A vaginal cytology is done by taking a swab from the dog's vagina, which is then examined under a microscope. The procedure is carried out when the bitch is in heat.
Monitoring of heat is typically started around the 7th day of heat. If the dog’s visible heat symptoms are minimal, heat monitoring can be started earlier.
The vaginal cytology is a separate procedure from artificial insemination, which is usually done during heat monitoring.
For both medium and large breeds, the recommended sperm count is approximately 150-200 million sperm cells, while for smaller breeds, the count is around 100-150 million.
The amount depends largely on the quality of the frozen semen, its motility (post-thaw motility), and the number of viable cells after thawing. It’s generally recommended that a minimum of 100-150 million motile sperm cells be used for insemination. For smaller breeds, the amount may be closer to 100 million motile cells. For natural mating, both medium and large breeds typically require 150-200 million motile sperm cells, and small breeds around 100-150 million motile cells.
A pregnancy ultrasound is typically done about 4 weeks after mating.
A dog usually ovulates during estrus, one to three days after ovulation. Artificial insemination with frozen semen is recommended 2-3 days after ovulation, with fresh or chilled semen 1-2 days after ovulation. The goal of heat monitoring is to determine the optimal insemination time as accurately as possible. For most dogs, progesterone rises rapidly after ovulation and is at 15 nmol/l.
The result will be obtained in an hour, if you are in a hurry, it is worth mentioning this at check-in. Otherwise, the results will be sent to clients, along with other patient work, within 2-3 hours after sampling.
Sperm is collected from a male by stimulation with the aid of a teaser female. It is recommended to have a teaser female available to facilitate collection for most males.
In most dog breeds, one collection provides several insemination doses. Smaller breeds usually provide less sperm per collection, while larger breeds often produce enough for multiple doses. For smaller breeds, it may be necessary to collect sperm several times
The herpes vaccine is administered around 7-10 days after mating or insemination and again around 7-10 days before the expected delivery date. The vaccine provides additional protection for the puppies during pregnancy.