top of page

Do Vaccines Really Protect Your Dog?

​The answer is both YES and NO.

​

This is really important! Vaccines are designed to protect your dog from dangerous infectious diseases like parvovirus and distemper. But if you’ve never heard of TITER TESTING, then chances are your dog is getting more vaccines than he actually needs. And that can come at a cost to their health.

 

Why Over-Vaccination Can Harm Your Dog

As a caring dog owner, your first instinct is to protect your dog from disease. Vaccines can do that … but many owners don’t realize that unnecessary vaccines can be harmful too.

Vaccination can trigger a range of reactions, from minor fevers and soreness to severe complications like anaphylactic shock, chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease, and even cancer. So while vaccines can save lives, they can also take lives.

That’s why the real goal should be to give the fewest vaccines necessary, enough to protect against infectious disease without increasing the risk of long-term illness. Unfortunately, that’s not what usually happens in most veterinary clinics.

 

The Hidden Risk of Over-Vaccination

These vaccine reactions aren’t rare, they happen every day!

Your responsibility as a pet owner isn’t just to protect your dog from parvo or rabies. It’s also to protect him from long-term, life-threatening issues like cancer, allergies, and autoimmune disease.

Here’s the reality:

  • Vaccines will often protect your dog against infectious disease.

  • But vaccines also increase the risk of cancer and autoimmune disorders.

That’s why it’s critical to vaccinate wisely and only when truly needed.

 

Health Problems Linked to Vaccines and Over-Vaccination

Vaccines can trigger a wide range of health issues in sensitive dogs, especially when given too often. Some are mild and short-lived, while others can be severe, chronic, or even fatal.

​

Common short-term reactions:

  • Fever, soreness, loss of appetite

  • Swelling at the injection site

  • Digestive upset (vomiting, diarrhea)

  • Lethargy or changes in behaviour

​​

common-reactions-DNM.jpg.webp
moderate-reactions-DNM.jpg.webp
Moderate to severe risks:

  • Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis (life-threatening shock)

  • Seizures or neurological issues

  • Chronic skin and ear problems (linked to immune imbalance)

  • Arthritis and joint inflammation​

Long-term or life-threatening risks:

  • Autoimmune diseases (hemolytic anemia, thyroid disease, lupus, IBD)

  • Chronic organ damage (liver, kidney, pancreas)

  • Epilepsy and neurological degeneration

  • Vaccine-related sarcomas (tumors at injection sites)

  • Cancers triggered or worsened by chronic immune stimulation

  • Early death due to cumulative immune system damage​

severe-reactions-DNM.jpg.webp

Not every dog will develop these issues, but every unnecessary vaccine increases the risk.

 

Titer Testing: Putting Science Behind Vaccination

For decades, vaccine schedules were based on speculation rather than science. The result? Dogs being vaccinated year after year, regardless of whether they actually needed it. But now there’s a better way: The Titer Test.

A titer is a simple blood test that measures your dog’s antibodies. If your dog already has immunity, there’s no need for another vaccine.

Sadly, very few vets offer titer testing, even though it’s a safe and effective way to prevent over-vaccination. That’s puzzling, why are life-saving vaccines given so freely, but not life-saving titer tests?

The good news is that things are changing. Titer testing used to be costly and slow, with blood samples shipped off to labs. But today, many clinics offer quick and affordable in-house titer testing.

That means you and your vet can finally move beyond outdated “routine” vaccine schedules and start protecting your dog with science.

 

 

Bottom Line

Vaccines are important but so is protecting your dog from unnecessary risks. With titer testing, you can strike the right balance: protecting your dog from deadly disease without exposing him to over-vaccination.

⚠️ Disclaimer: These are my personal recommendations, shared for educational purposes. I encourage you to discuss vaccination and titer testing with your veterinarian. Ultimately, you are the one who makes the decisions for your dog’s health.

 

References & Further Reading

  • American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). 2017 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines.

  • World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Vaccination Guidelines (2020).

  • Schultz, R.D. “Duration of Immunity for Canine and Feline Vaccines: A Review.” Veterinary Microbiology (2006).

  • Dodds, W.J. “Vaccine Issues for Consideration: Dogs and Cats.” Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (2001).

  • Moore, G.E. et al. “Adverse Events Diagnosed Within Three Days of Vaccine Administration in Dogs.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) (2005).

  • Day, M.J. et al. “Adverse Effects of Vaccines in Dogs and Cats.” Veterinary Record (2016).

bottom of page