What is titre testing, when to do it, and why it matters for your dog’s health

Vaccination is one of the most important tools in modern veterinary medicine. It has saved countless lives and remains a cornerstone of preventative care for dogs.

Titre testing doesn’t replace that foundation.
It builds on it.

This article explains what titre testing is, when it’s typically used, and how it fits into a more personalised, data-driven approach to your dog’s long-term health.

What is titre testing?

A titre test is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies your dog has against specific diseases.

Rather than assuming immunity based on time since vaccination, titre testing looks at whether your dog’s immune system is still producing protective antibodies.

In simple terms, it helps answer the question:

Is my dog still protected?

Most commonly, titre testing is used to assess immunity to core viral diseases, such as:

• Canine parvovirus
• Canine distemper virus
• Canine adenovirus (hepatitis)

These are diseases where immunity is known to be long-lasting in many dogs once an effective immune response has been established.

It’s important to note that titre testing applies to core viral diseases and does not reliably assess immunity to bacterial or exposure-based vaccines, such as Bordetella or leptospirosis.

Why titre testing exists

Traditional vaccination schedules are designed to protect populations under a wide range of real-world conditions. They are intentionally conservative, built to maximise protection across diverse dogs, environments, and levels of follow-up, rather than to optimise for individual variation.

Titre testing introduces individual context.

It allows immunity to be measured rather than assumed, helping guide decisions about whether a booster is needed now, or whether protection is already in place.

This is especially relevant as dogs move beyond puppyhood and into adulthood, when immune responses tend to stabilise.

When is titre testing typically used?

Titre testing is not used in place of puppy vaccinations.

In puppyhood

Puppies require a full core vaccination series to establish initial immunity. Titre testing is not a substitute for this process.

In adulthood

Once a dog has completed their core puppy vaccinations (and any recommended boosters), titre testing may be considered as part of ongoing preventative care.

It is most often used:

• In adult dogs who are otherwise healthy
• When deciding whether a routine booster is necessary
• In dogs where minimising unnecessary medical intervention is a priority

Titre testing is typically repeated at intervals recommended by your veterinarian, based on your dog’s health, age, and risk profile.

What titre testing can and can’t tell you

Titre testing can:

• Show whether protective antibodies are present
• Support informed decisions about booster timing
• Reduce guesswork in long-term immunity management

Titre testing can’t:

• Guarantee protection against every exposure
• Replace vaccination where immunity is absent
• Assess immunity to all diseases, particularly bacterial ones

This is why titre testing works best as part of a broader preventative care strategy, not in isolation.

Is titre testing right for every dog?

Not necessarily.

Some dogs may still benefit from traditional booster schedules based on:

• Lifestyle and exposure risk
• Travel or boarding requirements
• Underlying health conditions
• Veterinary or regulatory requirements

The goal of titre testing isn’t to follow a rule. It’s to support better, more informed conversations between owners and veterinarians.

How titre testing fits into a personalised approach to care

Titre testing reflects a broader shift in preventative medicine, from one-size-fits-all schedules to care that adapts over time.

Alongside tools like:

• Body condition tracking
• Longitudinal health records
• Environmental risk assessment
• Biological age insights

Titre testing helps build a clearer picture of how your dog’s immune system is functioning right now, not just what they received years ago.

Where Elita Blueprint fits in

Understanding immunity is just one part of preventative health.

The Elita Blueprint is designed to bring together vaccination history, health records, reminders, and emerging biological insights in one place, so decisions about care are made with context, not guesswork.

It doesn’t replace your vet.

It supports better conversations with them.

The takeaway

Titre testing isn’t about adding another thing.

It’s about doing what makes sense for your dog.

Vaccination remains essential. Titre testing simply offers a way to personalise how immunity is managed over time, based on the dog in front of you.

Preventative care works best when it evolves.

👉 Want to understand your dog’s health through their own biology?

Explore Elita Blueprint and start building a clearer picture of your dog’s long-term health.

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