Summer 2012 Blog
Thurs 28 June 2012
Fri 06 July 2012Tues 10 July 2012
Fri 13 July 2012
Fri 03 August 2012
Wed 15 August 2012 |
Missy comes into season. On day 5, she has her first laboratory progesterone assay and the result is less than 1 nmol/l (below the minimum reading). Angelika advises that, as bitches ovulate at around 18 nmol/l and that the results tend to double every two days, we should re-test in four days' time. On day 9, Missy is tested again, and the result is still less than 1, so Angelika advises that we should come back again in four days' time. On day 13, we take Missy for another assay and at around 5:15 p.m., we get a call from Angelika to say that Missy's progesterone reading has shot up to over 15! This means she is ovulating and that the semen needs to be collected and sent the next day, so that we can inseminate twice - on the Thursday and then again on the Friday. Unfortunately, however, despite best efforts, it wasn't possible to collect the semen on the Wednesday, but it was successfully collected and sent on the Thursday. The semen arrives safe and sound, and Missy is inseminated by Angelika. She is such a good girl, exceedingly well behaved throughout, we couldn't have asked for more. From examining her, Angelika advises that Missy is in good reproductive shape and that she is ready, i.e. the timing is right. She does two inseminations, half an hour apart. S Three weeks after the insemination and Missy's belly seems slightly distended and the fur seems to be receding up her middle. We don't recall this happening during her phantom pregnancies and it's a good sign, but we're trying not to read too much into it and get our hopes up! Missy has an ultrasound carried out by Sam Wilkinson, renowned animal sonographer, who tells us that Missy is pregnant with 11 puppies. Finally, we can allow ourselves to get excited! |