Hope somebody on here can help?  over the last 18 months I have mated 3 different bitches, all have missed?  Bitch 1 proven stud dog, missed on two seperate seasons.  Bitch 2 Proven stud dog again mated once and a difficult mating but eventually a 35 minute tie.  Bitch 3 proven stud dog bitch went to stud dog owner for most of her season and successfully mated on two days with ties of over 20 minutes.   I am starting to think that there maybe an underlying infection in all my dogs? but one thing that throws a spanner in that thought is that I had a friends bitch her during her season (I lived closer to stud) she ran with my girls for over 28 days and was mated once with a good tie, she went on to have a litter of 5? If it was an infection would she have not missed as well?  Not sure what to do next, at the moment feel like just giving up!

D

Have you considered the Canine Herpes Vaccine?  Are the bitches and studs related?  did you have the bitches blood tested for ovulation?  Is there any history of under active thyroid in your lines or bred, and have you had a full panel done on them as this can affect fertility.

I would ask for a referral to a canine reproductive specialist.

Thanks for the response.  I used the CHV vaccine on the first bitch on her second mating. Only the second bitch was related to the stud dog,the others where both outcrosses.  No history of under active thyroid in my lines, not a common issue in the breed?  All the bitches are maiden?  Anyone got any good recomendations for a canine reproductive specialist in the North of England, my vet is better if provided with a direct request lol

D

I had meant are the bitches related to each other and were the studs different each time.

The most common reason for bitches to miss is incorrect timing of mating, so the cheapest option would be to have a series of ovulation tests.  You need to start these early in the season before they are likely to have ovulated, so about day 7 or 8 and test every other day until values start to rise, after which daily testing may be needed.

the best time to mate is two days after ovulation when the eggs will have ripened.

Thanks again, no none of the bitches closely related? did blood test first bitch, for ovulation for her second vist to stud dog. Stud dogs different each time apart from the first Bitch, this bitch has since been spayed due to other issues, she was a very stressed bitch and felt she had to be bossing the others around, since spaying now much more relaxed.   I will test next girl that is due to come in.

Just very frustrating when you are trying to do everything right, health test all a okay, stud dogs studied versus lines etc.

Thanks again

D

I had both my bitches swabbed before they were mated last time and they both had infections!!  They also both had bloods done to get best mating time - they both conceived and had litters of 9 & 10.

Are you sure they had infections not just tested positve for bacteria, as that would be normal?

Vet did say they had infection and have antibiotics - I'm not very confident in my vet really so could have just been bacteria.  Next closest vet is not that a convenient place to go - if/when I decide to mate either of them again I will ask for results of swabs in more detail.