Can anyone tell me how much it costs?

And also explain the levels to me ( or point me in the direction of somewhere that does)

The stud dog I am planning to use is a 4 hour drive away so it's worrying me a little about getting the right timing. Her last litter she tied on days 10, 12, 14 & 16 (wouldn't have taken her back for the last mating but my male was going crazy for her).
When she was scanned the scanner said she took at the first mating (and she went 63 days to that mating exactly) but she had a small litter for her breed- do you think my timings were maybe a bit late? And that maybe explains the small litter?
Thanks

If she went 63 days to the first mating she actually probably conceived two days later,  as bitches reliably whelp 63 days (+/- a day) from the date of ovulation, conception can't take place until two to three days after.

So you think going by that, she was probably mated at the right time? (I'm still going to idexx test)

Most of our stud dogs are a good distance away, so it is usual for the dog owner to board the bitch, and would be my preference, rather than havign to bleed the bitch every other day for perhaps a week.  Only time I did it with one bitch having several tests she was none to keen on going to the vet after.

I'm not too keen on boarding her, the stud dog has only been used once before so is quite inexperienced, as is the owner (her first stud), so naturally I want to be there.

I'm hoping if I test on day 8/9 I may get lucky if she ovulates around the same as last time.

Is it usual for bitches to ovulate around the same time each season?

my own bitches have seemed to be reliable, but some bitches can vary wildly season to season.

>Is it usual for bitches to ovulate around the same time each season?

Not necessarily. My last litters from the same bitch were concieved following matings at very different times; day 13 for the first litter, and days 18 and 20 for the second litter.

These are the levels :-

<3.0 nmol/l - re-sample in 3 to 4 days
3.0 to 8.0 nmol/l - re-sample in 2 days
9.0 to 15 nmol/l - mate in 2 to 3 days
15.0 to 30.0 nmol/l -  mate in 24 to 48 hrs

>30.0 nmol/l  - mate asap
>60.0 nmol/l  -may be too late

The cost was around £28 when I used them earlier this year, then there's the cost of your vet drawing the blood sample and postage for first class next day delivery if you're not near enough to deliver the sample yourself.

I would have included the link tothe relevant section on the Idexx website but they seem to have changed it all and I couldn't find it.

Out of interest do the vets have the forms and tests for Idexx as I was looking at their site recently for prices and couldn't find the test, it was a pig of a website so gave up!!

Out of interest do the vets have the forms and tests for Idexx as I was looking at their site recently for prices and couldn't find the test, it was a pig of a website so gave up!!

I had the same problem when I used a link I had saved in my favourites, they've obviously made some changes to the site - and not for the better!! I've always rung Idexx for the kits which include the submission forms, tubes and packaging.

I emailed Idexx and this is the reply I received:- "Thank you for your enquiry, unfortunately at the moment we don't have a link on the website for ordering progesterone kits, but if you would like a kit sent out, please let me know and I can arrange this for you.

Each kit comprises 3 sample tubes, submission forms and packaging material, which is enough for 3 samples if that is necessary.  We recommend taking the first sample around day 8 - 10 of your bitches season.    You will need to take a sample tube along to your vet, who will collect the sample, then if you could package it up and return it to us with a completed submission form and a cheque for postal order for £28.80 we will process the sample for you and give you a call with the results.  Depending on what those results are will determine if we can tell you when the best time for mating will be, or if the progesterone is very low, we may recommend re-sampling."

We used Idexx three times its £28.80 for the test this year, plus the vet drawing the blood and the postage (next day). I found a local person who did me a swab test, that was £5 and very accurate because he told me to go the next day as our stud was 4 hours away. She got mated and tied. I would use the local man over Idexx but that is just my personal choice.