So, you’re looking for an Ovulation Test for dogs and you’re not sure where to start. You’ve read a lot of stuff on the internet about Progesterone Testing and Cytology Testing but which one is best? Well, imagine trying to get a girl in pup that keeps missing! Imagine how frustrating it can be having to wait 6 months or more before trying again. Thats how this client felt with her German Shepard. She tried everything including Progesterone testing with Idex, TCI at a very reputable vets and she still didn’t get caught.
K9 Fertility offers a great ovulation test for dogs.
This is a video of Cytology Testing in action.
WHY IS AN OVULAION TEST FOR DOGS SO IMPORTANT?
When Chelianstorm German Shepards brought Bailey to us and explained her back story we were even more determined to help her. Bailey is a stunning fully health tested, hip scored German Shepard with no health issues whatsoever and Michelle from Chelianstorm couldn’t understand why she was having so much trouble. She’s been breeding German Shepards for years so was very experienced in all aspects of the procedures which is why, when she didn’t catch after the second attempt she consulted a very well known, reputable fertility vet practice. After a long consultation she was advised that on her next season she would have to try Transcervical Insemination (TCI), now while this procedure isn’t 100% guarenteed, it can have great results. She took the vets advice on board and on her next season she contacted them and booked Bailey in for her consultation. After numerous Progesterone tests on the IDEX machine (which is an ovulation test for dogs) and Antibiotics she was ready for her TCI procedure.
So, what is TCI you ask? Well it is a form of artificial insemination that can only be performed by a vet. The idea is that when the semen is taken from the stud it is put into an Endoscope which is a basically a type of rigid Catheter with a camera on the end so it can be passed through the reproductive tract to the Cervix so that semen can be deposited deep in the uterus. Sounds fool proof right?
Well Bailey was given supplements that kept her Progesterone levels up to lower the risk of absorption but when they took her for her scan at 30 days there were no pups.
She had all but given up when she was recommended to us by her friend. She came to see us and told us it was her last try as she thought Bailey just didn’t want to have pups. We explained that we didn’t perform Progesterone testing but did an Ovulation Test for dogs called Cytology testing instead and explained what it was and how it worked.
She sceptically agreed to go ahead and we performed the Cytology Testing on Bailey. She wasn’t ready at this point and needed to be retested in 48 hours. When Michelle brought her back we re-tested Bailey and she was spot on, we advised her to breed today and she contacted her stud and told him to get here as she was ready.
We did two Assisted matings with Bailey and the stud dog and then the wait began.
When Michelle came back for her confirmation scan she was sceptical and said that she didn’t think Bailey had been caught. As soon as we touched her abdoman with our scan probe the screen lit up and she was filled with sacs, 8 pups we counted!
A lot of Clinics that perform Progesterone testing will tell you that Cytology Testing doesn’t work and it’s unreliable, well here is the evidence that proves those theories wrong.
There is an argument that the Cytology Ovulation Test for dogs can be more accurate than Progesterone Testing. Cytology testing can give insights on split seasons, It allows you to accuratley pinpoint when your girl is going to hit ovulation and can often pick up infections by the way of bacterial cells being present under the microscope. To use Cytology Testing properly we normally start testing on day 7, this way we can see the cytological changes in the cells, more clusters form over the next couple of days and you can physically see the Nucleus in the cells dissapear as they cluster.
When performed correctly by a well trained Cytologist, this testing is invaluable and can give excellent results as we can see here in Bailey’s case.
So, does the Cytology Test for dogs work better than Progesterone Testing??
Well, you can be the judge of that!
This is Bailey with her beautiful babies!!
This lovely girl had 8 puppies, unfortunatley she lost one and the other 7 went on to be beautiful and amazing little German Shepard Pups.
She is absolutley stunning, we think you’ll agree.
Is the Progesterone Test for dogs better than Cytology testing??
Our verdict.
When performed by an experienced Cytologist, the results are fantastic! Now don’t forget that NO MATING is ever guaranteed BUT.. when all ovulation testing is done correctly and mating is done correctly then you stand the best chance of success. Now baring in mind that Progesterone testing is legal but the taking of blood from your dog IS NOT (unless done by a vet), Cytology testing offers you the convenience of being able to be performed by trained Cytologists which saves you a massive expense of having to have bloods taken by your vet then having it tested by your K9 fertility clinic. The Cytology Ovulation Test for dogs offers the same results, if not better, it is safer and less stressful for the dog and it is capable of picking up bacterial infections.
Now with all this in mind what is your opinion?
The K9 Fertility Centre, Stockport, Manchester
Facilitating both mobile and in house services we can accommodate everyone’s needs. We support ethical and responsible breeding to enhance all breeds of dogs. We ALWAYS recommend getting both your bitch and the stud dog you are planning to use health tested under the Kennel Club health testing scheme for your breed of dog. By doing this you can ensure that you are breeding out any flaws in the breed but equally important, you are making sure your puppies are given the best start in life clear of any hereditary defects in the breed.
Fertility Clinic Manchester
Is Progesterone Testing better than Cytology testing??
Our verdict.
When performed by an experienced Cytologist, the results are fantastic! Now don’t forget that NO MATING is ever guaranteed BUT.. when all ovulation testing is done correctly and mating is done correctly then you stand the best chance of success. Now baring in mind that Progesterone testing is legal but the taking of blood from your dog IS NOT (unless done by a vet), Cytology testing offers you the convenience of being able to be performed by trained Cytologists which saves you a massive expense of having to have bloods taken by your vet then having it tested by your K9 fertility clinic. Cytology testing offers the same results, if not better, it is safer and less stressful for the dog and it can be capable of picking up bacterial infections.
Now with all this in mind what is your opinion?
The K9 Fertility Centre, Stockport, Manchester
Facilitating both mobile and in house services we can accommodate everyone’s needs. We support ethical and responsible breeding to enhance all breeds of dogs. We ALWAYS recommend getting both your bitch and the stud dog you are planning to use health tested under the Kennel Club health testing scheme for your breed of dog. By doing this you can ensure that you are breeding out any flaws in the breed but equally important, you are making sure your puppies are given the best start in life clear of any hereditary defects in the breed.
Fertility Clinic Manchester
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