Canine Progesterone Blood Testing for Ovulation, covering all the U.K.

09/07/2022

Canine Herpes vaccine is now back in stock with most vets. We highly recommend this vaccine protocol. It does save puppies lives.

14/01/2022

Unfortunately I have recently scanned several females who were not pregnant. For all of my clients to move forward with their breeding programs I have advised ovulation testing on their next oestrus (heat) cycle.

It is essential that breeding of fertile females to fertile males occurs at the correct time to ensure a pregnancy and optimum litter size. Let’s look at why timing is so important, and the service we have available to breeders to increase their success.

Ovulation in bi***es has been documented as early as day 5 after the onset of pro-oestrus, to as late as day 30 after the onset of pro-oestrus. There is significant individual variation in bi***es relating to the day ovulation occurs. It can vary from one season to the next for many breeding females. Timing that may have been successful for one litter may fail if repeated for a second litter. Visible signs of vulval swelling, and discharge colour, during a heat cycle rarely accurately reflect the important blood hormone changes. To further complicate matters, in many bi***es, sexual receptivity to the stud dog does not coincide with her most fertile period. Determining the timing of ovulation is critical for a successful pregnancy, even if that pregnancy has to be achieved by insemination rather than a natural breeding. Improper timing of breeding is the most common cause of unsuccessful pregnancy and infertility.

The reproductive physiology of the bitch is unusual in that the eggs released are immature at the time of ovulation. They require approximately 48 hours after ovulation to reach maturity at which point they are fertilisable by the s***m cells. The fertilization period of the eggs then lasts for 2-3 days.

So the optimum time for a mating, or a chilled insemination, is 2-5 days after ovulation. Giving an optimum fertile window of just 3 days.

Good quality canine semen can survive within the female reproductive tract for 5-7 days so this does allow for some degree of error when ovulation is being guessed and not analysed. Many breeders have their own chosen dates for breeding (e.g. 11 and 13 days after the onset of pro-oestrus), however, breeding this way can result in limited success, lower pregnancy rates and smaller litters.

It is highly recommended to use complementary clinical tests to accurately time ovulation therefore pinpointing the optimum breeding time to ensure a confirmed pregnancy and optimum litter size.

At Grantham Breeder Services we can assist your breeding programme by performing a blood analysis to determine blood progesterone concentration and your bitch’s most fertile period. This is the most useful and accurate measure to pinpoint exact ovulation. It involves serial blood testing that tracks the pattern of increase in progesterone concentration levels from a baseline level, through to the anticipation of ovulation, confirmation of ovulation and the onset of the fertilisation period.

We recommend to start blood progesterone testing 7-9 days after the start of your bitch’s heat. If preferred an initial cytology examination can be performed to ensure commencing blood testing is relevant at that time and not too early.

As serial testing is necessary the blood analysis is repeated every 2-4 days dependent on the result.

Our own in house blood serum Progesterone analyser gives a precise result, usually within 40 minutes. We can accurately measure to the same standard as an external Veterinary Laboratory. Then from the blood concentration result we can advise on a further test schedule, or mating plan.

Running blood Progesterone and cytology alongside each other gives an improved clinical picture and is an option we can offer our clients.

Please contact us for further information regarding the above services.

For more details and price please see our website:

A friendly service for all your dog and cat breeding needs.

05/11/2021

Keep your pets safe tonight & over the weekend.

04/11/2021

For our full range of services please check out our website

Our Services Ultrasound Pregnancy Scanning Scanning from day 28 after last mating or insemination using Veterinary Certified scanning equipment. We can confirm a viable puppy or kitten pregnancy, give an approximate indication of litter size and an expected due date. Cost £45.00 We can progress sca...

24/07/2021

Now available! Either submit a sample in person or post to us for next day test.

22/07/2021

A new service coming soon. Also available by post. Test, don’t over vaccinate.

🌟Coming soon 🌟
Very excited to share we are going to be offering Vaccicheck antibody titre testing. More details on price and availability to follow.

04/01/2021

Happy New Year to all.
Normal postal service has resumed making deliveries more predictable. More stock has arrived so keep those blood tests coming!

23/12/2020

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄
We are available over the whole holiday period so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

05/12/2020

Two girls who have ovulated and almost reached their most fertile period. Matings planned for tomorrow.

22/10/2020

Everything you need to know about Progesterone testing.

It is essential that breeding of fertile females to fertile males occurs at the correct time to ensure a pregnancy and optimum litter size. Let’s look at why timing is so important, and the services we have available to breeders to increase their success.

Ovulation in bi***es has been documented as early as day 5 after the onset of pro-oestrus, to as late as day 30 after the onset of pro-oestrus. There is significant individual variation in bi***es relating to the day ovulation occurs. It can vary from one season to the next for many breeding females. Timing that may have been successful for one litter may fail if repeat for a second litter. Visible signs of vulval swelling, and discharge colour, during a heat cycle rarely accurately reflect the important blood hormone changes. To further complicate matters, in many bi***es, sexual receptivity to the stud dog does not coincide with her most fertile period. Determining the timing of ovulation is critical for a successful pregnancy, even if that pregnancy has to be achieved by insemination rather than a natural breeding. Improper timing of breeding is the most common cause of unsuccessful pregnancy and infertility.

The reproductive physiology of the bitch is unusual in that the eggs released are immature at the time of ovulation. They require approximately 48 hours after ovulation to reach maturity at which point they are fertilisable by the s***m cells. The fertilization period of the eggs then lasts for 2-3 days.

So the optimum time for a mating, or a chilled insemination, is 2-5 days after ovulation. Giving an optimum fertile window of just 3 days.

Good quality canine semen can survive within the female reproductive tract for 5-7 days so this does allow for some degree of error when ovulation is being guessed and not analysed. Many breeders have their own chosen dates for breeding (e.g. 11 and 13 days after the onset of pro-oestrus), however, breeding this way can result in limited success, lower pregnancy rates and smaller litters.

It is highly recommended to use complementary clinical tests to accurately time ovulation therefore pinpointing the optimum breeding time to ensure a confirmed pregnancy and optimum litter size.

At Grantham Breeder Services you can bring your bitch to us to determine blood Progesterone concentration, or post a blood sample which we will analyse upon receipt.

Blood Progesterone analysis is the most useful and accurate measure to pinpoint exact ovulation. It involves serial blood testing that tracks the pattern of increase in progesterone concentration levels from a baseline level, through to the anticipation of ovulation, confirmation of ovulation and the onset of the fertilisation period.

We recommend to start blood progesterone testing 5-7 days after the start of your bitch’s heat. If preferred an initial cytology examination can be performed to ensure commencing blood testing is relevant at that time and not too early.

As serial testing is necessary the blood analysis is repeated every 2-4 days dependent on the result.

Our own in house blood serum Progesterone analyser gives a precise result, usually within 30 minutes. We can accurately measure to the same standard as an external Veterinary Laboratory. Then from the blood concentration result we can advise on a further test schedule, or mating plan.

Running blood Progesterone and cytology alongside each other gives an improved clinical picture and is an option we can offer our clients.

Please contact us for further information regarding the above services.

09/10/2020

I was so delighted to scan this girl in whelp with 9+ puppies today.

She had an extremely long pro-oestrus, was very late to ovulate, consequently her owner was advised to mate on day 23 and day 25 after the onset of pro-oestrus!

Without the information provided by serial testing of her blood progesterone concentration she would probably been presented for mating too early and not conceived.

If your pregnancy success rates are poor, let us help you succeed.

29/08/2020

We are available for blood testing over the bank holiday weekend.
Either drop in a blood sample if you’ve missed the post, or arrange an appointment here with us.

24/08/2020

We’ve now added a Progesterone Test Kit order form on our website.
At the bottoms of the services page.

http://granthambreederservices.co.uk/services/

Our Services Ultrasound Pregnancy Scanning Scanning from day 28 after last mating or insemination using Veterinary Certified scanning equipment. We can confirm a viable puppy or kitten pregnancy, give an approximate indication of litter size and an expected due date. Cost £35.00 We can progress sca...

23/08/2020

Please help us spread the word to other dog breeders by sharing our group. We would be very grateful 😊

23/08/2020

Haven't had time to order a free test kit? Not a problem. Message your email address and we will send you a submission form. Take it along to your vet and ask them to draw 2ml blood in to an orange Heparin tube. Pop them in the post. Its that easy!

22/08/2020