I'm interested in what others think of vaccinating a bitch that is going to be mated in a month or so. I'm particularly interested in lepto vaccination and if it can affect fertility and successful pregnancy.

I don't vaccinate past the first years booster, so have never vaccinated a bitch close to being bred from for the last 10 years and before that always avoided doing so..

I did read some research that suggested it was unwise to booster a bitch close to breeding, but would need to search for the article.

I booster all my gang.  One bitch came into season when I had planned to mate her.  I asked the vet whether I should leave her until after the litter was born.  His reply was that any pups would be well covered by mums antibodies if I went ahead.  I had her boostered on day 2 of her season.  She was mated on day 10 and had a perfectly normal healthy litter.  Since that decision I have never flinched at getting them done.

Wouldn't worry about giving a booster however would advise new owners of pups not to start vaccines until 14- 16 weeks as maternal antibody levels should be high and would interfere with vaccination seroconversion in pups if given too soon.

Personally, I'm with Brainless - I would never booster close to mating or whelping - if you're worried about her levels you could get an antibody titre test

Jo

Added - just read you're worried about lepto - I'm afraid there isn't a satisfactory antibody titre for lepto as far as I know.

When exporting to Australia you aren't supposed to vaccinate for Lepto and Idexx do a titre to confrim there is none so that a dog can be exported, but it will be pricey compared to something like vacicheck.

I never boostered beyond age 7.   I now booster every 3 years, apart for the one for Leptospirosis which as I understand it, needs to be boostered annually as it dips.   Quite what I do now I have switched to 'every 3 years' re not boostering at all after about age 7, I haven't decided yet and amy current two are 6 and 7 years, this is a decision I will have to take - bearing in mind we now live in a heavily populated (holiday) dog area.  This is where we don't need rabies however.

With my bitches I was still breeding, I made sure their boosters were utd at the time I did a mating, which either meant they were covered, or if close to needing to be boostered, they were boostered.  I had to assume they had enough immunity to pass on to their puppies.  So whatever was needed, at that time, I did.   I saw no adverse connection between boostering before mating, if that had to be done.

If your dogs  are regularly around other dogs more than likely they will have met diseases and their antibodies will be high from dealing with these in the way our immune system should.If you titred you probably will get results to show you don't need to vaccinate any more for the core vaccines.
regarding lepto I would research yourself to see how high the risk really is . there are too distinct sides to this. Some data shows it as high although most that I have seen seems to be more hearsay. Other data is showing it as rare and if you know the signs is easily treated
Also some vets are adding it to the core vaccine package so if you decided to booster makes sure you know what they are giving. Lepto 4 is having more side effects than lepto 2 and still only covers a couple of the strains which is another consideration with the data analysis