks she cares about animals.
      You probably have more control and left her office better than I would. If it makes you feel any better, just know if I had been walking out with you, I would of gave her a pretty good “Stump Cursing” as I left!

      Lets Stay Strong, a lot of us are on the same page here.
      Dont let her scare you ONE bit!

    • Andrea on July 9, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      A friend in Florida said the “holistic” vet said the same thing about reporting her if she refused rabies. I don’t know about the US, Dr Falconer is this really true or just a scare tactic? But in Canada my vet doesn’t require shots to see or do surgery on animals. Me friend is a human holistic healthcare practitioner (saved herself from her 3 months left to live death sentence with cancer 4 yrs ago using all natural means…dr said it was nothing she had done 🙄) and listened to the vet. I told her just say no, she works for you!

      • Will Falconer, DVM on July 9, 2021 at 10:38 pm

        Sounds like a scare tactic to me, Andrea. Vets are under no obligation to report “out of date” vaccinations and if they threaten to, they are both infringing on your right to make healthcare choices for your animal and woefully ignoring DOI (duration of immunity).

        Shame on that behavior.

    • sherry richardson on January 20, 2022 at 7:36 am

      Lury, when she was talking about the vaccination was she talking about the yearly vaccinations or just the 3 year rabies vaccinations? Because there is no law wrapped around the yearly vaccinations those are volunteer not mandatory the rabies vaccine is the only one that is required (every three years) by law. I would find another vet maybe outside your area.

  7. Starr Phillips on July 3, 2021 at 5:01 am

    Hello, Thank you so much for all this great information!
    (Just a little history). My husband and I farm for a living, we have raise cattle (Jerseys), and grow Poultry for a large Integrator here where we live.
    We have 4 large dogs, OTHER than puppy vaccinations, we have NEVER had my dogs revaccinated.

    For two years, we have been grinding and making a Species/Prey Appropriate food for our dogs. Our dogs, are two Greyhounds, 4 and 7 yrs old. Lab that is 5yrs old. And Golden Retriever that just turned 14 yrs old.

    We live in the country, our dogs have use of a dog door to the our house, our backyard is safely FENCED 2 acres. Under our supervision only our dogs get to run, romp and explore outside of our fenced area, on the remainder of our 35 acres. several times a week.

    I have always been very curious and interested in the whole “Titer Testing” (World). So out of curiosity, I want to get a Titer done on my Golden Retriever. She just turned 14 yrs old! She DID have Parvo and recovered when she was a puppy (2007).

    I have Already had two Vets refuse to help me, if they CANT be the ONES to send it off themself, etc etc., ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY! Unbelievable!

    I already have the paper work filled out, and even spoke with the Vet Director over the Lab to send it to University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary. She was super helpful.

    But I am just stunned with some of the reactions of my local Vets.
    But, I am NOT done yet, they are defintely not the only game in my town, I still have many more to contact and see if they will do it.

    Just wanted to share my story, its sad, BUT the push back from some Vets is still out there!

    Thank you.

    • Will Falconer, DVM on July 3, 2021 at 9:41 pm

      Thanks for sharing this, Starr. Other options I’ve heard working include “feed stores” where they periodically have some vet and/or vet tech come for a “vaccine clinic.” They might draw a tube of blood for you. I just got feedback from my guest on this episode that they held a very successful local titer clinic. Two vets took turns with two vet techs, all volunteered their time and the host provided lunch! A great time was had by all, and the titer results will be mailed directly from Kansas State to each owner for their records.

      So, YES: you can do this, and I hear the determination in your words. You’ll get your needs met, intransigent vets not withstanding!

      AND: if the only dog you feel the need to titer HAD PARVO as a youngster, odds are you don’t need to test this animal. Immunity is likely there, if if the titer has fallen out. Remember, titers don’t measure that all important cellular “memory,” and your survivor certainly still has that intact. This article may be helpful so you know the limits of titers and don’t misinterpret a fallen titer as “immunity must be gone.”

      • Starr Phillips on July 4, 2021 at 5:08 am

        Thank you so very much Dr. Falconer.

        YES, I listened to your interview you had with Lisa Rosamino, (from upstate New York, hosting the Titer Clinic day). What a great success!

        UPDATE: Hurrah! I heard back from one of my Vets, (after talking to the RIGHT person answering their phone), (and NOT just a warm body thats ONLY purpose is to answer the phone). My Vet, WILL do this for me!

        (I suspect this info got to my Vet, that “Starr” was on the phone, and he intervened telling the girl that answers their phone, “YES” we do this.

        My Vet, which I do NOT have to see that often, (BECAUSE all of our animals stay healthy), knows I have Always spoke my mind, and follow a more NATURAL approach to raising animals, dogs, cattle, 50,000 chickens, etc.

        (I think he knew I was fixing to JUMP ship from him).

        I am so excited to have found you. I am steadily reading, absorbing and listening and listening again to you and your Web site.. I can NEVER stop learning.

        Thank you AGAIN for all the HARD work you do, and the LOVE you have for Animals.

        We live in Nacogdoches, Texas. (East Texas).

        Starr Phillips

        • Will Falconer, DVM on July 4, 2021 at 10:53 pm

          Just be sure to inquire about price, Starr. And listen to Dr. Robb’s first interview to understand why the huge disparity and how any vet can send blood directly to KSU to get you the best price possible.

  8. Cheryl on June 7, 2021 at 8:07 pm

    I find so much value in all your podcasts! Thank you so much for taking the time to put all this valuable information out there. I volunteer at a local rescue and all for of my animals are rescues. Unfortunately vaccinated before I can adopt. I have used titers for the distemper since listening to your podcasts and great to find out I dont have to do it yearly! Great cost saver!

  9. Hazel on June 3, 2021 at 6:54 pm

    Dr. Will,

    I need to share that when my vet insisted on giving a distemper vax to my 10-week-old dachshund puppy, I said no. I did that because of what I learned from you. I requested a titer because this sweet girl already had Distemper from the breeder at 6 weeks old (cringe, I know) along with Adeno & Parvo. Vet said it was “impossible” for a titer to come back positive because of Mom’s milk. I visited a holistic vet who happily did the titer, but even she was doubtful about the positive results.

    Results came back with positive for Distemper & Adeno. Negative for Parvo. With that, I’m on week 2 of the natural immunity protocol.

    Here is my question: is it possible this sweet girl has memory cell immunity from her 6-week-old Parvo shot despite her titer coming back negative? I’ve read the article saying it IS possible, but it did not specify if that’s the case for a shot given so young when her immunity is still predominately from Mom.

    Love your work, and thank you for saving so many pets, including my own!

    • Will Falconer, DVM on June 3, 2021 at 9:08 pm

      I seriously doubt the 6 week vaccine immunized your pup, Hazel. No worries, though, you can do the natural exposure protocol and titer again to see if you were successful this time. When that’s failed, it’s only been because people didn’t choose an area with enough dog “traffic,” so don’t be shy about where you go. Just limit the time of exposure each time, as I’ve described from Dr. Manziano’s research and you should be golden.

      If you would, post us again here in a month or so to tell us how you did.

      • Andrea on July 9, 2021 at 4:02 pm

        My dobe puppy had the 4 way shots at 7 and 9 weeks before I got him. He had nothing else before his titer at 5 years old and he showed antibodies to parvo, adenovirus and distemper no problem. I ended up telling the mobile vet I used for that when he was last vaccinated as a puppy as she said one was low and should be done the next year. No response from her!
        The following year at 6 yrs old he had his first ever rabies July 4th, the 2 flu shots and bordatella 7 weeks later (both for moving to New Zealand) and died Nov 14th of cardiac hemangiosarcoma. He had his yearly full heart check the end of Feb that same year at the University of Guelph who have been doing a Doberman DCM study for decades. This includes 24 hr Holter exam, cardiac ultrasound and EKG and bloodwork. Nothing was seen abnormal in his heart then. My 2 yr old dobe I have almost died 6 months ago from rabies vaccinosis – again only done for moving to another country. Homeopathy with Dr Dym has helped him recover!

  10. Pat on June 3, 2021 at 12:37 pm

    I’m in mid-Tennessee, would love to find a clinic

  11. Susan Echelman on June 3, 2021 at 12:04 am

    I really appreciate your efforts regarding this matter and I’m willing to do whatever I can to make this become a reality.
    Frankly I’m tired of being threatened by traditional vets that I’m teaming the laws for not getting my dogs vaccinated for rabies.

    • Meredith Dow on August 29, 2021 at 9:27 am

      😊👍🏻🐾

  12. Patty Coyne on June 2, 2021 at 2:36 pm

    We are planning titer clinics in Arizona. One vet involved is making a request to Kansas State Diagnostic Lab in order to offer a group rate. I can connect your up to coordinate this via email.

    Also have a startup company doing house calls for lab work. They are not disinterested either.

    Dr Robb has run the samples for several pet purveyor locations.

    Lets make this a group thing!

    https:// affordablepetlabs dot com/

  13. Leah on June 2, 2021 at 12:10 pm

    I would love to find a local titer clinic near me in Tampa, FL..it would be awesome if someone knew of how to find these! Thank you for all your excellent information and guidance!

    • Susan Echelman on June 2, 2021 at 11:59 pm

      Leah,
      I noticed you live in the Tampa area. I livd in Riverview and am also interested in having access to low cost titers. Is it possible we could work together on this?

    • Susan Echelman on June 3, 2021 at 12:00 am

      I just noticed that I typed the wrong e-mail address

    • Susan Buys on July 4, 2021 at 7:12 am

      Hi Leah, I live over the bridge from Tampa in north Largo, and also would like to work with you in finding or establishing a titer clinic. Also, I m still searching for a vet in our area like Drs Robb & Falconer.

  14. Lorraine on June 2, 2021 at 6:55 am

    Thank you Dr. Falconer for putting information out there to help people get titers done on their pets. It’s amazing how many people have trouble getting a simple titer done on their pets and are left with no other option than to give their dog the unnecessary vaccine booster.

  15. Stephanie Schenk on June 2, 2021 at 6:42 am

    Where can I get the transcriopts, so I can read info in five minutes instead of thirty of listening to things I don’t care about?

    • Will Falconer, DVM on June 2, 2021 at 8:10 am

      They’ll be right up above, once they are done being edited. It can take a while, so have a listen while you’re on your next dog walk or doing chores that allow you to listen to something worthwhile.

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