In 25 years I have not had a missed breeding. My veterinarian and others have told me I have been very fortunate.
Well--I have my first miss. Just want to know if anyone has experienced a similar situation and what the problem was.
Six-year old female, regular cycles, bred twice previously. Always breeds late in heat cycle (like day 19). I was going to use my male, so no angst about delivering her to a stud dog.
My other females typically mount a female in heat, which helps me determine when she is flagging and ready to stand. I also check for flagging myself and tested her with my male.
Mid-cycle I did vaginal smears--no cornification so I assumed she was going to ovulate late per her history. Day 19, still no flagging or standing. Off to the doc.
Vaginal smear showed she was out of heat. We pulled a blood sample to run progesterone to see if she even ovulated. Should have the results tomorrow.
My doc suggested it might be a "wolf" heat and she might come in again in a few days.
You ask a great question. Your track record is frankly a better question. How can you go that long without a miss is remarkable. There are myriad things happening to produce a litter and for you to have the stars align each and every time is great. Lucky but great.
My suggestion, don't fret about it too much. Try ovulation timing with blood work and get her next heat.
No I did not progesterone test because I had them both at my fingertips and she has a track record. I normally don't progesterone test unless it is surgical or I have a long drive to get to the stud dog.
It will be interesting to see if she did ovulate--because she wasn't flagging or standing at all. Very strange!
I had one come in heat in mid August. She was bred 4 times in an 8 day period. No pups. She came back in heat Dec. 2. Surprise, surprise. On about day 5, I did a in house progesterone, which suggested she was almost ready to breed. Two days later, I did another progesterone which suggested she was ready. I bred her and at 3 weeks I could already tell she is pregnant.
I don't go by what did your male think, are the girls mounting her. The girl on girl thing seems to be very early in cycle. Have not in 20 years done a smear. Thought those were usless. Make your money count. Do a progesterone test. You have been lucky. With what it all cost these days I don't understand not doing a Prog test. JMHO
My other girls were mounting her from day one, but she wouldn't stand for them at all either. Used to seeing flagging, standing for the girls, then introduce the male.
I had no reason to run progesterone since it was going to be a natural breeding with a bitch who has a history. The tests are $100 a pop here, so not something I do on a whim.
