Split Heat...????

Question
QUESTION: My female's first heat was in Aug '07.  She is a havanese.

She went into heat again in Dec. '07.  We did progesterone testing and went all the way to 4.9.  We bred her a day later.  She had four 20-minute ties.  The result = NO PUPPIES.

She now is in heat again March '08. (Our other female is now in heat and is in the process of being bred)

I have not done progesterone testing on her.  Male seems interested but has not tried to mount her.  Just a lot of sniffing.  She is flagging like crazy and has also tried mounting the other female that is in heat.

Please make me understand what is going on....???

Thank you.



ANSWER: Hi Pam

The progesterone levels should be above 6, optimally 9 prior to breeding.

Have you had your male tested and/or is he proven?

Try separating the male from the female for a few days.  Then reintroduce them.  Some males are lazy, some are more interested in breeding with "strangers", and some just have low libidos'.

If the female is ready you can also try A.I. as an alternative.

Good luck.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My male is proven and has always been right on with the females.

He has been checked and sperm is good.

It is the female that I am worried about.

Thanks,
Pam

ANSWER: Okay, so then what day in the heat cycle is the female you are wanting to breed?

Your male is experienced, so he will know when the time is right.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The female is on her 8th day of her cycle.

I'm just wondering if she will be ovulating on this heat since she just had one in Dec. '07 in which we tried breeding her.  She seemed to have ovulated during this  last heat since progesterone rose from 1.3 to 4.9 in a few days.  But, no puppies.

It's only been 3 months.

Yes, maybe I should just wait until my male shows some interest in her?  Then, go ahead with progesterone testing to see where we are at?

Thanks,
Pam

Answer
It is possible that she can be ovulating. What some call a split heat can really be a "pre-heat".  A female will go into a heat but the first half of the heat will last only a few days to a week.  But then they will come into a true heat a few months later.  So don't give up.

Her hormones may change but you need higher numbers to show ovulation.