Ovulation
timing is highly critical to the breeding process when "mother nature"
is not involved. It may be the most important aspect of breeding the
bitch as it improves the conception rate. Ovulation timing allows us to
know exactly when the bitch is at her most fertile period and will have
the greatest chance of producing the largest litter.
Ovulation
timing is a combination of events and requires vigilance on the part of
the owner.
1. The first day of the bitch's
season is critical so owners must be vigilant in tracking when the bitch
comes into season. This first day is measured as the first day the bitch
starts to spot. Use a white facial tissue to check for spotting every
day when you know your bitch is getting close to coming into season.
2. We will then begin
Progesterone testing around day 5 or 6 after the bitch begins to spot in
order to find a baseline.
3. Progesterone testing will
continue every other day or every day to determine the day of the LH
surge (ovulation).
4. Vaginal cytology swabs help to
support the laboratory information
Progesterone
testing is a blood test that specifically measures the amount of
progesterone in the bitch. The amount of Progesterone will tell us when
the bitch ovulated and thus when we will need to inseminate. The testing
is done at the Pathology Services Laboratory in North Platte and is
extremely accurate. The results are reported in Nanograms. We receive
results within 4-6 hours or can order "stat" runs and receive results
within 2 hours.
It is
possible to have the baseline Progesterone testing done at the bitch's
location if a reputable reference lab has the capabilities. Many larger
hospital laboratories will be able to run the test.
If you plan
on using chilled or frozen semen, it is important that you contact our
office as soon as possible to discuss ovulation timing, shipping
timetables, consent forms, etc. It takes a lot of coordination to have
all the items in place when your bitch is ready to breed so it is never
too early to line up all the requirements.
Every bitch is different with
their season/heat cycle and their fertile period can fall during any day
within their heat cycle. Most "average" bitches are the most fertile
around day 12-14 of their cycle. However, there are bitches that can be
fertile as early as day 5 and as late as day 21 so ovulation timing and
Progesterone testing is the only assured measure of pinpointing the
fertile period.
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