Hi, I've just found out my bitch has missed - I am very disappointed as I'd planned for this for 3 years. We got a slip mating and 3 ties, the first slip looked like she was a fraction early, then 2 ties which were 2 and 3 days later, and the final tie 3 days after that, she squeaked just once as the tie began, so I thought that would mean she was going over and the internal parts were now shrinking again. So I was pretty confident she ought to be pregnant, so I'm very upset. My boy has fathered litters before though not for a couple of years, so it could be him. Next time I plan to try a different dog anyway for other reasons, so I really need to find out if my bitch has any fertility problems or if it was just the wrong time of the season in spite of appearances. Can you do tests on bitches and do they cost the earth??

Has the bitch had a litter previously? My bitch, who'd had a previous litter, missed on three successive seasons (a single mating first time, two matings the next and three matings on the last, all with good ties) to a proven stud dog (who sired other litters during this period), so we thought it must be her problem. As a last resort we mated her to a full brother of the chosen stud and got a healthy litter. It's possible that your dog and bitch are somehow incompatible.

You can do a blood test which will tell you if she has ovulated in the last couple of months (I am assuing she has only just misssed).

Same thing happened to me once so the time after that I took her for the pre-mate test at the vets - she got caught with just the once mating that time :-)  I think it cost about £30 a time for the pre-mate- worth it though ;-)  I had the test done 3 times- once on the Monday, Wednesday then Friday- the test on Friday showed to take her to the stud within 24hrs - hence I took her Saturday.  Good luck- I know how awful it can be when they miss, especially if you're like me and let your head run away with itself- I had ran through alsorts- possible scenario's, equipment needed etc- all just for her to miss

Stacey x

She's a maiden bitch but stood beautifully for the mating. She definitely had a season, is it possible to do that without ovulating Brainless?? I might well try the blood test if that's the case, thanks!

Yes a bitch can have a season and fail to ovulate same as women can have periods but not ovulate.  A blood test up to several months after a season will show if she actually ovulated.

Hmm, so if the test shows she didn't ovulate she has a fertility problem. But if the test shows she did ovulate, we either got the wrong time in spite of appearances, or the dog has the problem?

Or it might just mean that they aren't suited to each other for possible genetic reasons or she conceived & reabsorbed early

Sometimes a bitch just won't ovulate for that season because of something.  If she doesn't ovulate next time (I would advise having blood tests next season) then I would look at her Thyroid function, as this can cause a reduction in fertility.

I have a bitch who has previously missed after excellent matings.  This time she had thyroid function blood tests, vaginal swab for infection - which she did have although showed no signs of and was treated with antibiotics - as well as pre-mate bloods from day 8.  A lot of time and expense but was it worth the effort - YES - she had a very healthy litter of 9 - 4 weeks ago - all are doing really well.  In future I will always swab my bitch and have pre-mates done.  It has certainly proved worth the time, expense and anxiety of not conceiving.  I also gave her fertile1 drops from Pilgrims healthcare as well as Vit E etc.         

I will probably have to miss the next season as that would mean 2 week old puppies at Christmas () if she is regular again. If the finances can stand it I might have the blood tests just to see when she ovulates then - I know it might not be the same time another time, but if the vet says it's the same time as my 2 boys have been telling me on the previous 3 seasons, I can get closer to ruling out weird fertile times! I gave her antibiotics before mating, though with the instructions of 'give one week before mating' it was difficult to guess when to start, and I think I gave them a few days too early. When should you do thyroid tests and swabs?

Thyroid test is better mid way between her normal season cycles.
I think I remember reading 12 weeks after season...but check with your vet
as they will know the testing protocol as it may very between laboratories.

I did swabs on the first day of her season and started bloods on day 8.  The bloods for pre-mate were only about £20 each.  If you can't afford that, then I should seriously consider not breeding from your bitch - that is peanuts compared to Stud Fees, possibly Veterinary assistance during whelping and the cost of feeding, registering and just general care of a litter.

> If you can't afford that, then I should seriously consider not breeding from your bitch

What a very rude remark, before thinking everyone that breeds  is a puppy farmer or pet breeder I suggest you read previous posts from the person concerned ! These dogs are very successful show dogs with all(& I mean all)relevant health tests done & I know that your remark is totally out of order.

Mod : Breed removed

I think you misunderstood the poster she was talking about having the tests done on a season where she actually has no intention of mating her bitch as she doesn't want Christmas puppies, but it would tell her if her bitch does actually ovulate.

Thank you MM and satincollie for standing up for me, I can of course perfectly well afford all reasonable costs and am NOT a puppy farmer. Our vet happens to be very expensive for some things (wanted to charge £100 for the scan for pregnancy) and as I haven't yet enquired as to the costs of these tests I wouldn't know if we were talking £20 or £80, and of course how many times you have to pay that. Two lots of £20 is very different from 5 lots of £80. And yes, I was wondering about having the tests done on a non-mating season just so that when I get to the next season when I would want to mate her I will have a better idea of when to take her to the dog, though I would probably have tests done then if that's all it costs.

I paid for the pre-mate 3 lots of £30 add fuel costs to the vets plus time off work to go and yes you have to add at least £100 into your expenses :-)  If someone else has paid £20 a time then I would think it's another one of those where the cost varies from vet to vet :-)  Bear in mind I oly paid 3 times because that's all it tokk us until it showed she was ready- you could find yourself paying out 5 times etc.

Stacey x

It would also be a good idea as you might need fewer tests on the season you want to mate her for having a clearer idea of starting date for the tests. 

You need to start the tests a while before the likelihood of ovulation so often they ask you to start them at day 8, as you need negative tests before positive ones.  If you got a positive test on the first test you woudl ahve no idea if the bitch had ovulated today or last week, only that she had or is ovulating.

The test kits for the in house tests come in packs of 10, so if your vet doesn't get call for thse often you may be charged for the set, even if you only use two or three, as they don't have a logn shelf life.

Hmm, in house tests sound good, it's pretty tedious getting to my vet thanks to London traffic! I'll book her in for the test to see if she ovulated on her last season on Tuesday, then I can talk to the vet about tests for next time. :-)