Progesterone testing to time breeding and pregnancy in dogs

Abstract

Progesterone plays a crucial role in establishing pregnancy in dogs, being considered an important clinical biomarker for estimating the time of ovulation and the ideal period for insemination. Additionally, progesterone level assessment is useful in monitoring luteolysis before delivery. At the "Prof. Univ. Dr. Alin Bîrțoiu" University Emergency Hospital, we selected a group of 52 females, aged between 1 and 5 years, in various stages of the reproductive cycle, to monitor progesterone concentrations. Between January and July 2024, we collected 52 blood samples using K3 EDTA vacutainers. For increased accuracy, the analyses were conducted using the Vcheck®️ device at the clinic. Additionally, we used ultrasound to monitor ovarian appearance from the preovulatory period to ovulation, correlating the results with progesterone levels. The results were categorized into three stages: anestrus (outside the reproductive period), preovulatory (30-50 hours after reaching the peak concentration of luteinizing hormone), and ovulatory. During anestrus, progesterone levels were below 1 ng/ml, in the preovulatory period they ranged between 1-5 ng/ml, and for ovulation, the optimal value was considered to be between 5-8 ng/ml. Based on these values, artificial inseminations were performed, with 46 out of the 52 females successfully inseminated.