My 3 1/2 year old bitch has now gone 14 months between seasons and showing no sign of coming in - she's had two normal 'text book 'seasons prior to this  each around 10 months apart and lasting 3 weeks with bleeding swelling etc as expected . I called Idexx to see if a blood test could establish where about in her cycle she is but they said that this was not possible - but they suggested giving her Galastop as apparently it will bring her in to season within a very short while . Has anyone done this ? ...did it have any effect on future seasons or litter size ? ...I'm reluctant to give her medication if there is a chance that it could affect her adversely but getting increasingly worried - I've tried all the usual things like letting her mix with in season bitches, giving her fish oil etc to no avail.

Has anyone had a bitch go longer between seasons than this ? should I just give her  a bit longer ? - help !

Yvonne

My newest girl had a season Dec '11 before I got her and hasn't had one since despite being with a bitch who has had 2 and normally brings in any bitches she lives with, up till recently there wer 2 intact males here so I know I simply haven't missed it and she sleeps with me too so there would be marks on the bedding.

As I am in no position to be having pups at present and knowing how much it cost me to get a bitch into whelp who kept having phantoms I can't afford to go down that route again so will play the waitin game.

What does the info online about Galastop say about using it for this purpose or is this use just a side effect of the drug and therefore not mentioned?

do you want to bring her into season just because she hasn't had one for a while or because you want to breed her this time? Personally I would not want to breed from a season that has been artificially induced incase is caused problems with the pregnancy. However if it is just to try to get things moving so you could breed her on another season it could be worth a try. It is not something I have done. I have heard of several bitches having their seasons delayed recently including mine who went 10 months instead of her normal 6. I would have been frantic after 14 months.

Yes galostop can be used to induce a fertile season, this was suggested to me by a repro specialist many years ago.  haven't  used it personally but know people who have. More recently Angelicka Hiemandahl repro specialist at Cambridge has given a talk and spoke of using the supralorin implant to induce a season, it is remove when the bitch is in whelp. Again not done it personally but know that is also effective.

I guess you have to balance risk of ongoing fertility issues in the line if using such a high level of reproduction support but the science works. Would recommend discussing using these methods with a repro specialist rather than via GP vet to ensure correct dosing etc. Data available on net re dosing for galostop just google inducing fertile season. 

More recently Angelicka Hiemandahl repro specialist at Cambridge has given a talk and spoke of using the supralorin implant to induce a season, it is remove when the bitch is in whelp. Again not done it personally but know that is also effective.

This I don't understand at all as Suprelorin dissolves (that is how it works) so once inserted cannot be removed.

"but they suggested giving her Galastop as apparently it will bring her in to season within a very short while . Has anyone done this ?"
I believe Galastop is used for this purpose in racing Greyhound bitches. Maybe their hard muscular condition from running predisposes them to having difficulty breaking down in season.

High prolactin hormone levels in the blood will result in irregular seasons. The active ingredient of Galastop is cabergoline which reduces the prolactin produced by the pituitary gland, so as well as reducing lactation it can also restore fertility.

I believe most racing greyhounds have season perminanely suppressed while racing. When wanting to breed they can then bring the bitch into season using galostop if required. I believe the serious sled dog racing fraternity (overseas) do something similar.

As for the supralorin .. It is designed to dissolve however it can be removed with care. I believe they tend to implant sub cut anxiously on leg rather than between shoulder blades if removal is required.
Here is link to abstract from research work on use of supralorin on bitches to induce season and chack on subsequent conception rate http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21220159

This is extract from article on removal of implants :

Implant Removal - The Suprelorin product insert instructs the veterinarian to place the implant subcutaneously between the shoulder blades. That site is still appropriate if removal will not be needed, but removal is often desirable to hasten reversal. The implants were not designed to be removed, and they do become more porous and prone to breakage with time, as deslorelin diffuses out, but they do not dissolve. Thus, with careful placement, removal is possible. The ideal site will vary by species, but examples of those that have been successful have been SQ ventral to the ear, inner area of the leg (front or rear), and the umbilical area. Although the animal may be able to lick or scratch these areas, deep placement of the implant at the end of a tunnel created by the trocar can protect it. An instructional video illustrating implant placement SQ in the inner aspect of the rear leg can be viewed on the AAZV and AZVT websites. More information about implant removal and be found here.

Placement Tips:
Identify a location where it is unlikely that the implant will migrate and where the implant can be palpated through the skin
Create a tunnel with the trocar, then slowly withdraw the the obturator, leaving the implant in place in the tunnel. The implant should be held steady as the obturator is removed to ensure release of the implant so that it remains in place
Ensure the entire implant is in place by gently palpating, being careful not to crush it, and make note in medical records for future retrieval attempts,
At each opportunity, physically palpate the location of the implant to confirm it is in place, again always taking care not to crush the implants, since they become prone to breakage over time.

Tips for removal:
Locate implant by palpation, being careful not to crush it
The area should be clipped and cleaned using standard surgical prep techniques
Make a small incision through which the implant can be removed
Grasp implant carefully with forceps and gently remove; even if the implant breaks, attempt to remove all remaining pieces
Confirm that all pieces have been found and excised
Flush area with sterile saline to remove any remaining fragments

That's rather a lot to put an animal through for our own ends isn't it?

>> Has anyone had a bitch go longer between seasons than this ?

I have recently had a bitch come in season after 16 months.  And her mother is with her all the time, and has had 2 seasons while they have been sleeping together.  No impact at all!  Usually I would have expected one to bring the other in.

However, after 16 months, it seems a perfectly normal season.

have you had a vet look at her back? , sometimes having their back aligned can bring them into season. and may be the reason she isnt coming in