Thought this may interest someone out there.
My dog was due to mate a bitch today. I asked
the owner to have their bitch smeared to check for
any infections. The results came back that she had
got a pasterlla bacteria present. (Pasterlla may not be
quite how it is spelt, so bear with me please).
The vet first said that it was fine to mate the dog and
bitch together. After I questioned the bacteria it was
found out from the lab where the smear was sent that
this particular bacteria, is very rare and usually only
found in cats urine or the nose and eyes of a dog.
They have linked this bacteria to fading puppy syndrome.
So we both decided that it was better to clear up the
bacteria before having her bitch mated. So she is coming
on her next season.
Just though this may give some food for thought. I may
be worth always having tests done before a bitch is mated.
Nutkin

I used a stud dog last year, then a week later he was used again, and within a week of 2nd mating, the stud dog had total renal collapse & was on deaths door, on a drip, etc they then got him to Bristol vet college where he stayed in IC for 10 days & eventually he recovered, at a cost of over £5,500!
Turns out the 2nd bitch was carrying an infection, and now the stud owner insists on every bitch being swabbed and subsequently treated before a mating with any of her dogs. It has been a real eye opener & I now insist on the same.

Hi sam, i make it a rule that all my bitches are swabbed before mating, its only fair on the stud dog, and saves a useless mating sometimes!!

Ok here's how suspicious I am as a stud owner - I insist on any bitches coming to my boys are swabbed etc BUT I still use the Dramaski Ovulation Detector on the bitch to check her out before I will allow my boy near them.

Any readings that are 1000 or over are a good indication of infection so I then take the bitches to my vet for a 2nd swab etc to be sure that they are actually 'clean'. Have spoken with breeders stateside who've mated a supposedly swab checked 'clean' bitch only to have their males very sick and in some cases infertile afterwards, sort of sets off the paranoia mode.

Wow!
It seems I am not the only one that asks for a smear now.
I began to think I was going cranky as I have had some
comments from bitch owners.
After reading Sams comments on the dog that was ill afterwards.
How long in between should a dog mate one bitch to the next?
I was always told that two weeks between bitches. Due to
his sperm content.
After reading schips comments, it made me realise that can we
trust all bitch owners? They may say that they have had their
bitches smeared, but have they. hmmm.
Will the vets give a note to say all is clear? Anyone know?
Nutkin