Can progesterone (cProg) is a steroid hormone secreted by the luteum of the canine ovary, which plays an important role in the reproductive activities of female dogs (such as ovulation, pregnancy maintenance, delivery, mammary gland development, etc.).
What circumstances require detection of “progesterone“?
Assessing the dog’s estrus cycle to determine the optimal mating period and improve breeding success;
Predicting the delivery date;
The concentration of progesterone is less than 1ng/ml, and the possibility of cervical dilation within 24 hours is 100%.
For dog breeds that are prone to dystocia, adequate preparation for delivery should be made.
- Other uses: Determine whether “pregnancy protection” is needed, i.e., whether exogenous progesterone needs to be supplemented during pregnancy; assist in the detection of reproductive system diseases, such as emotional heat, growth retardation, decreased libido, etc.; determine the sterility status of the bitch, etc.
Using progesterone to determine the optimal mating period for dogs
Why can progesterone be used to determine the optimal mating period?
Ovulation generally occurs 48 hours after the LH peak, and it takes another 48 hours for the egg to mature after it is discharged, so the optimal mating period should be from day 4 to day 7 after the LH peak appears.
However, the LH peak is narrow and appears quickly, disappearing quickly and being difficult to track. The rise of progesterone levels starts precisely from the appearance of the LH peak, so we can track the changes in progesterone levels to find the optimal mating period.
How can progesterone be used to determine the optimal mating period?
The first detection time: Start detecting progesterone 3-4 days after the first time a bitch’s vulva is bloody during an estrus cycle.
Detection frequency: Detection should be performed every 24-48 hours, and it is best to perform detection every 24 hours.
The end of detection timing: Stop detecting once the appropriate mating time has been determined.