Searched and took her to the Vet... heat cycle

[Rainmaker]

I've used multiple vets including repro specialists, never got or heard of a 3 for 1 progesterone package, since it takes as many as it takes. Depending on the bitch and taking weekends/holidays into consideration because the blood is sent out and results are back next a.m. around here, I usually do the first draw around day 6-8. I pay around $70/test, usually end up doing 2-4 tests. If the stud owner is willing to have the bitch for a week instead of timing with progesterone, go for it. Slides = waste of money in my experience, especially when there is such an accurate alternative.


As far as the number of ties, up to the stud owner.

[copenhawgen]

I think I pay about $60 for the progest test at my fav country vet !

I drove 30 minutes across town to pay $65 to vet doing the AI instead of $95 at my vet across street.

[Rainmaker]

Yep and TYPICALLY, you do surgical AI 3 days after 5.

OR when the progesterone hits the magic number.

[fowl hunter]

That's wrong too. You breed 2 and 4 days after she reaches 5.

I guess everyone has there fav time then. When I contacted mary tatum she told me to be there the next day when the prof hits 5. When I talked to mrs Mackey yesterday about breeding to sailor she told me to be at her vet when it hits 5 so that's what I was going with. To each his own I guess

[fowl hunter]

This is a learning exp for me and have enjoyed this thread and the info.

[Melanie Foster]

That's wrong too. You breed 2 and 4 days after she reaches 5.

Yep, reason being (for those who don't have a lot of experience with breeding) is that 5 is when the bitch ovulates. It takes 48 hours for the eggs to be mature and thus ready to be fertilized.

The advantage to using progesterone tests rather than leaving her with a stud dog for a week is that knowing the ovulation date also gives you a better indication of whelp date. When a bitch hits 5, mark your calendar for a whelp date of 63 days later (plus or minus a day). If you drop her off with a stud dog and just do breedings "when they feel like it" you may end up sitting staring at her in the whelping box for a week not knowing when the action will start.

[fowl hunter]

Yep, reason being (for those who don't have a lot of experience with breeding) is that 5 is when the bitch ovulates. It takes 48 hours for the eggs to be mature and thus ready to be fertilized.

The advantage to using progesterone tests rather than leaving her with a stud dog for a week is that knowing the ovulation date also gives you a better indication of whelp date. When a bitch hits 5, mark your calendar for a whelp date of 63 days later (plus or minus a day). If you drop her off with a stud dog and just do breedings "when they feel like it" you may end up sitting staring at her in the whelping box for a week not knowing when the action will start.

So it's 63 days from the day the progesterone is at 5? Not the day you breed? Very helpful. Thanks.

[copenhawgen]

OR when the progesterone hits the magic number.

What is this magical number of which you speak?

Seriously.

[Rainmaker]

What is this magical number of which you speak?

Seriously.

What my repro vet tells me it is. With frozen, he wants to see mid to upper teens for the implant, last I remember anyway, I don't do AI unless absolutely forced to. There is a very small window, 12 hours, for frozen. A little bigger for fresh-chilled.

[Sue Kiefer]

Listen to Nancy and or Melanie.
Sue