Vet AI Scribe for Reproduction

Juno

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Breeding management — day 3 of serial progesterone

Subjective

Chief Complaint

Presented for ovulation timing and planned breeding. This is a third attempt after two missed cycles with a natural cover.

History

• 4-year-old intact female Labrador retriever, 29 kg.
• Two previous breedings, both natural cover at a fixed day 11-13 schedule, both resulting in no pregnancy.
• Cycles at approximately 7-month intervals. First day of visible vulvar bleeding recorded as March 4.
• No history of vaginal discharge outside oestrus, no prior pyometra.
• Brucella canis negative, tested 4 weeks ago.
• Stud dog is out of state; chilled semen shipment planned.

Objective

Serial Progesterone

• March 7 (day 3): 0.9 ng/mL
• March 9 (day 5): 2.2 ng/mL
• March 11 (day 7, today): 5.4 ng/mL

Vaginal Cytology

• Approximately 85% superficial and anuclear cells; few neutrophils; background clearing present

Vaginoscopy

• Mucosal folds prominent, pale and crenulated; profile consistent with late follicular phase

Physical Exam

• Weight: 29.2 kg; body condition 5/9
• Vulva: Softened, moderately oedematous; serosanguineous discharge
• Vaginal vault: No stricture, no septum, no masses on digital exam
• Mammary chain: No masses
• Abdomen: Soft, non-painful
• General: No abnormalities detected on the remainder of the exam

Assessment

Primary Problem List

1. Ovulation imminent — progesterone 5.4 ng/mL is consistent with the luteinising hormone surge occurring in the last 24-48 hours
2. History of breeding failure — two prior cycles bred on calendar days rather than on progesterone
3. Chilled semen logistics — shipping window is the binding constraint

Assessment Notes

The two previous failures are most readily explained by mistimed breeding rather than by infertility. A fixed day 11-13 schedule assumes a textbook cycle; this bitch's progesterone rise places her ovulation outside that window. No evidence of uterine or vaginal pathology on this exam.

Differentials for Prior Failure

• Mistimed breeding (most consistent)
• Poor semen quality at the time of natural cover
• Subclinical endometritis
• Hypothyroidism

---

Plan

Diagnostics

• Repeat progesterone in 48 hours to confirm ovulation (expected 15-25 ng/mL)
• Thyroid panel this cycle, given the breeding history
• Semen evaluation on arrival: motility, morphology, concentration, and total motile sperm count recorded before insemination

Breeding Plan

• Ovulation expected approximately 2 days after the LH surge; oocytes require a further 2 days to mature
• Chilled semen, transcervical insemination scheduled for days 4 and 6 after the surge
• Stud owner notified today so collection and overnight shipping align with the insemination window
• Insemination performed with an endoscopic transcervical catheter; deposition confirmed intrauterine

Pregnancy Monitoring

• Relaxin assay at 28 days post-insemination
• Ultrasound at 28-30 days for confirmation and viability
• Radiographs at 55 days for fetal count, so the whelping team knows when the litter is complete

Whelping

• Expected whelping 63 days from ovulation, not from breeding
• Whelping preparation appointment scheduled for week 7

Client Communication:
Explained that the two previous cycles were most likely bred on the wrong days rather than reflecting a fertility problem, and that a fixed calendar schedule does not accommodate individual variation in when ovulation occurs. Reviewed that gestation length is predictable from ovulation but not from the date of breeding, which is why the 63-day count starts from the progesterone confirmation. Discussed the shipping timeline with the stud owner on the call, and set the two insemination dates.

— Dr. Helena Brandt, DVM, DACT