Ok, we're on day 13 this morning. We got 2 slip matings last night and Sunday night. I had a blood test done Thursday night which was 9.6 and they suggested testing again Monday morning, but I didn't do that because we got the slip on Sunday and I'd hoped for a tie last night. I'm booked to go again tomorrow morning, and the SDO didn't dismiss my suggestion of Friday afternoon as well. But what I'm wondering is whether it would be useful to do another blood test tonight. If it showed for example that she wasn't ovulating until Thursday, it would give me more confidence to request a Friday attempt even if we get a tie tomorrow, whereas it it shows she is ovulating now, the Wednesday mating would probably be the last time it would be worth trying. What do people think? I don't mind spending necessary money of course, but I'm loathe to spend another £50 or £60 if it's pointless!

I'd do another test, then you'll know exactly where you are rather than guessing.

I'd do another one too. They are pretty useless to do unless you can definitely say ovulation has occurred.

That makes sense, I'll book her in. Thanks!

As always around here , I'm going against the grain and saying don't bother.   You've had 3 matings, albeit slip matings?, Sunday and Monday so that means she should have something there at the 'right time'.  Given that sperm can be viable for some while once in the right place.   One of mine only ever achieved slips to his bitches, but he only missed to one (given he didn't serve that many bitches).   In other words, why not hope some of these 3 matings now, has been successful?    I honestly can't see the point having more blood testing done - and you really don't want to be mating her over more than a 48 hours period because it will make knowing her due date, almost impossible to know.   And I always go by how my males react in any case, assuming they are experienced stud dogs.

Your decision but that's my response, fwiw.

Yes I do take the point re difficulty knowing her due date - but I'm inclined to try to get a bit more info about the actual ovulation even if it does make the prediction harder. She was somewhat grumpy about it all on Sunday, and less so on Monday, which leads me to believe she hasn't been quite ready yet.

9.6 ?
9.6 ng or 9.6 nmols

> I honestly can't see the point having more blood testing done - and you really don't want to be mating her over more than a 48 hours period because it will make knowing her due date, almost impossible to know.

The beauty of blood testing, is that it will make her 'due date' much easier to predict in fact, as you will have a precise date of ovulation, so can calculate your due date accurately from that.

I'm not sure whether it was ng or nmols, I'll try to remember to ask tonight. They said retest Monday, but as we'd had the slip on Sunday I was hoping she'd be nearly there and we'd get the tie yesterday, but we didn't, so I'll get another test to see where we are now. Thanks all!

If it was ng there would be no need to retest as it already indicates ovulation has taken place.  nmol/l and it suggests she'll likey ovulate 24 to 36 hours after the blood was drawn

Sounds like it was the latter if retest was suggested.

Yep sounds like your result is in Nmol in which case your are far too soon for mating and re test needed.

Yep sounds like your result is in Nmol in which case your are too soon for mating and re test needed.

Lucy

Regardless of whether or not it is ng or nmol I would recommend a retest .You may get away with the matings you have already done but then again you may not..with fresh semen/natural mating obviously you have a larger window

I tested a bitch on Thursday am and she was 7.56 ng I would have expected her to be ready for a frozen TCI late Saturday/Sunday....she didnt conform to what was expected which is not unusual
The results were

Thursday 7.56 ng
Friday 12.67ng
Saturday 14.8ng
Sunday 14.5ng
Monday 14.6ng
Tuesday (today) 14.5 ng

Clearly there is a problem with this bitch ....but if we has just assumed she would be ready late Sat/Sunday and performed the TCI with no retest then the insemination would have failed

How are things going? Did you test again?

When I read all this I bless my boy who puts his ears on the very top of his head, eyes like saucers, chattering teeth and says.....
" that bitch needs mating"....
It can happen within hours and He has never been wrong.

Nothing beats a sensible stud, one that ignores bitches until they are ready.

Yes we tested Tuesday evening, went to the stud again Wednesday morning but he was much less interested and we didn't get a mating. We did get a slip mating on both Sunday and Monday night. The vet phoned on Wednesday afternoon to say the levels were now 40 and ovulation would have occurred at 20. So she ovulated somewhere between Thursday night and Tuesday night, and we got slips on Sunday and Monday nights, so it's fingers crossed now! Thanks all.