Nomograph in Two Parts

A flurry of activity is underway in preparation for the arrival of the Baby Stars. One of those things is the Canine Nomograph, and this is related to titer testing — an appropriate and important topic for everyone with a dog.

Titer testing allows us to target vaccination timing. It helps us ensure immunity while helping us avoid over vaccination; over vaccination is something we should try hard to avoid. I only use the University of Wisconsin’s CAVIDS lab for my titer testing — they are fast, smart, and resonably priced.

Sparkle is my gold star titer testing example.

Sparkle in Montana last year ⭐️

I used titer testing when Sparkle was a puppy to determine when the maternal antibodies, which “block” vaccinations, were effectively gone. With that info, we knew she needed a parvo/distemper vaccination at 11 weeks. She was tested every 1 - 3 years and maintained full immunity for her entire life — almost 12 years! To be clear — one parvo/distemper vaccination = lifetime protection.

Repeat vaccinations are too often a waste of money and represent over vaccination (but do not skip your dog’s annual physical with their veterinarian!). Note: rabies titers are not allowed in place of a required vaccination in many places and so that is a separate topic.

I do not want my baby puppies to be over vaccinated — or under vaccinated — and so I use CAVIDS’ Canine Nomograph to provide the data I need to find the sweet spot. Capella had blood drawn last week for the test; I should have the results any day now and that info will help me know the appropriate vaccination schedule for the puppies.

Click HERE to watch a video about Nomographs done by the head of the University of Wisconsin’s titer testing lab, Dr. Laurie Larson. I watched it at 1.2 speed and that worked well.

Points from the video that I want to highlight:

1. Passive immunity from the mom is transferred through colostrum, which is the first milk a mother produces. Colostrum is filled with good stuff for the baby, who absorbs it through the gut.

   A puppy’s gut “closes” within a day or two, and once closed cannot absorbs all those good things. Not coincidentally, colostrum only lasts a day or two.

   Milk replacer closes a puppy’s gut early, thereby preventing him/her from being able to absorb all those good things, including maternal antibodies, from colostrum.

2. You must titer test the puppy two weeks after the last puppy vaccination to ensure the puppy is protected!

3. A one-year vaccination is not required — you can titer test instead.

4. ONE DOSE of a core vaccination is sufficient to provide lifetime immunity in most dogs.

Part Two of this post will happen when I receive Capella’s Nomograph results 🩷

Have a wonderful day!

That Was Hard!

Missing my favorite week of the year (aka the BMDCA National Specialty) was tough. It was the right decision, of course, but still hard. I am grateful to Alison, Lori, and Eden for keeping me updated — and proud — about the Kaibab crew and their many successes 🎉

Sparkler Ruthie in her Veterans’ Parade finery ⭐️

Next year’s Specialty is less than an eight hour drive for me. Easy peasy. I have already started planning. Having things to look forward to is good for our mental health and also helps set our actions on the right path towards our dreams

I will need newsletter help next year so that we can produce a great product and I can do all the things I want with my dogs — and sleep.

There are so many ways one can help. For example, Lori helped this year by sharing a brief report about the Scentwork trial. Lisa K kept me in photos. Susan Henderson fed me info and graphics. And so on.

I want to formalize and organize better for next year. Specifically, I want to get help reporting on the various events. A lot of this can be done remotely. The Google folder with the daily edition subfolders is already set up, ready to be shared. Look at me being all organized! 😬

I know sometimes people can feel nervous about sharing their writing but no worries about that — I am a kind and grateful editor. So think about it and let me know if you might be willing to help out in any way (sontag.ma@gmail.com).

This is a photo of Capella from this morning.

The puppies are due exactly four weeks from today. There is a team meeting today to discuss and plan the new whelping box.

I am starting to cautiously but hopefully believe that these dreamed for puppies might actually come true 🙏🍀🧦

Happy Monday, Friend ❤️

Specialty Update

It is pretty hard being home when a National Specialty is happening BUT we are well represented.

This is Bright Star Zuber with his obedience ribbons.

Zuber also passed the Open draft test twice, making him an MDD squared. In other words, he now has two MDD’s! Since he also qualified in agility, Zuber is getting the Triathlete Award tonight 🎉 What a great Specialty for Team Zuber 💙

His Auntie Ruthie (Sparkler) also had a great Specialty.

Well done, Ruthie and Lori 🎉

I have been busy at home doing the Specialty newsletter, which you can find HERE (scroll down to Daily Newsletter).

Happy Friday!