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Determining Right Time for Pet Mating: Tests and Techniques


There are two simple tests that we can perform to determine right time for mating or artificial insemination.

  1. Vaginal smear test – A simple microscopic examination of vaginal cells will detect changes in cell appearance and numbers. This test has been used for many years and is reasonably reliable. It is non-invasive and does not cause discomfort for the female. Most vaginal smears are performed serially, over several days, to look for changes in the cells that predict ovulation and the best time for breeding.
  2. Serum progesterone test – This measures the progesterone level in the blood. This test is very sensitive and has become popular due to its accuracy. Some pets will require several tests to predict ovulation.

Both tests can be performed at our clinic. The serum progesterone test gives a very good indication of when mating is most likely to be successful and is useful for females that have a history of unsuccessful mating or for breeding dogs that have to travel a considerable distance to the male dog.

Determine pregnancy stage and whelping time.

Depending on the pregnancy stage, we can do ultrasound, X-Ray examination or hormonal assessment to estimate fetus age and proper time of giving birth.

This assessment can be critical because some female dogs cannot give birth to their puppies naturally and need caesarean. Caesarean cannot be performed at any time and proper assessment is warranted to determine the time.

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date March 7, 2024
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