How can you tell when a dog is ovulating? A Complete Guide

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Timing ovulation within the heat cycle of a bitch isn’t as straightforward as it first appears. Knowing precisely when ovulation happens is an invaluable skill for all breeders because whelping is based on hormonal changes associated with ovulation — not from the day bred. Dr. Scarlette Gotwals discusses ovulation timing and canine reproduction.

Christown Animal Hospital is happy to help you test for your dog’s progesterone and ovulation. Call us today to set up an appointment and get all your canine fertility questions answered.

Luteinizing hormone, or LH, is what causes ovulation. LH levels will remain near zero for a while, then suddenly surge and drop again. Ovulation occurs two days after this happens. At that point, the eggs must mature for two days to be ready for fertilization. They only last two to three days after that. In other words, the LH peak is day zero, and then the eggs can be fertilized four to seven days afterwards. Once this window is over, the dog will not be able to conceive.

Testing for LH levels is the most accurate way to determine when your dog is ovulating. However, since LH levels may only be elevated for an 18-hour window, it’s best to try another method of testing.

The role of estrogen is to cause a female dog to act receptive to mating. Estrogen levels rise anywhere from four to 20 days before ovulation, causing vulval swelling, changes in the dog’s vagina and bleeding. Estrogen doesn’t cause the dog to ovulate, and estrogen levels can only provide a rough estimate of when your dog will be fertile.

Thinking about breeding your dog? If so, it’s time to get intimately familiar with your female dog’s ovulation and progesterone cycle. Understanding ovulation timing is the key to ensuring conception. While the entire heat cycle might last up to three weeks, the eggs are only viable for two to three days of that time. Here are tips from a veterinarian in Phoenix, AZ so you’ll know what to consider when breeding your dogs.

Treatment of Breeding Timing in Dogs

A straightforward way to understand the process of the breeding timing cycle is to look briefly at the four stages:

  • Proestrus – This is the period where you and the veterinarian will do the observation and determination of readiness for breeding. There is a rise in estrogen and the vaginal discharge tinged with blood will appear. Your dog will not be interested in breeding yet. The veterinarian may use a combination of breeding timing methods now, such as the vaginoscopy or the LH hormone analysis. Sometimes an ultrasound is included to look at the ovaries.
  • Estrus – The LH surge occurs now, and the maturation of cells in the ovary takes place. Your dog will be receptive to breeding. Breeding timing methods will show continuing stages of readiness, such as the vaginoscopy that will reveal that the cells are cornified.
  • Diestrus – The LH surge has passed, and your dog will no longer be interested in breeding with the male counterpart. The discharge diminishes and if conception occurred you now have a mother in the gestational stage.
  • Anestrus – This is the stage between diestrus and the next proestrus period.

    • Worried about the cost of Breeding Timing treatment?

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    How To Check If Your Dog Is Ovulating (Exotic Bully)