Has anybody had any joy with the Dravinski ovulation detector? It works by detecting changes in cervical mucus?
I have tried to get my Basset in pup twice now with no joy and suspect she is a late ovulator. This is my last try as she is 4 and a bit years old now and I want to do everything I can to increase the chances. Do any of you put bitches on a course of antibiotics at the begining of their season?
Ted

Hi ted, I always get my bitches swabbed before mating just in case. Some people have had great success with the detector, bit I didnt as my bitch didnt like it inserted.

I always have mine smeared ( glass slide passed over the vulva and under the microscope to check for presence of white cells - infection) on day 2 or 3 of the season. If there are white cells present she will go on a course of Ceporex or Amfipen until the season is over and then started again on day 56 until the bitch has whelped. I prefer this method to swabbing as its non invasive and the result is known instantly and you dont have to wait for days for a culture to grow - however not all vets offer this.

thanks phillipa and WL for your response
I have had two blood tests for progesteron levels done on day 12 and today day 14, but the levels are still base line so I think she is a late ovulater which is why she has missed before ( I hope that is the reason) A 6 hour round trip to come to meet selected dog so I want to get it right. I am using the cervical probe too (but have only just got th hang of that) she is also on synulux. I hope I have covered all options now, unless anyone has any other helpful suggestions.
Ted

Hi Ted, A dose of Vit E, may also help. Its supposed to help the reproductive system

Hi Ted, sorry if I am a bit late with this - not been logged on for a few days. I have a draminski tester. Originally bought it as we have a bitch who has been very difficult to get into whelp - including having doe blood tests, smears (no infections present) etc. She had one litter, then for next 3 years, irregulary seasons, acheived 3 matings - results 1 dead puppy only. She is a very importatn bitch to us, so I thought the small investment worth a try. The tester suggested sh was ready for mating at about day 8 (if I remember right) we mated her, and carried on doing so every other day until she would not stand (quite a long period!) Results - 5 gorgeous black pups - 1 now a champion. Did the same thing on the next season, advised to mate day 10/11 - only 3 matings this time, results 4 pups.

Also used this on pug bitch, acheived 2 pups (delighted as she had missed and then only had 1 before). Friend used it on Frenchi (notoriously difficult to get in whelp) with success. It is easy to use (with common sense), none of the bitches I have used it on have objected at all. HOwever, it is time taking, and doesnt just give you a Yes or No answer, you have to take readings regularly, record them accurately and then interpret the readings - which is , I think, where a lot of people have felt it is not for them, they bought it thinking it is a one of indicator.
Gwen

Gwen,
Thank you for your reply, I am pleased to hear that you have had success.
I took a while to get the hang of it (I wasn't inserting it far enough) now I am pretty efficient I think and Maisy is getting quite used to it, and I now have a chart of readings but they vary quite a lot, I have also been having regular progesterone blood tests at the vets and the one today at last indicated that ovulation had started and I must mate her at 2 and 4 days which will be day 19 and 21 of her season !!! It will be interesting to see if this tallys with the draminski detector which should show a big rop in reading tomorrow. I have been taking readings in the morning and the evening.
What I would like to know is if a bitch is a late ovulator on one season is she always going to ovulate at this time in future seasons? if so then it is no wonder she missed the first 2 times as I took her on day 12 and 14. Also does anybody know at what age it is considered too old to have a first litter and what the reasons are.
Its a facinating subject.
Ted

HI again Ted, I have had one very late ovulator (17 days). Her first three seasons were normal - appeared ready around 12 days. She was mated on her third season at 12 days and had a litter of 5 ( C-section because two puppies were wedged facing oposite ways - not inertia) The next time she was in season I didn't take a lot of notice as she wasn't to be mated but on the next season (5th) she wasn't ready again until 17 days when she had a good mating and 8 puppies - a record for me- in fact when she had the sixth I hoped it was the last. The next time she was mated was also on the 17 th day which resulted in 3 puppies - a more normal litter size than 8! She wasn't mated again and as I didn't have a dog then didn't really watch her or have to worry about when she might be ready.
I have found on average that my bitches are ready later than they used to be say 10 years ago and more often have a first mating on day 13 or so rather than day 11 which was normal years ago. My vet reckons that bitches are on average ready later than they used to be and many more have irregular seasons than used to be the case when he first qualified - he blames it on global warming/environmental changes.

When I first started in the breed I always used to mate WHWT bitches on their second season as long as they had reached 15 months and those bitches never had whelping problems at that whelping or consequent ones. Since it has become more "PC" to wait and mate at the 3rd season I had my first C section, after 10 years of breeding 2 or 3 litters a year. Its only since I started doing first matings at the 3rd or 4th season that I have had whelping problems.

So in future I have decided to go back to my "old rule" of mate at 2nd season if 15 months or older - which is more or less mature for a Westie though of course bigger breeds who do mature later I am sure should be left longer. Mated at this young age they would have at least 12 or even 18 months "off" before being mated again. I agree with the addage "use it or lose it". My vet says its safer to mate smaller breeds at the 2nd season before the bones of the pelvic girdle have "set" - the younger ones are still a little flexible and it makes the first and subsequent whelpings easier. I tend to think he is right in the light of my personal experience after whelping bitches for 15 years or so - No C sections for 12 years and then 3 in 3 years (7 litters so thats nearly 50% all mated on 3rd rather than 2nd season).

I would be loathe to mate a Westie bitch for the first time after her third year - but haven't ever waited this long so have no experience of it. I would expect a larger roomy breed of "normal shape" ie GSD, Lab, Goldie could have a first litter at 4 without problems but have no personal experience of that. I wouldn't be happy to mate a bitch of any breed once she is approaching 5. Of course with the giant breeds this could be considered elderly I supose. Interesting subject?- I certainly agree. Its good to hear of positive reports of the "Draminsky" I have only mostly heard negative views before. I can usually only get one mating to a bitch ( because of distances to travel) and still get in a right old state, convinced I have got it wrong and have taken her too early or too late, but to my surprise usually get it right with the help of the vet+smear test.

I have a question - how many of you have had a normal whelping folllowing a C section? - and how long after it? - or would you not try again?

Westie lover
That is really interesting, thanks for that, although now I will be very worried about her requiring a C section as if she does 'take' this time she will be 41/2 when they are born. Her mother whelped easily and I am hoping this trait is inherited which may help. I will be really worried when her time approaches as she is a real whimp when it comes to pain (she yelped before the vet had even touched her with the needle for her blood test) so I dread to think what she will do if she gets as far as having labour pains.
I wonder why it has become pc to wait until 3rd season, if your experience is the same as others then it certainly doesn't seem good practice ( the only winners being vets ! perhaps there lies the answer to my own question, whoops probably opened a can of worms with that comment, Oh well) it also doesn't allow much time for misses like my bitch has had.
I cant answer your question about post cs as I havn't been faced with a section yet having had only 3 litters all who whelped really easily. It would be interesting to hear what others experiences are on that though. I suspect the answer may be related to why they required a section in the first place ie if a malaligned pup then that is unlikely to happn again and they could probably manage ok but if stuck because if insufficient room then could happen again.
Ted

Hello again,

Breeding Bassets now are you? I thaught you were a Golden Retriever breeder? I must have been mistaken.

Back causing trouble are you? Yes I did have one Bassett and I was going to have pups from her but a day after her second mating on Thursday she raided the bin and ate some chicken bones and died on the operating table 12 hours later with a perforated bowel. My children and I are absolutly heartbroken as she was such a part of the family. I expect knowing you you will come back with some nasty remark about that too.
Ted

Ted, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your bitch, its heartbreaking for you. I have a friend , her bitch welped a healthy litter two weeks ago, she got up next morning to find her bitch had died during the night, so she was left with 5 puppies to hand rear, she started to hand rear them, but, unfortunately they have all died one by one, she is absolutely devastated as nothing like this had happened to her before.

Hi Ted, Im so sorry to hear your news, hugs to you and your family.xxx

Oh the poor children how awful for them . Especially a bassett as they are so good . Iam sorry Ted
{{{hugs }}}} Mari

Ted you and your family must be so distraught
only time can heal
karl

Ted, I am so sorry. My thoughts are with your and your family. Awful thing to happen - you must be devastated. Take care.
Gina xxx

So sad to read your post ted, how dreadful for you and your family. My heartfelt condolences.

Oh Ted, that's awful :(

What a terrible thing to happen to you all.

Love and hugs,

Fiona
x x x

Thank you all,
Didn't realise how much I talked to her all day.
Ted