Hi, I have a bitch that missed last time she was mated and so we are thinking of using premate this time.  The dog is about four hours away, not a prob but the fact that the bitch has just come in season today is, as the stud dog owner is going away on what will be her 11th day.

I have never used premate before and did just read Newfienook's post but I have a couple of questions... are you in charge yourself of the postage of the sample after it has been taken?  Or is it a choice many of you have made to use Idexx?

She was mated last time on her 10th, 12th and 14th day last time so we're hoping that maybe she is an early ovulator and that we can get a successful mating before the stud owner goes away!

Any further advice welcome!

Kay

edited to add... would you advise I got her to the vets tomorrow for a first blood test judging by her failed mating last time?

Hi

personally I would chat to your vet and ask him if he can organise a blood test for serum blood progesterone . This is NOT a test he is able to do in house, the blood will need to be sent off to a lab. My vets draws blood early am and it goes to the lab via courier and I get the result that evening. The lab report details the progesterone level very accurately and advices on re-test day or if ovulation detected recommends window for mating.

I have mated girls as early as day 9 and as late as day 26 so it can be difficult to predict when she will be ready. If you have no clear idea of her pattern I would opt to test from approx day 7 this should catch her if she ovulates early BUT if she is later than the norm you will need more tests. I just wish they would read the book of the bitch and stick to the rles ... life would be so much easier and far less expensive.

I have never used Idexx but it would seem that it is a form blood progesterone testing ??

Have you had a look at the canine ovulation pads? Find them on google and give Karen a ring.
You can test at home by inserting a small flat stick into the vulva that changes colour when ovulation occurs.
I used them with Mischa on the advice of my mentor- They are easy to use and inexpensive and done at home.
I filed the edges round a bit for comfort and would use them again

Thanks ever so much for your replies.... no I wasn't aware of the ovulation pads, I'll give Karen a call, sounds interesting!  I'm going to ring my vet this morning to see what she says as well and I'll keep you all posted whether I get a sucessful outcome... or I might speak to you sooner!! Thanks, Kay

did you get result with the canine ovulation pads.

After my first post about premates i spoke to the bitches owner and she got some pads from karen , all indicators are the bitch will be coming tomorrow , i think the pads are a good idea , will lwt you know if they have the desired outcome.

I spoke to Karen this morning, lovely lady, mine should be here tomorrow morning so fingers crossed!  Out of interest, I wonder if the human ovulation kits would work???  just wondering because I have about 10 clearblue ovulation sticks in my drawer at home! ??? At the moment 'Canine Ovulation' are doing 15 pads for the price of 10... so well worty a try I think, Kay

I've just been researching Matetel and I was just about to buy one when I found out they are no longer making them :o(... does anyone know an alternative?  I realise it's a case of buying a microscope which isn't easy when you don't live anywhere near microscope shops!!  Can the a similar 'ferning' device be purchased for humans easily?? sorry for all the questions...

They were great- went purple round the edges as she started to ovulate then whole pad changed for the next two days.
It was great for me as she did not flag her tail or anything so I could esily have missed her days.
When she went for mating the stud dog owner had to hold her tail out of the way as she wouldn't move it although was receptive and the dog knew she was ready.
This was the best £10 I spent.
Edges are a bit sharp (mine is a toy breed) but a few seconds with a nail file and they were perfect - I would really recommend and saves lots of trips to vet etc

Thank you so much for the recommendation annm172, mine are on the way... fingers crossed they work as well for me!!  For anyone that might be interested, there is one remaining Babystart ovulation tester (ferning) on ebay for half the retail price - £15.99.  Kay

Good luck

I just used a childs microscope, that we already had.  It was about £5.99 from a toy shop.  Saw really good ferning, got one good mating on day 17, 3 days after ferning!

Yes ferning is very easy to see with the most basic of equipment.It is possible to see ferning with a high velocity magnifying glass.The key is obtaining lots and lots of saliva and waiting patiently until it has fully dried on the slide.The more saliva you can get the easier it is to see the ferning pattern

Right, I am in a palaver... the bitch I'm hoping to mate didn't take last year so I want to get it right this time, plus I have the added difficulty of my first choice stud dog not being available after what I think will be her 11th day.  I have the ovulation pads and a human ovulation microscope, neither of which of showing strong signs of ovulation. I think she is on day 9 now and standing strongly for one of our dogs. 

With those of you who have used the microscope with success, how obvious is the ferning?  I'm a bit worried I'm doing it wrong.  I'm sure I got a little bit first thing this morning but cannot find any now.  I want to try and avoid blood testing if at all possible... I did actually book her in this morning, got her there only for them to tell me they couldn't do it this morning if she had been fed... wish they had told me that earlier in the phone call!  So I could take her again or just stick with my 'home kits' and take her to my 2nd choice dog that I could use for as long as is necessary!

Any guidance appreciated  (I sound like a right novice!  I've just never bred from this bitch which is a different breed to my normal little tarts who I have never had any bother with!!), Kay

Not sure if I'm allowed to post this, but if you click on this link:  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/crazycockers/SnipImage.jpg  it shows the ferning we got when one of ours was ready

Ahhh, thank you!  Was that covering the entire slide?  And did you get puppies ultimately?!  Kay

yes, it covered the whole screen, you need a really good quantity of saliva and let it dry for at least an hour or so, and in answer to your question yes, we had a HUGE litter of 9 which is big for a show type cocker.

Thanks for your reply, it's not easy to get much saliva especially for a very non-slobbery breed!  I think she's trying her best not to give me any!  I'll persevere.  Congrats on your litter - wow! Kay

oh just a tip, i have a mate tel and they advise not feeding anything an hour prior to getting your sample although holding a treat and taking saliva from under the tongue is reccommended

Thanks for posting this image - its good to actually see the 'ferning'.  I bought one of the human testers and did it along with bloods and never did see any evidence of ferning. 

We're at day 10 (I think!) and I have had a positive result with the 'Canine Ovulation' tester this morning so we're going for tomorrow as 'the' day hopefully, she's standing like mad for my own dogs and they are much keener today too so fingers crossed.  An overnight stay tonight plus a 6 hour round trip for me now!  Will let you know if we get success!   Kay

Hope all goes well

Good Luck

Good luck for tommorrow. Fingers crossed that all works out for you.