Hi,
Has any of you used the pre-mate saliva tester, has it been successful? It shows the infertile period, transitory period also the fertile period.
I have just invested in one, as I am having problems mating my one bitch.
Comments please,
Regards
Denese

The Saliva tester is called Matetel, Premate is porgesterone testing using blood. Do a search on here and you will find a thread from a few months ago about it. I used it this time and my bitch is pregnant, due in 9 days time but I can't say for sure if (although I used it) it was the Mate-tel.

I am currently trying to use this along with blood tests as I have a bitch who I'm giving a 3rd and final attempt to conceive - I'm having difficulty in getting enough saliva to cover the slide - any advice on how to get more?

put under it the tonge.

Get her dribbling with a juicy titbit. :)

After hearing that several folk on here were happy with Matetel, I purchased one.  Have tried it with my last 3 bitches with no results whatsoever.  Admit I'm talking about a tiny breed (a shame it's not my spayed Beardie girl who drools for England), but I've tried titbits, wiping it under and over the tongue.  I just can't get it wet enough, it was a waste of money for me personally.  After years of having dogs with spittle I could put in a jar and sell as hair gel, I've ended up with a breed that doesn't seem to have extra saliva to spare.  Fortunately all 3 kinda said HEY I'm ready, and caught on one mating, jeezzz, do they really know better than us?

I am just about to have a practise run on one of my girls, she is not going to be mated just thought I'd have a go, ready for when I do want to use it.

I had the same problem getting enough saliva I actually phoned Matetel and the man was very helpful but I still think I ended up picking the right day on instinct and not from the test. I only bought it as I was travelling a long distance to the stud dog and the last time I travelled a distance she had 5 premates and missed.
Anyway she is due this Friday...poor thing is massive

I'm having more luck now in getting some saliva - but not sure if bubbles are from cells or saliva!!  She is now on Day 13 - so hoping to see signs of ferning soon.  Bloods were done again today and suggest testing again in 1/2 days.  My girl is also now aware what I'm tyring to do and is not too keen on keep being 'swiped' under the tongue!

I found that a titbit afterwards meant that after a few times she actually came to me with her mouth open! ;)

I had the same problem too, it is very difficult to get enough. My girl kept running away when she saw me comong :D

I have just tried mine and was hoping to catch her going through the different stages, obviously she has other ideas cos we have the ferning now. She is on day 5. Never mind. Only practising anyhow she's not being mated.

Could she be one that ovulates early?  If it's correct and she's ferning now it would suggest she would ovulate day7, ready to mate day 9.  I would keep testing, as it's just a practice! and if the ferns turn to bubbles in about a week, you'll know it's likely she ovulates early.  Out of interest, did you get bubbles earlier or is this the first day of testing?

This is the first day of testing. But I will keep it up.
I have another just come into season so will start testing her as well soon.

Mine are funny my oldest girl has had 3 litters and was mated on different litters on
Day 2
Day 13
Day 24
All caught and nice size litters. My girls also stand for ages.

Where as the girl I brought in is what would be termed more normal. Although she has never taken hence why I brought this test.

My girl is the opposite to yours was, will only stand for one day, which happened to be day17 (ferning started on day 13).  We also had a pre mate test done on day 16, which came back, that she had ovulated recently, probably day 15, she went onto have a wonderful litter of 9.
Good Luck, and hope it doesn't stay ferns forever, it doesn't work for everyone, but I thought it was dead exciting when things started changing!

I found it also depended in which lighting I looked at the Mattel through as to how I read the results. I didn't really see any ferning, just less bubbles. I tested her the morning I left for the 10 hour drive round trip and didn't really see anything when I got there the Stud dog owner had a look and she said she it looked like a 'road map'. Anyway, this was day 15, one mating and she took.

Hi,
how long do you think the fern pattern shows? she will stand but not text book, [no tail to the side]
Regards
Denese

My bitch couldn't read the books nor look at microscope slides, and never had her tail hard to one side, but happily allowed mating and had a lovely litter of 10 after a single willing mating.

The bitch's behaviour is the best and surest guide. And there's a difference between 'unwilling' and 'willing-but-nervous' that a sensitive owner can easily distinguish.

Blood results on Thursday showed Oestrus had started and ovulation approaching - mated her Friday morning and Saturday afternoon.  Very willing to stand and had 15 minute tie both days.  Studs owners thought we not only had right day but right hour!  Lets hope they're right! Saliva test still not showing any ferning when I was able to get a drop.  Glad I also had bloods done and not relied upon Mate-Tel only.

The saliva test can't be perfect - (how many are?)   As I said before, the only bitch to ever miss to our stud dog came with a saliva test only.   He was never very keen to serve her, although she was apparently standing.  I think with an experienced stud, the dog's reaction means more than the bitch's.  

In future, I will ask the bitch owners for a cytology smear or premate, but actually I prefer the cytology.   Like everything, the results depend on the vet or technician

Jo

I have only had two of my 5 girls show the classic tail to side signs, neither did this on their first time of being mated, and none of the others ever did.

I agree, not all bitches are flirty or will push their tail to one side. Last time we had tail to the side and rippling. This time some tail movement and no rippling, not flirty at all. I just had to gauge it by how I felt knowing her so well as I didn't really see any ferning at all. One mating day 15, stood no problem and result 8 puppies.

Thanks, everythink took on board, I am going to keep my fingers crossed, this will be the fourth try with this girl, but last mating was, a slip mating.
Thanks again
Denese