Canine Ovulation Detection

The Key to a Successful Breeding is Timing.

Bitches ovulate immature ova. It takes between 48 - 72 hours for the ova to ripen after ovulation. The ova remain alive and viable for another 2 - 3 days after ovulation.

Fresh or fresh chilled sperm, remain alive in the bitch's reproductive tract for 5 to 6 days. Therefore, successful insemination can occur with the bitch being bred anywhere from 2 days prior to ovulation to 4 days after ovulation.

On the other hand, frozen thawed sperm live only a few hours, therefore it is advised that you work with your Vet and have them perform a trans-cervical Artificial Insemination (A/I) or a surgical A/I no earlier than 2 - 3 days following ovulation if you are using frozen thawed sperm.

If pregnant, a healthy bitch will whelp exactly 63 days after ovulation, regardless of when she was mated or when her eggs were fertilized. Therefore, knowing the date of ovulation will make your calculations for planning the delivery much more precise.

Testing for Ovulation

Progesterone Testing is the most accurate test currently available but it requires the drawing of the bitch's blood and access to a lab to perform the test. It can be expensive and depending on where you live it can take up to 24 hours to receive the results.
[Effective for natural breeding as well as AI with frozen, fresh chilled or fresh semen]

The Draminski Canine Ovulation Detector is the next best option. It is a probe that tests the viscosity of the vaginal mucous. This mucous thins out during ovulation in order to allow the sperm to gain access to the eggs. During most of the bitch's cycle this mucous is thick and viscous keeping germs and debris out of her vaginal tract. The Draminski is as accurate as progesterone testing for bitches that ovulate in what is considered a normal range. The Draminski is reusable and the breeder can easily learn how to use it.
[Effective for natural breeding as well as AI with frozen, fresh chilled or fresh semen]

The Fertile Focus or a microscope is the next best option. The Fertile Focus is a small portable 60x magnification microscope that allows us to test the bitch's saliva. Dogs and humans have a unique change in their saliva when the Estrogen peaks in their systems. Saliva taken during this peak time will crystallize into a distinctive ferning pattern when dried. This indicates the estrogen surge; which in dogs occurs about two days before the LH surge which occurs about two days before ovulation. This give s breeder planning a natural breeding a good indication to breed 6 days after seeing the ferning (remember to wait 2-2 1/2 days after ovulation for the eggs to ripen)
[Effective for natural breeding as well as AI with fresh semen. Can also be used to know when to start the more expensive progesterone testing]


You can use Litmus paper such as pH Stix or WYSONG Estrus Strip to test for pH changes in the Vagina. PH of the canine vagina drops from 8.5 to as much as 7.0 during Ovulation.
[Effective for natural breeding as well as AI with fresh semen. Can also be used to know when to start the more expensive progesterone testing]

The Draminski Canine Ovulation Detector, the Fertile Focus, pH Stix and WYSONG Estrus Strips are all available online at www.midwoof.com