Buns In The Oven?

Hopefully Fern is thinking about puppies
 

 

We'll know pretty soon if we have "buns in the oven" (slang for being pregnant).  Fern's pups are due about August 25th +/- 2 days.  That's how it's listed on the litter chart our clinic provides when you do progesterone testing and they tell you the right days to breed.  According to the tests Fern probably ovulated on a Saturday, and because eggs need to ripen for two or three days before they can be fertilized her best days for breeding were Monday and Wednesday.  That was a couple days earlier than I would have tried had I not done progesterone testing.  Because this was a first breeding for both Duncan and Fern, I wanted to maximize my chances of hitting the right days, without relying exclusively on just the dogs' behaviors.  Both dogs were most cooperative and breeding went smoothly.

 

Everything has fallen into place so far.  Fern waited to come in season until AFTER she turned 24 months, so we were able to get her hip x-rays done and sent off to OFA for evaluation (we did her elbows at that time too).  X-rays looked good or excellent, so we knew she'd be given a passing score which of course she did.  All other health testing had already been completed, and Fern now has her CHIC number - a requirement for us.  OFA Good hips, BAER bilateral hearing, and OFA normal elbows, eyes, and thyroid.  Fern is also entered into the complete dentition database.  Duncan also has his CHIC number and the same test results except for having OFA Excellent hips.

 

We could take Fern in for an ultrasound about day 25 to determine whether or not she is pregnant, but I can also palpate her and tell that.  Ultrasounds are invariably wrong as far as number of pups, so simply knowing she is pregnant by palpation is a more sensible choice for me.  Saves a trip to the vet clinic, and a few dollars that I don't need to spend.  Because I just spent almost $1,000.00 for health testing, a blood panel, and progesterone testing, we'll save the cost of an ultrasound - there will be lots of other ways to spend that money!