I have always thought that it was not advisable to have an in-season bitch given her yearly vaccinations, but this morning have been told by my vet that there is no undue risk.
Has anyone had any problems themselves? Any advice appreciated.

If you are going to MATE her this season, don't do the booster. I did once, the vet said it was safe, and I ended up with a litter of problem pups with all sorts of health and mental problems. 7 out of 10 with problems. Could be a co-incidence but would be a huge one. If it's just routine and no mating, I'd just wait 3 weeks until she's finished, it won't make a difference and saves having the hassle of bringing an in season bitch to the vet. :)

The only problem I can think of is the nuisance to other dog owners of taking an in-season bitch to the surgery!

I do seem to recall reading about other breeders having problems with puppies after the bitch was vaccinated during her season. Also I was told (not by a vet) that the vaccination can affect ovulation - does anyone know if there is any evidence of this too?

>Also I was told (not by a vet) that the vaccination can affect ovulation - does anyone know if there is any evidence of this too?

Didn't affect my bitch a few years back.  I had a bitch due for her jabs and I had the booster given on day 2 of her season.  The vet said that her immune system would be even better for the litter.

She was mated when ready, had a normal pregnancy and a normal whelping. 

If the bitch has had her puppy vaccinations and a booster then she is likely have immunity already so a further booster is not required.
If you wanted to make sure you could have a titre test done, the cheapest method is by an in house Vaccicheck which is done by taking a sample of blood and takes about 20 minutes the cost should be approx. £25 -£30. There would then be no risk of compromising the bitches immune system by over vaccinating.
If vets are saying you can booster immunity and that yearly vaccines are required they are talking rubbish, and going against the drug manufactures recommendations, which state now 3 yearly for core vaccines. Data sheets are usually available on the manufacturers websites.
Recent studies indicate that immunity last much longer than 3yrs but that is the length of time the product is licensed for.

http://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014173-study-on-duration-of-immunity-to-canine-vaccines

A link to the study and a table showing minimum length of immunity to various vaccines.

http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adobe/IVIS-Considerations%20in%20Designing%20Effective%20and%20Safe%20Vaccination%20Programs%20for%20Dogs%202000.pdf

Yes I'm aware of that.  But I choose to have my dogs annual health check.  And any vaccinations required.  My vet doesn't vaccinate for anything that is not needed.  And I'm happy that he does my parvos every year.

You do realise that thinking today suggests that provided the dog has had all his puppy vaccination and a booster for the lot 12 months on, the only one that needs to be boostered annually because it dips over a 12 month period, is the one for Leptospirosis.  The rest can be given 3-yearly.   So if your bitch has been boostered within that period, she should have enough natural immunity to pass onto her puppies.    I did update boosters, if required, when I was planning to mate one of mine, but only before they came into season.

Ditto re taking a bitch in season to the vet!!!  (Waiting room.....)

Yes, I understand what you are saying (I'm not thick.)  :-)

This is MY choice.

My bitch's booster was due when she was pregnant and my vet said not to worry about it until after the pups had gone.

If you're lucky enough not to visit the vet regularly bear in mind that certain insurers now make it a part of the policy that you do have a yearly checkup and the vet needs to make an extra note that the teeth have been inspected.

>bear in mind that certain insurers now make it a part of the policy that you do have a yearly checkup and the vet needs to make an extra note that the teeth have been inspected.

I am sure the vet could do an annual health check without  doing the booster. I beleive insurers are not allowed to exclude anything other than the disease that has not been vaccinated for if boosters aren't done. they cant invalidate the whole policy.

I'd contact Angelika or another repro vet and ask, her email is on her website and she responds pretty quickly on weekdays

If the vet is using the Nobivac vaccination it states clearly on the data sheet, that the core vaccines which includes Parvovirus, now last for 3 years.
If the vet is giving a booster annually he is going against the manufactures recommendations. 

As shown in the table I previously from the studies carried out by Dr Ronald Shultz ( The Worlds Leading Expert) who has spent a lifetime carrying out studies into immunology, the findings proved that the core vaccines actually last a lot longer.
Not all adverse reactions to vaccines are apparent immediately, over vaccination damages the immune system, leaving the dog susceptible to other diseases, such a Cancer, IBD, Skin disorders, and many more.

The fact is that most vet's in practise receive their training from drug companies whilst in Vet College, and then further information from the representatives from drug companies who offer them incentives for pushing certain vaccines.
Just like not all vets are experts in the breeding and whelping of dogs, they are also not experts in immunology and the workings of the immune system.
By over vaccinating, far from increasing the dogs protection to diseases, you are actually weakening the dogs natural defence system.
We wouldn't give our children a Polio vaccine every year, so why would the core vaccines for dogs be needed more frequently once they have received a full course ?
More and more enlightened vets are changing their protocols in line with the WSAVA guidelines, but unfortunately some vets are still sticking to annual vaccinations, this is more to do with their income stream than the health of dogs.

>If the vet is giving a booster annually he is going against the manufactures recommendations. 

Unless he's only giving the lepto booster, which is recommended annually.

Thanks everyone for your advice on frequency of vaccinations - my vet only gives the full (including parvo) booster once every three years. My concern is the safety of giving any of the boosters WHILST the bitch is in season. This is for future reference & for advising puppy buyers. If anyone has any experiences, good or bad, I would appreciate your comments.

I don't know of any medical reason not to vaccinate while the bitch is in season because being in season doesn't compromise the immune system - the bitch isn't 'unwell' or unhealthy. Do you plan to mate the bitch during that particular season?

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/vaccines_during_heat_cycles.htm

There is quite a bit of info when I searched the internet giving negative feedback regarding vaccinating not only in-season bitches but also those close to a season (one example above).

http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

And another link to Dr Jean Dodds' vaccination recommendations - scroll down to the end - she does not recommend vaccinating bitches during estrus, pregnancy or lactation.

On checking back through my own records, one of my bitches was given her part-booster (lepto & parainfluenza) on 6th August 2012. She started her season on the expected date of 25th August. The season seemed quite normal from an external viewpoint, but she did not ovulate on that season. Coincidence? I will never know, I suppose.

This is who I would contact - she does many seminars on canine reproduction

http://www.vetrepro.co.uk/