Just wondering what people's opinions were about whether to opt for sending bloods off to Idexx as against choosing a vet's in-house testing to find the optimum time for mating a bitch.
Thank you :)

No contest serum progesterone testing .. Check with your vet their normal lab may run this test and get same day result. If not post bloods to Iddex

Again - no contest - Idexx every time

Jo

I don't test as a regular thing.  But had one bitch that was a total nightmare with her seasons.  After much discussion with my vet he advised me to test from the first time I saw any swelling (not if I saw blood.)  I went for my vets in-house test and started testing on the very first time I saw some swelling.  I really wanted a show pup from this bitch and was having one last ditch attempt.

We tested as soon as I saw swelling, and she was tested daily and ovulated on day 4.  If it happened again I would choose Idexx.   I never did get a successful mating with her and wouldn't try on the following season as I deemed her too old for a first litter.  I had her spayed and she became Auntie to any pups I bred later.

I still feel disappointed about this and often wonder "what if" so Idexx is my advice.  :-)

The quantitative tests are always more accurate than the colour change tests.the problem with sending the tests away to a laboratory is that they are closed at weekends and bank holidays so sometimes you can be snookered