Measurement
of Progesterone Canine
Cryobank uses an immunoenzymatic test which provides a reliable
and precise masurement of progesterone in plasma. The test is
based on the competitive binding of unlabelled progesterone present
in the standard or sample, and a fixed quantity of progesterone
labelled with the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AP), to binding
sites on a limited amount of specific progesterone antibodies. |
So, if you have heard how wonderful progesterone testing is for timing the breeding, that is right!!! Progesterone testing is much better than doing a vaginal smear. But, be aware that the sampling techniques and progesterone test kits differ dramatically. Clients tell me they had progesterone tests done every day for five days and still missed the breeding last season.
Recently, clients tell me they had the LH measured AND progesterone tested and still missed the bitch. When questioned, many clients say they knew the bitch wasnt ready because she showed no signs of standing, vulvular tilting, flagging, etc., but the progesterone test result said to breed, so they did. In the hundreds of bitches I have personally bred, I cannot remember a bitch that did not stand when ready, although some of my Shutzhund Rottweiler clients may growl protests. I hear stories of breeders tranquilizing bitches in order to breed them. I believe the reason we have never had to tranquilize any of the hundreds of bitches bred is simple: Do not try to breed until a reliable progesterone test shows she is ready!!!!
Note: The previous article appeared in the Jan/March 1997 Mastiff Reporter Volume V, No. 1-2. Here is the editors note:
Southport Mastiffs
Those of you who have been subscribers for a while may remember another article by Carol in Vol 1/5 on using Frozen/Cooled Semen. At that time we were using the progesterone method/kit indicated above on one of our bitches and conception did not occur. Our thoughts at the time were that the bitch may have stalled out and was inseminated too early. On subsequent season, the testing was performed again, using a second test to verify the rise in ng/ml and the stall was noted. This bitch took longer than normal to rise to the appropriate level, but the additional test showed that and she was bred at the appropriate timea litter of 13 puppies resulted. Another bitch was also bred using this method, her rise was extremely fast by comparison, but again the progesterone testing was able to pinpoint the correct breeding date and a litter of 12 puppies resulted. Both were cooled semen shipments from out of state and inseminated by Carol using the intracervical A.I. method.).
Progesterone story #2 of the week
.
The lady on the phone sounded stressed as she explained that she was in
San Diego from the Bay area to breed to Enzo, Rod Thompkins' famous German
Shepherd Schutzhund competitor. Her Bay area vet had done a progesterone
test Thursday and told her to breed in two days. The breeding never happened
Saturday and the owners were certain the bitch had a circular stricture
because Enzo could not penetrate. I asked what the progesterone test result
was on Thursday and she said around 2ng. I replied that the bitch would
be ready in six days from Thursday and to re-evaluate the stricture situation
then. The lady was not at all happy with my explanation as she insisted
her vet said to breed!! The lady called on Thursday to say the breeding
went very easily the night before (six days after the 2ng/ml) and she
now was asking about her other bitch who last season, never stood and
had to be muzzled, force bred, and never conceived. What do you think
the reason could be??? I hope we hear that her bitch conceived this time.
Enzo's semen evaluations are usually in the two billion range, including
one done just days after her bitch was bred. So Enzo did his part in
the breeding equation.
German Shepherd breeder, Rhonda Long had failed to get one of her bitches bred successfully. The next season, she brought her in for a progesterone test thinking she was early. However, the progesterone test said BREED NOW. Nice litter resulted. She was bred too late the seasons before, so it seems. I think she had 8 pups.
Progesterone Story: Great Dane bitch missed last time. Carla Akamini's Great Dane bitch missed last time even though she was bred naturally several times during her season. This time two days after she stood and bred, Carla brought her in for a progesterone test. Her progesterone was only 2.5 ng/ml, two days after the breeding! If Carla had stopped breeding, the sperm would need to last SIX DAYS OR MORE! Carla bred her again when the progesterone was 9.9ng/ml. Carla reported bitch whelped pups last week! Please note, even this bitch with a history of missing her last season, only had three progesterone tests.
ALL PROGESTERONE TESTING IS NOT THE SAME!!!! "My vet told me the progesterone test said to breed now, so I called the stud owner back East, and she flew out here (Palm Desert) with the stud but he will not breed her. Did we miss her?!!" worried the anxious bitch owner. A progesterone test done in our lab showed the visiting stud and owner would need to stay at least 5-6 days before the bitch is ready to breed!!! (True story) Bitch, by the way, had a nice litter. And even more remarkable the two owners are still good friends after the extended "vacation" of the stud owner and dog. If you would like more information fax or call us for the information sheet on Progesterone Testing for Breeders.