So You Want to Run Titers

By Dr Cathy Alinovi, DVM.

Awesome—sounds like you’ve been diving into some research.

You’ve likely come across the idea that a blood test—called a titer—can measure your dog’s antibody levels, showing that your pup has an immune response to a particular vaccine, like rabies.

The thinking goes: if your dog has antibodies in their system, they should be protected if exposed to that disease.

But here’s something many people don’t realize:

In order for your dog to have measurable rabies antibodies, they must have first received the rabies vaccine.
If your dog has never been vaccinated for rabies and you run a titer, the result will be zero. No antibodies. No surprise.

Titers don’t work like a crystal ball—they simply measure the body’s response to a vaccine. Rabies titers can, in theory, reflect natural exposure—but in the case of rabies, if your dog developed antibodies from “natural exposure,” it would mean they encountered the virus and survived. And rabies doesn’t let that happen. It’s always fatal (as far as we know, always).

Now, what about nosodes?

Some pet owners who are trying to avoid vaccine side effects turn to homeopathic nosodes. Whether or not nosodes protect against disease is a separate debate—but when it comes to titers, here’s the deal: nosodes do not trigger the production of vaccine-specific antibodies. That means you won’t see any titer response to rabies after using a nosode. Titers are designed to detect antibodies produced in response to a vaccine. If there’s no vaccine, there’s no measurable antibody response.

So, what’s the takeaway?

I’m not telling you what to do about rabies vaccination—that’s your call, especially when considering your local laws. But if you want a blood test to confirm immunity, your dog needs at least one dose of the rabies vaccine. That’s the only way a titer test can show protection.

And here’s something encouraging:

For most dogs, one dose of the rabies vaccine is enough to protect them for life.

Of course, there are exceptions.

Some dogs have health conditions that complicate things. Take a dog with an autoimmune disease who’s on immune-suppressing medication. These drugs can essentially turn the immune system off. So even if that dog has had multiple rabies shots, the body might not be producing or circulating antibodies. A titer might come back negative—not because the dog was never vaccinated, but because the immune system can’t do its job while it’s suppressed. That’s not a flaw in the titer test—it’s just the reality of immunosuppression.

So if you’re considering titers to measure rabies immunity, go for it!

Just understand what the test tells you—and what it doesn’t. If your state or municipality doesn’t recognize titers as proof of rabies protection, the results won’t change your legal obligations. But they can give you peace of mind.

And if you’re really passionate about change?

Find others who share your views and take the evidence to your local lawmakers. Advocate for recognition of rabies titers as valid proof of immunity. Bring the science. Build the case. Just know—it won’t be easy. There are financial interests tied up in the vaccine status quo, and challenging that will stir resistance. But change starts with informed voices. Be one of them.

Dr. Cathy Alinovi, natural pet wellness and holistic veterinarian. Learn more about how you may be overpaying for “healthcare“ and over medicating your dog at www.healthypawsibilities.com.