On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by 

, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes guests Hunter Finn, DVM, and Noga Schiller, DVM, to talk more about vaccine titering for patients.

Through the episode, the trio highlight the advantages of using in-house tests, how rapid titer testing enables personalized vaccination decisions and enhances pet care, helps veterinary practices stand out in a competitive market, and more.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

OK, so we're talking about vaccines and titering. Let's back up a little bit, Dr Schiller, and let's talk a little bit about how secondary immunity works, in other words, cell-mediated and humoral immunity, and how titering testing works, and how it helps us determine if the dog really needs their booster shot. Let's start there for a little bit.

I think that's a great point to start with. Let's talk really briefly about what secondary immunity even is. When we're doing vaccines or when a dog is exposed to a certain disease, we have our secondary immunity, which is the long-term immunity. It's the one that's going to protect [them] from getting reinfected or infected for the first time, if we're talking about vaccines. 

This secondary immunity is actually divided into 2 types of immunity. We have, like you said, the cell-mediated immunity, which is our T cells, and then you have the humoral immunity, which is our B cells and our antibodies. So what is titer testing, and how does it even work? Titer testing is going to check the titer levels. It's going to check the antibody levels that the dog or the cat currently has. This is going to help us determine how the humoral immunity is working now with certain viruses. And these are the viruses that we are checking for when we titer test—parvovirus, distemper virus, and adenovirus for dogs, and then for cats, the panleukopenia virus. There is a really strong correlation between the humoral immunity and protection. And this is really important to understand, because when we're titer testing, we are checking antibody levels. And there have been already many studies that have shown that if we know what the antibody level is, we do know with certainty if the dog is protected from these diseases. 

Currently, we don't have a way of checking cell-mediated immunity. But what that basically means is that if the dog does have a sufficient titer level, we know the dog is protected. If the dog does not have a sufficient titer level, [the pet] might still have cell-mediated immunity. We don't know, because there is no way to check that, and so we are going to recommend to revaccinate the dog at that point, even though there is still a chance that he is protected by [their] cell-mediated immunity. But of course, that's a chance that we're not going to want to take without checking. That is basically briefly how titer testing works.

Dr Finn, as a general practitioner and as an owner, you see a lot of pet owners that are coming in, and I feel like more so than ever. They really will ask you, "Does my dog or cat actually need this vaccine? I don't understand why we have to keep getting this vaccine," or whatnot. You hear all different sides about that. What are some conversations that you're hearing from pet owners when it comes to vaccines?

: You hit the nail on the head. A lot of people maybe are not necessarily resistant. They just want to be engaged in their pet's care, and they want to know that they're doing the right thing. I think we, as veterinarians, need to be able to be well versed in this and not just say, "Well, this is how we've always done it." So yes, you have 5 different dogs all at different stages of life; all need this vaccine. That's not very individualized care, which is what we're promoting much more at my hospital. And clients seem to really love it. They feel like they're really heard and seen because clients, I feel, aren't opposed to vaccines. I feel like they're just opposed to not really having an exact reason for that vaccine, or a lot of them don't even know what each vaccine is for. 

I think veterinarians, at some point, and maybe not all, have kind of lost our way with just how consumed we are, with how busy we are about educating the clients first and allowing them to make the best decision for their pets, and us being a team together. So I pride myself and my staff on just educating each pet parent that comes to the door on what their pet may need for their situation and their age group and their lifestyle, and then we go from there, and clients seem to be very, very receptive to that.

Podcasts

Discover how vaccine titering enhances pet care, empowers personalized vaccination decisions, and more on this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360.

What veterinary professionals need to know about in-house vaccine titering

3 tips from Christopher Lee's fetch presentation

Improve your vaccine adverse effect response

 interview, Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), shares 3 practical tips drawn from his sessions at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Long Beach, California. Lee breaks down some of the most common pitfalls he sees in vaccine adverse event management, offering clear and actionable guidance for everyday practice. 

: Vaccines save more lives than any other single thing that we do, and yet they can become scary, especially when you have an adverse event. There are several types [of adverse events from vaccinations], and it's always good to have a refresher on which type is which. One of the most common, and the one that we get so scared about, is anaphylaxis, which can lead to the death of a pet. Having spoken across the country and talked to many veterinarians, 9 out of 10 vets do not use the correct medication. They miss the most significant medication.... You have a dog with a swollen face, urticaria. Maybe they're in shock. You're worried that this is a life-threatening situation. It's most common for veterinarians to give Benadryl and [dexamethasone] and supportive care. And that's not wrong.... What is the thing that we carry if we have a risk of anaphylaxis? We carry an EpiPen. We don't have a little Dex pen. We don't have a little [Benadryl] pen. We have an EpiPen. And when you talk to immunologists, critical care people, what is the cornerstone medication? If you could give 1 medication, what would that be? It is epinephrine.

Put epinephrine first in anaphylaxis management

Tip 2: Know your hypersensitivity reactions

We need to be able to differentiate types 1 through 4. We see them all within practice. Type 1, of course, is anaphylaxis. Type 2 is the other really scary one: IMHA [immune-mediated hemolytic anemia] and IMTP [immune-mediated thrombocytopenia]. When we think of those, are they truly from vaccines?  Type 3, we get those little bald spots secondary to some vaccines, and Type 4, we get lumps. So what we do for those and how we address and prevent each of them is remarkably different.

Many years ago, we just gave all vaccines [in this group], and we learned the hard way about the errors of that with cats; now we spread them out, and we put them very low on the body. We are now doing that with dogs. The problem is that it's very common when we are worried about, "Oh, I really don't want to have an adverse event with this. I really want to take care. I want to do the best medicine," and we have a patient in front of us. I'm seeing a lot of people putting those vaccines low on the limbs, and that is problematic. That is not helping the pet. In fact, it's working against us.... For cats, keep everything low. For dogs, keep everything high. It's going to be a lot more comfortable, and you're going to have [fewer problems].

Videos

Learn 3 essential vaccine management tips from Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), focusing on epinephrine use, hypersensitivity reactions, and optimal vaccine locations.

Improve your vaccine adverse event response with 3 practical tips

Foot pathologies are one of the most common causes of lameness in horses. Although localization of the lameness is, in most cases, easily achieved using diagnostic anesthesia, obtaining a complete and accurate diagnosis can be challenging.

With the recent advances in diagnostic imaging, in particular the increased availability of MRI and CT, we have improved our ability to diagnose changes that may not be so obvious on x-rays, particularly in the early stage of the disease. This, in return, has improved our treatment abilities and overall postoperative prognosis. In this article, we will discuss 2 conditions of the equine foot: keratomas and septic osteitis.

Keratomas are often seen in practice, and they can be a diagnostic challenge. Keratomas are benign soft tissue occupying masses of the foot capsule and containing squamous epithelial cells infiltrated with keratin. They are commonly located in the dorsal, dorsolateral, or dorsomedial aspects of the foot, and as they become larger, they can put pressure on the distal phalanx, resulting in resorption of the bone. The associated poorly structured soft horn may be more susceptible to bacterial colonization and infection. Clinical signs of keratomas can range from being quiet and asymptomatic to causing various degrees of lameness, deformation of the hoof capsule/white line, and recurrent abscesses.

Diagnosis can be made using conventional x-rays, but more advanced imaging with CT has been the modality of choice for diagnosis and treatment of this condition (

). CT allows for a better delimitation of the lesion and, in return, improved planification of surgical treatment (

Space-occupying lesion of the stratum medium of the dorsal hoof wall obliterates the laminae and the stratum internum and causes pressure atrophy of the distal phalanx.

Treatment can be conservative if the patient is asymptomatic. However, all affected tissue may need to be surgically removed to prevent recurrence. Depending on the location and extent of the keratoma and the nature of the horse, the procedure can be performed while the horse is standing or under general anesthesia. Partial wall resection is associated with reduced postoperative complications, improved postoperative comfort, and a quicker return to exercise. Following the procedure and depending on the size of the defect, creating stabilization of the hoof wall either with a therapeutic shoe or fiberglass material is usually warranted.

Another common condition is septic pedal osteitis, which is usually the result of a chronic foot abscess that extends to the third phalanx. In severe cases, formation of a sequestrum can be seen.

 Sometimes patients will present with foot pain, and x-rays may not be entirely conclusive as to the extent of the pathology. Most patients will have a mild to moderate degree of lameness, increased digital pulses, and presence of a draining tract, and will be positive to hoof testers. Some patients may also present with subsolar abscesses nonresponsive to treatment. 

T1W/T2*W/STIR frontal images of the left forefoot. There is signal change within the lateral aspect of the distal phalanx indicating fluid accumulation.

Diagnosis is made based on clinical signs and x-ray images characterized by radiolucency of the distal phalanx and irregularity of the solar margin. Because the appearance of the solar margin in clinically normal horses varies widely and may take a couple of weeks to be evident, a CT or MRI may be indicated (

). CT may be more sensitive and offer a more complete diagnosis and treatment, especially if targeted debridement of the third phalanx is needed or a sequestrum needs removal (

). In more complicated cases, surgical debridement will be needed and can be achieved through a localized trephine hole over the lesion. Similar to keratoma removal, a smaller surgical access will allow for a better postoperative outcome.

For example, the case in Figure 5 is a horse that presented sound in walk, and 4/10 right hindlimb lame when trotted in a straight line. The horse was noted to have elevated right hind digital pulses but no notable swellings or effusions on the limb. The horse was anesthetized, and a CT scan of the right hind distal limb was performed to assess the extent of the devitalized bone and plan the surgical approach. Under the same anesthesia, the defect in the sole was enlarged, guided by the CT findings, and the sequestrum was identified and removed. Infected tissue (bone and laminar) was debrided. Regional limb perfusion with amikacin was performed prior to recovery. Once a healthy bed of granulation tissue was formed, a treatment plate was applied until the sole defect filled and healed.

CT can be extremely useful in the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions of the equine distal limb. If one of the main limitations until now was the necessity to place the horse under general anesthesia, the development of new units allowing the procedure to be performed with the horse standing will be an advantage and may lead to new indications for the procedure.

About the author: After graduating from the Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon, France, 

Mélanie Perrier, DrMedVetm DACVS, ECVS, CERP

, completed an equine surgical internship in California, followed by a large animal surgery residency at The University of Wisconsin, Madison. Perrier was then a clinical assistant professor of large animal surgery and critical care at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before returning to private practice in the Middle East and France. Perrier is now a senior lecturer in equine surgery at the Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom. Her main interests are soft tissue surgery, equine rehabilitation and management of the equine athlete.

Fürst AE, Lischer CJ. Other clinical problems of the equine foot. 

. 2021;37(3):695-721. doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2021.08.005

Fürst AE, Lischer CJ. Foot. In: Auer JA, Stick JA, Kümmerle JM, Prange T, eds. 

Redding WR, O’Grady SE. Nonseptic diseases associated with the hoof complex: keratoma, white line disease, canker, and neoplasia. 

. 2012;28(2):407-421. doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2012.06.006

Getman LM, Davidson EJ, Ross MW, Leitch M, Richardson DW. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging-assisted partial hoof wall resection for keratoma removal. 

. 2011;40(6):708-714. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950X.2011.00864.x

Biedrzycki AH, Morton AJ, Perez-Jimenez EE, Elane GL, Roe HA, Trolinger-Meadows KD. Three-dimensional printed surgical guides for keratoma removal in horses using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging-based segmentation. 

. 2022;51(suppl 1):O43-O52. doi:10.1111/vsu.13786

Honnas CM, Dabareiner RM, McCauley BH. Hoof wall surgery in the horse: approaches to and underlying disorders. 

. 2003;19(2):479-499. doi:10.1016/s0749-0739(03)00002-6

Burba DJ. Traumatic foot injuries in horses: surgical management. 

Boys Smith S J, Clegg PD, Hughes I, Singer ER. Complete and partial hoof wall resection for keratoma removal: post-operative complications and final outcome in 26 horses (1994-2004). 

. 2006;38(2):127-133. doi:10.2746/042516406776563288

Katzman SA, Spriet M, Galuppo LD. Outcome following computed tomographic imaging and subsequent surgical removal of keratomas in equids: 32 cases (2005-2016). 

. 2019;254(2):266-274. doi:10.2460/javma.254.2.266

Cauvin ER, Munroe GA. Septic osteitis of the distal phalanx: findings and surgical treatment in 18 cases. 

. 1998;30(6):512-519. doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04527.x

Gaughan EM, Rendano VT, Ducharme NG. Surgical treatment of septic pedal osteitis in horses: nine cases (1980-1987). 

. 1989;195(8):1131-1134. doi:10.2460/javma.1989.195.08.1131

Articles

CT imaging is better at diagnosing keratomas and septic pedal osteitis.

The challenges of equine foot lameness

On December 2, 2025, the FDA issued draft guidance identifying specific types of monoclonal antibody products for which the agency believes 6-month toxicity testing in nonhuman primates (NHPs) can be reduced or eliminated. According to the FDA, this move is part of a broader road map to modernize nonclinical drug evaluation and reduce animal testing by incorporating human-relevant methods and risk-based assessments.

“We are delivering on our road map commitment to eliminate animal testing requirements in drug evaluation and our promise to accelerate cures and meaningful treatments for Americans,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, said in a news release.

 “Modern science has given us far more effective and humane ways of evaluating drug safety than animal testing. This reform may reduce the amount of time it takes to bring a drug to market and lower research and development costs, which can translate into lower drug prices.”

Why this matters to veterinary professionals

According to the news release, NHPs (often macaques) have been widely used in preclinical safety packages for biologics. A typical monoclonal antibody program can involve more than 100 NHPs, with per-animal costs cited at approximately $50,000, a substantial ethical and financial burden for drug developers and research programs. Reducing or replacing these studies could lower development costs and reduce animal use.

Although the FDA’s guidance is framed within the context of monoclonal antibody development generally, with immediate relevance to human therapeutics, the agency also touches veterinary biologics and research practices. This means the guidance and its underlying science could have downstream implications for veterinary biologics, translational studies, and institutional animal care policies.

The draft guidance outlines product types and a knowledge-based, risk-assessment approach under which 6-month NHP toxicity testing may be unnecessary. Rather than overturning the principles of the existing framework, the draft guidance clarifies how those principles can be applied in a more targeted way.

Sponsors can use a knowledge-based, risk-assessment process to justify shorter or no 6-month NHP studies for specified monoclonal antibody product types, provided there are sufficient mechanistic, toxicologic, and human-relevant data to support safety decisions. In practice, the FDA encourages the use of alternative evidence streams, such as computational toxicology, organoid or other in vitro systems, and real-world human safety data as acceptable inputs to those product-specific risk assessments.

“By incorporating a knowledge-based risk assessment, we can make better informed decisions about drug safety while maintaining the rigorous safety standards that patients depend on,” said Richard Pazdur, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

 “Risk assessments may leverage advanced methodologies. This evolution in our approach reflects both scientific progress and our responsibility to use the most effective tools for drug evaluation.

The document is a draft guidance, and the FDA is soliciting public input as it finalizes recommendations. Stakeholders, including academic researchers, industry sponsors, institutional animal care and use committees, and veterinary scientists, may want to review the draft and consider submitting comments.

The draft guidance can be viewed as part of a coordinated, cross-agency effort to validate and adopt “new approach methodologies” that reduce animal testing while preserving safety.

 The FDA convened a joint FDA and National Institutes of Health workshop on July 7, 2025, that brought federal scientists, international regulators, industry, and academic experts together to discuss practical pathways for implementing organoids, computational models, organ-on-a-chip platforms, and other human-relevant tools in regulatory decision-making. That workshop, together with the draft guidance, appears to indicate institutional momentum with continued opportunities to comment, pilot nonanimal methods, and adapt internal study plans as the science and regulatory expectations evolve.

FDA releases draft guidance on reducing testing on non-human primates for monoclonal antibodies. News release. FDA. December 2, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-releases-draft-guidance-reducing-testing-non-human-primates-monoclonal-antibodies

S6(R1) Preclinical Safety Evaluation of Biotechnology-Derived Pharmaceuticals.

 FDA. Updated May 2012. Accessed December 2, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/s6r1-preclinical-safety-evaluation-biotechnology-derived-pharmaceuticals

FDA–NIH workshop (reducing animal testing)
FDA

 July 7, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-meetings-conferences-and-workshops/fda-nih-workshop-reducing-animal-testing-07072025

The FDA’s new draft guidance outlines when monoclonal antibody developers can reduce or eliminate 6-month primate studies

FDA issues draft guidance to reduce 6-month nonhuman primate testing for monoclonal antibodies 

Photo: Walter L. Brown Jr, BS, RVTg, VTS (ECC)/dvm360

The Fetch dvm360 Conference returns to Long Beach, California, December 5-6, 2025. 

The final Fetch dvm360 Conference kicks off later this week in Long Beach, California. Attendees can choose between 117 hours of continuing education (CE) credits (in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval) at the Long Beach Convention Center; December 5-6, 2025. They have the opportunity to individually earn a total of 14 CE credits per person, as well as an additional 3 CE credits for those attending sponsored meals. 

Both mornings will feature a keynote session at 9:15 AM PST. The first—Friday, December 5, 2025—is presented by Erik Zager, DVM, DACVECC, head of emergency and critical care services at Philadelphia Animal Specialty and Emergency (PASE) in Pennsylvania and vice president of global instruction for the nonprofit organization Veterinary Empowerment, which delivers specialty veterinary education around the world. The second keynote—Saturday, December 6, 2025—is presented by Pamela D. Jones, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), a specialist support veterinarian for IDEXX, who has practiced specialty veterinary medicine in Arizona and Texas.

Zager will discuss why and how decisions are made in veterinary practice, such as diagnostic testing, interpreting scientific literature and creating treatment plans, during his keynote sponsored by PASE and NorthStar Vets. The lecture will address the art and science of decision-making, starting with how everyday complex decisions are approached before continuing with the practical application of the principles presented in a medical context. Real-world examples will be provided as Zager discusses the importance of aligning decisions with the goals of a practice as well as the needs of patients and the owner’s priorities.

Jones’ keynote will provide an overview of canine lymphoma that includes multiple treatment options available to patients, from intense therapies to conservative protocols, according to the speaker. This session will review identify the most common presentation of lymphoma signs in canines, compare frequently utilized diagnostics, and distinguish broad forms of treatment. Jones also will discuss the use of IDEXX Cancer DX for early detection of the disease.

Attendees will have opportunities to network with other veterinary professionals in the exhibit hall throughout both days including during breakfast, lunch and several coffee breaks. A welcome reception on December 5, 2025, with food and drinks also provides an opportunity to interact for attendees to interact with exhibitors and peers.

To read more news and view expert insights from Fetch Long Beach, visit 

’s dedicated site for conference coverage at 

https://www.dvm360.com/conference/fetch-long-beach

Conference Insider: Fetch dvm360 Conference heads West

Happy Tuesday dvm360 readers! Can you believe we are just days away from Fetch Long Beach, our final conference of 2025. To all the attendees, speakers, and exhibitors that came to our events this year, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for such a fun and amazing year for Fetch! With the launch of our new location, Fetch National Harbor, as well as many other fun events on site, including learning from top industry speakers, friendship bracelet making, lunch and learns, live podcast recordings for The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, and more, this was such a memorable year!

The dvm360 team had such a blast with all of you this year, and we are looking forward to doing it all again in 2026! You can still sign up for Fetch Long Beach, as well Fetch Charlotte 2026, on the Fetch 

As you are heading to Long Beach, here is some of the content coming out of dvm360.com this week that you can catch up on during your travels:

Edward, a 2-year-old wolverine from the San Francisco Zoo & Garden, became the first wolverine to have a custom-made intraocular lens implanted In his left eye following his recent cataract surgery. The surgery came about after his team noticed that his right eye was cloudy and alerted the veterinary team at the zoo.

The University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital is among the first veterinary hospitals to offer A new minimally invasive treatment option called cystoscopic laser lithotripsy, which is ‘changing the game’ for patients with bladder and urethral stones.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Hunter Finn, DVM, and Noga Schiller, DVM, to the show to chat about vaccine tittering in general practice. You can listen to the episode right here on dvm360.com, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

The FDA issued draft guidance outline specific product types that the FDA believes 6 months non-human primate toxicity testing can be reduced or eliminated as part of the FDA’s continued progress in modernizing nonclinical drug evaluation to reduce animal testing and make it more efficient.

In recent news from the American Veterinary Medical Association, biomarkers, although have been a part of a veterinarian’s toolbox for a long time, their use is now expanding rapidly as specialists, clinicians, and researchers continue to uncover innovative ways to use them in daily practice.

Here is a sneak peek at this week’s headlines 