can anyone explain  the 3 different tests now available to find out best time to mate your bitch? i,ve been told there,s a smear testalso avaginoscopy and also the blood test.As i have a 3 yr maiden bitch  who has silent heats i really need to be on the ball with the timing.She,s on day 2 now i,m pretty sure[ as sure as i can be so i,m panicing alreay in case i miss the crucial time. Has anyone had the same prob? be grateful for any advice

My girl recently had the premate blood tests, we ended up having 3 in total before we got the green light to have her mated.  Then when she was mated and scanned, my vet told me she had caught 5 days earlier with a slipped mating....which mean't she caught 7 days before the premate test said she was ready.  So I'm not convinced that they actually work!

Sorry if that doesn't help, I think the vaginalcytology is probably more reliable.

blimey Sharon that was a big word ;) I will have to go and look that up ;)

Don't worry Inca, I had to look it up first too..........lol.  :-)

Vaginocytology means taking a vaginal swab and examining the cells under a microscope to detect the changes that indicate ovulation is near - however many vets don't do much microscope work so prefer to do the blood tests for hormones.

hi
we use the smear test as apposed to the blood test and have found them quite useful especiallly in visiting bitches, ive tried the blood test and found the test found the bitch to be ready after she had finished standing for the dog!!
all tests are helpful but the best indication is always nature!!

The troube lis kao kate, one of my girls isn't happy to stand at ANY time........lol. so we have to rely on the blood tests, even if I don't think they work.  I think next time I will opt for the smear test!

Must say I had a failure with a blood test, using the microscope it said she was ready long before the blood test, they smear test was right. Think it can be a case of different bitches different results.

Hi Jackie,

I took a bit of interest in the Microscope method when searching for one for  a freind a while back. I was quite impressed with how it all works and for those who may have problems or normally do the premate testing etc at quite a cost I would really recommend it.  

One thing I thought interesting about it when reading the literature and looking at some sample slides etc was that it was clear to see when the bitch was getting ready but it also showed when a bitches body was " getting prepared" but then not releasing the eggs. This I thought would be excellent for people who are having problems getting a bitch mated.