As some of you know Chloe was mated last season, but no pups arrived. Well she is now in season. The vets wants to do blood tests to make sure she is mated at the right time. I've never used blood tests before, never needed to. So I was just wondering how accurate they are?

I tried to mate my bitch at the end of 2002, but got no where, bitch un co-poperative, and both of the paor maidens so not the best scenario.

On her next season 7 months later I decided to give the failed lover a second crack at my girl, with a proven stud as back up if there was no joy (and no near contact).  I decided to get the blood tests done, and they basically confirmed that the dog had been correct in his reactions to the time of her season, but unfortunately she was still having none of it with him even 3 days after ovulation (eggs mature two days after ovulation and remain viable for a further two days).  We took her to the proven stud who she still rejected but eventually accepted at the last possible moment, result a litter of four pups (not a big litter, but enough for me to get my next generation :D).

What I am saying is that they are worthwhile especially if either party is inexperienced, and you want to be sure that failure is behavioural and not timing, and of course saves wasted travelling.

I needed 3 consecutive blood tests which cost me just over £70.

I had blood tests done last year on my maiden bitch from day 10 and it was very reliable and showed up that day 14/15 were optimum.  The result was 8 pups, so I would definitely recommend it.  I know however that some dogs may peak before day 10, so speak to your vet.

I personally don't use them.  We have been breeding for over 40 years and have never needed to.

We have very reliable stud dogs over the years who tell us exactly when the bitch is ready.

Some bitches are ready early - years ago we had a bitch that came in season once a year and was always mated on the 5th day.  Another bitch we had was always mated on day 17. 

It is personal choice but I have heard of as many failures using bloods as successes.
Becky

hi lindy lou...yes do the test!!...it is highly reliable...the is a terrific article written by DR Hutchinson that describes the details....it is well worth the money and its what most professional breeders use done properly it will tell you exactly when ovulation occurs    heres the link..........good luck             Canine Reproduction Dr. Hutchinson  - ... Many of you already know Dr. Hutchison or have ... is one of the leading canine reproduction specialists in ... a favorite speaker at specialties and dog club events ...
http://www.jarroguebullterriers.net/Canine%20Reproduction%20Seminar.htm

The biches that have come here on the result of a blood test would only stand properly 48 hours after the test showed ovulation had occured.   Much to the frustration of the owners and the stud dog both!!

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Chloe is not a maiden bitch. In fact she had a litter of 13 in July 2002 (4 stillborn - needed a caesarian). We tried last season on her 'optimum' time. They tied for 20 minutes, but no pups. Which is why the vet recommends blood tests. I've never needed to use them before, but as I want to keep a bitch this time from both parents I really don't want her to miss again. If she doesn't whelp I'm thinking of speying her and buying in a bitch from lines that will tie in with Chloe's son, Chance. Fingers crossed :D

I agree Jo.  I have found this.  They tend to err on the late side rather than the early side.
Becky

Hello Becky - fancy meeting you here!  Sorry - comment off topic!    I've found , as have the Guide Dogs for the Blind, that cytology smears are more accurate so long as the person in charge is experienced.

Jo

So, if smears can be done, why does the vet want blood tests? Think I might see them on Monday and ask

Cytology is a very specialised test that most vets won't perform.

You need to do daily smears to get a good idea of the pattern of each bitches cycle.

Bloods are the best type of test for your vet to run.

Guide Dogs do use cytology, but will sometimes run blood tests alongside cytology to get a definate result of when a bitch is ovulating.  :)

Hi Jo!!  I didn't know about the smears.  Think I will continue to rely on Macro! 

Do your boys drive you crackers when they are ready!  Mine do - the singing is atrocious!
Becky

Hi lindy lou, decided to reply as Jo and Downstream are flatcoat friends of mine and they reply to your mail to. i have flatcoats and never used bloodtests with them yet, previously I have had successful matings no problem, but have at two successive seasons a problem with the bitch/stud dog. With this flatcoat bitch i plan next next time to use cytoogy vaginal swabs only.BuT  also have a nova scotia duck toller quite a rare bred here in Uk and not many good studs so we want to use ma stud from Belgium bred in Norway, he comes to us on pet passport as our bitch rabies is not yet in force, so we use the progesterone blood test. I hope it will be very accurate, we started testing from dAY 4 AT 2 day intervals as we had a friend whose bitch ovulated on day 3 and we were very nervous not to miss. Then as the levels rise we then test every day. We had 3 days when it said ovulation imminent, oce the levels started to rise then the stud dog came over, vet says then just keep mating dont test or it will cost yopu a fortune, we had 5 matings until day 16, and are hopeful. Our toller bitch also is a little witch, sweet but dominant and her behaviour could put an inexperienced0 stud dog off. Although the stud from belgium has already 11 litters,  we needed to be sure she was at least around the right time so we could  hold her still and assist if necessarry, it went well while he stayed with us but she did need mild restraint or she would have run rings round even him, and having spent a fortune we needed to give it the best shot. Our vet actually reccomends both pre nate progeterone blood tests and vaginal cytology in the right circumstances. You pays your money and takes your choice.  Heres hoping for a cracking litter!Bev.

Hi Bev. I hope all goes well for you. My daughter (aged 9) was looking for a 'little' dog to show (Chance pulled her over when he was 5 months old!) We actually thought about a Toller, but decided in the end to wait for a bitch out of our Chloe to see if she could handle a female Munster .

Chloe came into season on Thursday (I think ;) ) She starts her blood tests on Thursday of this week. Her timing has always been on the late side, but we'll see.

Linda

Hi Bev - fancy seeing you here as well!   Michelle came here on exactly the right day, having used Chris M.'s Goldie as a teaser.    Wonderful  to have a friend like that, but bit frustrating for the poor Goldie, I dare say!   Be interested to hear how you get on with your Toller.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats