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9. Submissive or Excitation Urination

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Submissive urination - generally occurs in young and/or insecure dogs that are around dominant dogs or people.

If you punish your dog, it will cause her to urinate more as she wants to "apologise to you."

Patience and consistency from the owner to help the dog regain the confidence.

1. Consistency. The entire household has to practise the same procedure. Approach the dog without appearing dominant or threatening.

2. Quiet Greetings --- Avoid eye contact, no loud greetings, turn you body at 45-90 degree angle from your dog's. Say "Sit". Then take her outside to pee before playing.

3. Visitors at the door --- Put your dog on a leash before admitting visitors. Ask them not to ignore your dog on arrival.

4. Patience & Repetition --- Keep repeating positive reinforcement behaviour. Repeat acts she excells at such as Sit, Stay and Come. Rewards with food treats and praises.

As her confidence grows, submissive urination problem disappears. This may take weeks or months.

Tether The Puppy Method

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Using a leash, rope or chain to restrain a puppy so that it can move only within a set radius.

Leash used. Ordinary. Special types.

Leash chewing. Siberian Huskies.

Balcony.
Heat stress.
Living Area to chair. Small breed.
Outside the common bathroom.

Fixed schedule.
Change newspapers promptly.

8. Dr Sing's Toilet Training Secrets (Singapore Puppies) --- How to toilet train?

2006-11-03T07:27:00.000+08:00

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A variety of ways.

1. What is the benefit to the puppy?
Positive and negative experiences. Carrot and stick method. Clean den. Who's the boss. The Gastro-Colic Reflex. N-1 formula. Acute sense of smell and hearing. Visual breeds. Play-fighting, Play-biting.

How to do it? Pictures are shown during the lectures.

1. Puppy's mental development. Blank slate to rebellious stage.
2. Communication --- Barking loudly, Positive experiences best. Needs to spend time.
3. Confinement --- 14 days seldom practised. Too cruel?
4. A Daily Routine.
5. Signs of elimination.
6. Persistence and Perseverance.
7. Handling accidents.
8. Crate Training --- N-1 Formula and the Gastro-colic Reflex.
9. Pee Pan with wire flooring and urine spray.
10. Room by room method.
11. 2nd piece of newspapers.
12. The Leash Method --- Non-chewable leash for the Siberian Husky.
13. Respect and Love --- Electric Collar and Choke Chain or Euthanasia?

7. Dr Sing's Toilet Training Secrets (Puppies) --- Where is the toilet?

2006-11-03T07:20:00.000+08:00

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WHERE IS THE PUPPY'S TOILET AREA?

For Singaporeans, indoor toilet areas are the floor tiles, newspapers or puppy diapers put on the kitchen, bathroom and balconies and living areas. A baby gate at the kitchen entrance will be good as the puppy is a social animal and needs to see his pack members. Some small breeds use the part of the bedroom.

Outdoors - usually grass downstairs. Pick up the poop in a plastic bag and dispose of it in the rubbish bin. Grass patches become yellow after the puppy has peed on it. Some puppies prefer one area. Others just eliminate on grassy areas.

Large breeds such as the Golden Retrievers are best toilet trained outdoors. However, many apartment-living ones have been successfully toilet trained to use the bathroom floor or end corridors as toilet areas. They are used to the hard flooring surface.

Indoors and outdoors. A daily routine of feeding and exercise will give the puppy time to eliminate. Usually the owner wakes up late during weekends. The puppy will sometimes bark to wake up the owner to go to the toilet outdoors. During rainy days, the puppy may go to the indoor toilet locations.

6. Dr Sing's Toilet Training Secrets (Singapore Puppies) --- Why you should Toilet Train Your Puppy?

2006-11-03T07:14:00.000+08:00

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WHY SHOULD YOU TOILET TRAIN YOUR PUPPY?

Everyone loves the new puppy. Many become best friends. They are awake when the owner comes home, "listen" to the owner's problems and never talk back or play out the owner.

There may come a time when you are no longer able to care for the puppy. Maybe you become ill or have to relocate to another country to work. A toilet trained dog will find a good home.

The whole apartment may smell of urine to visitors leading to complaints. The owner and family members may not be able to detect such smells as their noses have become used to it. A toilet trained puppy will not foul up the air in the apartment.

The puppy depends on you to teach him what is the right thing to do. By spending time to teach him or getting a professional dog trainer to do it, you spend more time with him than with cleaning up a messy apartment or house.

5. Dr Sing's Toilet Training Secrets (Singapore Puppies) --- When do you Toilet Train?

2006-11-03T07:05:00.000+08:00

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When to Toilet Train Your Puppy?

Some first-time owners believe that the 8-12-week old puppy is too young to be toilet trained. So they patiently cleaned up after them. Family members may be irritated by the smells and the mess. As he grows older, it is much harder to toilet train him.

Toilet training starts on the first day of arrival at the new home. Owners who confine the puppy for 14 days and give him a routine of sleeping, feeding and exercise, without distractions are successful in toilet training. Water restriction after 8 p.m may help bladder control. Some puppies have been paper-trained before purchase, so they have no problem.

Whining and barking past midnight. Many owners are not aware that the puppy actually wants them to clear the soiled newspapers. So, they ignore the communication. Spending the first 7 days without much sleep will help the owner be more successful in toilet training.

In general, the average puppy owner in Singapore takes around 1 month to toilet train the puppy. But they still get "accidents". "Out of spite for being left at home," the owner would tell me. Actually, the whole apartment smells of urine. The puppy just can't help it.

4. Dr Sing's Toilet Training Secrets (Singapore Puppies) --- Who is the teacher?

2006-11-03T06:59:00.000+08:00

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WHO TEACHES TOILET TRAINING?

Singapore has professional dog trainers who can teach toilet training. However, it may be difficult for the first-time puppy owner to find them or to pay them the estimated $300 fees. Many first-timers do not know how to toilet train the puppy correctly, but after 1 month, the puppy gets toilet trained more or less. Advices from the pet shop puppy seller may not be in detail as each puppy and the family environment makes it difficult to provide a sure to toilet train your puppy successfully advice. Family members and children sabotage the routine of feeding and exercise as they distract the puppy after eating and at various times. Aged parents may give extra food for the poor puppy, upsetting the daily toilet training schedule.

Successful knowledgeable puppy owners who take 7 days' leave to full-time toilet training find success in 7-14 days.

The knowledgeable working couple needs to spend the evenings and weekends toilet training. They are usually successful within 28 days.

The veterinarian usually does not provide toilet training advices as they are busy with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and surgeries. In any case, there are so many situations and equipment and each puppy is different. It may take half an hour to discuss toilet training.

3. Secrets --- Equipment

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EQUIPMENT

In 2006, Singapore has over 200 pet shops selling dog-related products. Most puppies are purchased from pet shops. The first-time puppy owner gets his equipment from the pet shop operator. The variety of equipment for puppy toilet training are as follows:

1. The Playpen. Known as the Exercise Pen, this is the most common recommendation by the puppy sellers. At least 4 panels of fences are linked together to form a rectangular floor plan. This confines the puppy. Newspapers are placed either on half of the flooring or all flooring. The puppy may shred newspapers, step over the poop and dirty himself. The active puppy may push the playpen from one location to another. The floor tiles get dirtied. Some owner use card board or a plastic sheet to prevent soiling of the floor tiles. 6 to 8 panels of fences are used for bigger breeds.

2. The tall Playpen with Pee Pan. This prevents the floor tiles from being soiled, meaning less cleaning work for the owner. The Pee Pan is place under or inside the Playpen. The owner needs to carry the puppy out to clean the mess. Bigger breeds may climb out. 2 poles across the open top may prevent climbing.

3. The Playpen enclosed by the Aluminium Pee Pan. Only available from one pet shop. The Pan encloses the 4 panels of fences from collapsing onto the active puppy as it surrounds the base of the playpen. The Aluminium Pee Pan has the advantage of not being rusty.

4. The Playpen with the Pee Pan below. No door. The owner needs to carry the puppy out. Bigger breeds like the Miniature Schnauzer may climb out of the crate. 2 poles across the top may prevent climbing.

5. The Crate with the Door and the Pee Pan. There may be a door on the top of the cage to get the puppy out. It has a side door for the puppy to come out. Wire flooring keeps the puppy's feet dry as the pee drains onto the Pee Pan below. Poop is collected from the wire flooring as soon as possible. Some puppies will not dirty this Crate as they consider it as their den. Puppies have the natural instinct to keep the den clean. Such puppies do scratch the door and bark desperately in a high pitch, especially past midnight, to "ask the owner" to unlock the door so that they can go to eliminate outside. The outside toilet location may be the newspapers, puppy diapers or bathroom.

6. The Leash. To prevent the puppy soiling the whole apartment, the puppy is leashed to a spot. Newspapers are placed there. In this way, the puppy eliminates on newspapers. Small breeds may not chew the leash. Big breeds like the Siberian Husky will need a special wire-type of leash, available at some pet shops. The owner can leash the puppy to her waist so that she can do her house work and supervise the puppy. Some puppies are leashed to the leg of tables or sofa sets.

7. The Pee Pan. The puppy is confined to a playpen or small room, usually the kitchen, the bathroom or balcony. Newspapers are placed on the Pee Pan. A commercial urine spray is put on the newspapers. In theory, the puppy should pee and poop onto the Pee Pan. Some puppies just dislike the strong pungent smell of the spray. Others are toilet trained in this way.

8. Puppy Diapers, known as the Puppy Training Pads. They do have urine smell, are highly absorbent and cleaner for the puppy paws than the use of newspapers. May be changed every few days or weekly. Human ones are substitutes.

9. Puppy Diapers pinned down by the Pee Pan.

10. Newspapers. Free and easily available. Absorbent. Some puppies just shred them. Change soiled newspapers promptly. Easier said than done as the 8-12-week old puppy pees more than 10 times per day. Use the 2nd sheet of the newspapers so that the urine smell will attract the puppy to eliminate on papers.

11. Newspapers pinned down by the Pee Pan.

12. Newspapers & Others on the Pee Pan --- Floor Mat, Rug, Plastic Mat, Wood shavings on Pee Pan.

13. Crate Training. This is the use of the crate large enough for the puppy to sleep but not to eliminate. Every 2-3 hours, bring the 8-12-week old puppy to the newspapers to eliminate. Praise lavishly. Back to the crate. Repeat for 1-2 weeks. This appears to be highly successful if you or your domestic worker has the time and routine. Good method for the time-pressed mothers.

14. The Playpen surrounds the Crate.

15. Wood shavings on the Aluminum Pee Pan.

2. Dr Sing's ToiletTraining Secrets (Singapore Puppies) --- Introduction.

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INTRODUCTION

What happens to the new Singapore puppy when he goes from the puppy seller to the new home? From 2003 - 2006, I interviewed and surveyed over 400 Singapore's puppy owners, breeders and the pet shop operators who sell puppies. A lot of attention but toilet training is the predominant problem for many puppy owners, especially first-timers.

The owner has insufficient or inappropriate toilet training knowledge. The seller gives no or little information on toilet training. Each puppy behaves differently. Family members sabotage toilet training.

Younger owners get knowledge from the internet. Some get advices from friends. Very seldom do they ask the veterinarian for advices.

What is the meaning of "Toilet Training"?
In dog books, the terms "Toilet Training, Toilet Learning, Housebreaking and House training" essentially means the methods used to get a puppy or dog to go to the appropriate toilet areas. In this book, "Toilet Training" will be the term used. For convenience, female and male puppies and dogs of bothare referred to as "he or him".

Singapore Puppies. For first-time puppy owners, there is a need to get a how-to toilet train the Singapore puppy in one book written for the Singapore situation. For the pet shop puppy sellers, this book will save the sales staff a lot of explanation time. For veterinarians, this book will be a useful reference and a resource to discuss and form a favourable first time relationship with clients. First-time puppy owners seem to have so many questions about the toilet training of their puppy. Veterinarians may not have the time to provide answers to every question.

1. Dr Sing's Toilet Training Secrets (Singapore Puppies) - Contents

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CONTENTS

1. Introduction. Research into the over 400 case studies of puppies at Dr Sing's Veterinary Surgery and interviews of the breeders, pet shop operators and the puppy sellers in the Singapore pet industry from 2003 - 2006 are presented in this book.

2. What is Toilet Training?
2.1 Definitions - housebreaking, housetraining, toilet training, toilet learning.

3. Equipment needed for Toilet Training -
3.1 Playpen
3.2 Playpen & Aluminium Pee Pan
3.3 Crate with Open Top and Pee Pan
3.4 Crate with Door and Pee Pan
3.5 Crate with Wire Flooring and Pee Pan
3.6 Crate with Wire Flooring and Aluminium Pee Pan
3.7 Leash
3.8 Pee Pan

3.9 Puppy Urine Spray
3.10 Urine Neutralisers, Fragrance, Baking Powder
3.11 Puppy Diapers
3.12 Newspapers
3.13 Wood Shavings
3.14 Flushing Puppy Potty

4. Who Toilet Trains the puppy?
4.1 The Owner --- The First-Time Puppy Owner.
4.2 The Children --- Less than 8 years old. Pre-school child. Toddler.
4.3 The Parents --- The Harrassed Mother.
4.4 The Working Couple.
4.5 The Maid --- Foreign Domestic Worker.
4.6 The Siblings and other Family Members.
4.7 Advices from friends.
4.8 Advices from the veterinarian, puppy seller and others.

5. When to start Toilet Training?
5.1 The First Night.
5.2 The First 2 Weeks.
5.3 The First 4 Weeks.
5.4 Wakened up after midnight.

6. When to stop Toilet Training?
6.1 Success defined.

7. Where should the puppy pee and poop?
7.1 Outdoors. Garden grass yellowed. Bag up poop.
7.2 Indoors. Balcony, kitchen, living room, utility room, bathroom.
7.3 Indoors & Outdoors.
7.4 Big breeds in High-Rise Apartments.
7.5 Second Piece of Newspaper.
7.6 Plastic Sheet, Floor mat. Shredded.
7.7 Puppy Diapers --- Puppy Training Pads or equivalent.
7.8 The Crate with Wire Flooring and Pee Pan.

7. How to Toilet Train the puppy?
7.1 A Daily Routine --- feeding, water, exercise, sleeping.
7.2 Feeding 2 times per day. Water restriction.
7.3. How the puppy talks to you --- Elimination Signs, Clean den, Gastro-colic reflex, N-1 formula. Supervision, Persistence, Breed difference.
7.4 Hand signals for deaf puppies.
7.5 Confinement and Training --- Room by Room method.
7.6 The Leash Method.
7.6 How to Crate Train the puppy?
7.7 How to Toilet Train 2 or more puppies? Same age, Different ages.

7. What benefits do the puppy get?
7.1 The Mind is a blank slate. Rebellious stage. Incorrigible (not able to reason).
7.2 Positive experiences --- Positive Reinforcement Training.
7.3 Negative experiences --- Negative Reinforcement Training.
7.4 Carrot and stick method --- Time Out, Scruff of Neck.
7.5 The Puppy has a "Guilty Look".
7.6 The Puppy is a "Cleanliness Freak".

8. How to Handle Accidents?
8.1 Shifting and collapse of the Playpen.
8.2 Neutralisers, Floor cleaners, Enzymatic cleaners, Masking Fragrances, Baking Soda.
8.3. Clutter --- The Aluminium Pee Pan behind the Door.
8.4 The Smelly Mop.
8.4 Please Beat/Shout at me --- Negative Experiences is better than no attention.
8.5 Discipline within a few seconds.

9. Time Management.
9.1 Taking leave for 7 days.
9.2 The Home-alone puppy.
9.3 Crate Training Method.
9.2. Most puppies want you to be his boss. Some wants to boss you.
9.3 Seeking professional help.

10. What Benefits to You?
10.1 Smelly house. Family members upset. Nose sensitised. Visitors complain. Selling the house.
10.2 Clean companion and best friend.
10.3 Goes to new home if you are unable to care for him.
10.4 Homeless puppies are like homeless men?

11. Common problems.
11.1 The dominant male. Growling, biting, food aggression. Respect.
11.2 Health problems - Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Coughing, Skin itchiness.
11.3 Behavioural problems - submissive, excitation urination, separation anxiety.
Paper shredding, Eating poop, Drinking pee.
11.4 Eye injuries due to spanking.
11.5 Canine laws for the HDB apartment puppy.

12. Learning from experiences of others.
12.1 Regression? --- Urine marking Miniature Schnauzers.
12.2 The Chocolate Labrador Retriever from the 20th floor.
12.3 The Army Boy and the Imprisoned puppy.
12.4 The Poop-eating Shih Tzu.
12.5 The Howling Siberian Husky.
12.6 Each puppy is different.
12.7 Advices from the veterinarian?
12.8 The Yorkshire Terrier and the Professional Dog Trainer.
12.9 The Mother Pestered the Pet Shop Operator.
12.10 E-Mail Advices for a Silkie Terrier to a Vet.
12.11 The Two Cavalier King Charles
12.12 The Golden Retrievers hop out of the Play Pen.

13. More information.

14. Glossary

15. Index

Puppy Vaccination in Singapore

2005-08-10T06:36:00.000+08:00

VACCINATING PUPPIES IN SINGAPORE

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis or treatment of any health problem, whether it be physical or psychological. Consult your veterinarian for a detailed diagnosis of your pet's particular medical problem. Sinpets.com assumes no responsibility for how this material is used. Note that sinpets.com updates its content frequently and, as some information may change, the information may become out of date. The findings and opinions of the author expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of sinpets.com.

Vaccination of Singapore puppies - breeders and pet shops - Dr Sing Kong Yuen, Toa Payoh Vets, Singapore, www.toapayohvets.com
Update: August 10, 2006

The following are frequently asked questions.

1. When can the puppy socialise after the 3rd vaccination?
"How can someone pass such incorrect information?" a Caucasian expatriate was unhappy as a pet shop operator told her that the puppy could go out and mix with other dogs 4 days after its third vaccination. I said it was 2 weeks and this was the advice given by another veterinarian she consulted.

2. How many vaccinations does a puppy need?
2.1 Three vaccinations if the puppy has its first vaccination at week 6.
The vaccination schedule recommended by Toa Payoh Vets is:
Week 6, Week 8-9, Week 10-11 and then yearly booster. Toa Payoh Vets schedule is meant for breeder and pet shop puppies. Most of Toa Payoh Vets' vaccination cases are from breeders and pet shops and early vaccination is essential as these puppies are exposed to viral diseases earlier when they are from different sources.

2.2 Two vaccinations if the puppy is older e.g. 10 weeks old. Imported puppies are advised to have two vaccinations.

3. One pet shop operator recommend 1 vaccination in Singapore instead of two, for Australian-imported puppies.

Australian-imported puppies have had 2 vaccinations before they are permitted to be imported into Singapore. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) rules that puppies can only be imported or sold after they have had 2 vaccinations. Therefore, the pet shop operator has complied with regulations. The pet shop operator had complied with regulations. However, the Australian veterinarian in the vaccination certificate states that a 3rd vaccination is due 6 weeks later. If the puppy is 3 months (as required by law) at the time of import, the 3rd vaccination should be 6 weeks later (Week 18).

Puppy owners should consult their Singapore veterinarians for advice as disease situation varies. I recommend 2 vaccinations for imported puppies as the vaccines used in Australia protects the puppies for 3 - 5 diseases. They are not protected against other diseases. In Toa Payoh Vets, the vaccines used are 8-in-one (8 diseases) or 9-in-one (9 diseases). 2 vaccinations are recommended because there are cases of some imported puppies getting parvoviral infections.

4. Types of vaccines in Singapore. There are 2 manufacturers supplying canine vaccine in 2005. For the common diseases, there is the 5-in one from one manufactuerer and the 8-in-one or 9-in-one from the second manufacturer.

5. Monthly vaccination. Some practices recommend 2 monthly vaccinations after the first one. Others recommend that the 3rd vaccination should be 6 weeks later after the 2nd one. It is best to consult your own veterinarian as disease situation varies.

For Toa Payoh Vets, most puppies vaccinated are from breeders. They get vaccinated at around week 6. Although I advised strongly against selling to the pet shop operators after the first vaccination, such puppies are sold as they are in great demand and fetch a price premium. Therefore, to protect them, I advise 2 weekly vaccination. I strongly recoomend that breeders sell them 2 weeks after the 2nd vaccination and I believe this is the official regulaton. Such puppies have antibodies against the various viruses they encounter if they have had 2 vaccinations and time of 1-2 weeks after the second vaccination before sale.

6. Other vaccines. Kennel cough and the coronavirus vaccines are recommended by some practices and not in others. It is up to the owner to assess the risk of contacting such diseseas and to consult their veterinarian. There is extra costs involved.

7. Vaccine reactions. Around 1% of the puppies do get vaccine reactions. The main reactions are fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, swollen eyes and itchy body. Deaths rarely occur. It is best to phone your vet once you notice the puppy not eating or active.

8. No bathing 1 week after vaccination. This is recommended as the puppies get stressed during bathing when it is already stressed by the vaccination. Keep the puppy inside its own home or playpen for the first 3 days and let is rest.

9. No going outdoors till the 3rd vaccination. This is a wise precaution as the puppy's anti-viral immune system is not fully developed. Owners may need to bring their puppies to the puppy classes, veterinary clinics and pet shops and will need to take extra precautions that there is no nose-to-nose sniffing with other dogs or the floor. This may not be practical.

The puppy can be brought outdoors if the area has not been frequented by other dogs after the 2nd vaccination. Places to avoid are dog parks and areas where there are a lot of puppies socialising. The best is not to expose the puppy to other puppies.

10. No need for rabies vaccination. Local puppies are not permitted to be given rabies vaccination as Singapore has been free from rabies for the past 50 years. Rabies vaccination are required for dogs to be exported or quarantined. Puppies imported from Australia are not quarantined and do not need rabies vaccination.

11. Home breeders. Small breeds like mini-Maltese and chihuahuas. Although nearly 99% of of them do not die from adverse vaccine reactions, home breeders and professional breeders may wish to wait till they are 8 - 10 weeks old before vaccinating them and then 1 month later. Do NOT expose them to other puppy sources. Keep them in your home.

12. Core vaccinations. Distemper, hepatitis and parvoviruses are said to be core vaccines as the viruses kill puppies. Usually they are available in all combined vaccines. Kennel cough and coronaviral vaccines are not core vaccines. It is up to the owner to tell the veterinarian that these vaccines are wanted. Much depends on the life-style of the puppies. If they have an active social life-style they should get all the core and non-core vaccines. This is especially important for the breeders.

I hope the above gives a clear picture of the vaccination of puppies in Singapore.
E-mail judy@toapayohvets.com if you have any queries. More information at www.toapayohvets.com

American Veterinary Medical Association Report 2005 -Vaccination Resources

Vaccination FAQ

Last reviewed May 2005

What are vaccines?

Vaccines are health products that trigger protective immune responses in pets and prepare them to fight future infections from disease-causing agents. Vaccines can lessen the severity of future diseases and certain vaccines can prevent infection altogether. Today, a variety of vaccines are available for use by veterinarians.

Is it important to vaccinate?

Yes! Pets should be vaccinated to protect them from many highly contagious and deadly diseases. Experts agree that widespread use of vaccines within the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals. Even though some formerly common diseases have now become uncommon, vaccination is still highly recommended because these serious disease agents continue to be present in the environment.

Which vaccines should pets receive?

When designing a vaccination program, veterinarians consider the pet's lifestyle, related disease risks, and the characteristics of available vaccines. "Core vaccines" (e.g., rabies, feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus infection, canine distemper, canine parvovirus infection, and canine hepatitis) are recommended for most pets. Additional "non-core vaccines" (e.g., feline leukemia, canine kennel cough and other vaccines) may be appropriate based on the pet's particular needs.

How often should pets be revaccinated?

Veterinarians have traditionally vaccinated annually; however, they are now learning that some vaccines induce immunity that lasts less than one year, whereas others may induce immunity that lasts well beyond one year. The AVMA recommends that veterinarians customize vaccination programs to the needs of their patients. More than one vaccination program may be effective.

How does my pet's lifestyle affect its vaccination program?

Some pets are homebodies and have modest opportunity for exposure to infectious disease, whereas others have a great deal of exposure to other pets and/or wildlife and infectious disease by virtue of their activities. Still other pets live in geographic areas that place them at greater risk for contracting some infectious diseases. Differences in lifestyle illustrate the importance of customizing a vaccination program to individual patients.

Are there risks associated with vaccination?

Vaccines have protected millions of animals from illness and death caused by infectious diseases. All medical procedures, however, carry with them some risk. Fortunately, in the case of vaccination, serious adverse responses are very infrequent. Veterinarians minimize risk by carefully selecting vaccines on the basis of a pet's individual needs and by choosing appropriate injection sites. In an effort to find ways to prevent even these limited numbers of adverse responses from occurring, the AVMA is working with government and industry to redefine how information regarding adverse responses is gathered, analyzed, and disseminated.

Is serologic testing useful to evaluate immunity to some diseases?

Theoretically, tests that measure antibody response (i.e., serologic titers) may help veterinarians determine the need for revaccination in some cases. Unfortunately, veterinarians cannot be certain that a specific concentration of antibody is always protective or that a lower concentration leaves an animal unprotected.

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