The female dog

• Within a few days of the start of her heat cycle, make an appointment to have your dog examined. During this first visit, an internal examination will be performed to determine whether everything looks normal. If necessary, a smear test and/or a culture (bacteriological test) will be performed. In addition, a schedule will be set for when to begin monitoring progesterone levels. If necessary, a course of antibiotics can be started now to “clean out” the uterus.

• Blood tests are performed every weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. You must make an appointment by phone in advance. A small sample of blood will be drawn from your dog, and an internal examination will be performed if necessary. You will receive the results by the end of the same morning. The progesterone level in the blood normally rises gradually to a value between 12 and 15 ng/ml. Mating should take place around this time. The progesterone level in the blood is a highly reliable indicator of the timing of ovulation in your dog. Therefore, by conducting a series of progesterone tests, we can determine the optimal mating time for your female dog with great precision, and in most cases, a single mating will suffice! However, it is very important that the correct equipment is used for the progesterone test! Many disappointments result from faulty testing!

• Once the progesterone level in the blood is high enough, we’ll know the best time for your dog to be bred, and we’ll advise you to take her to the male dog around that time for breeding.

• Artificial insemination can only be performed if natural mating is not possible, for example, due to an injury to the male or female dog, or when using frozen or chilled semen. For artificial insemination, the male and female dogs must come to the clinic together.

• Starting about 28 days after mating, an ultrasound exam can determine whether your female dog is indeed pregnant and, if so, approximately how many puppies she is carrying.

Of course, you can always contact us with any questions you may have during your dog’s pregnancy. Our team is also always available to assist you around the time the puppies are born, should any problems arise.