"PREMATE"
Ovulation Timing Kit
FAQ
For Canadian Dog Breeders
Answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Q. How long has this kit been in use?
A. Several years in Europe and the USA and here in Canada I have been using and supplying it to others for almost twelve years.
Q. Is this kit similar to others on the market?
A. No. Camelot Farms in Texas tried every kit on the market, and knows other breeders who also have used other kits with equally poor results.
If these other kits had worked, Camelot Farms would have been happy to
use them. Since they did not, Camelot Farms kept looking.They found PREMATE in England. It is much
easier to use, and gives consistent results every time. At Camelot Farms, they have a better than 93%
conception rate using fresh, chilled and frozen semen to prove its worth, and so can you.
Q. Are there directions provided with the kit?
A. Yes, each kit purchased from Pinnacle Pet Supply comes with detailed instructions, and a video (supplied with the first kit,) explaining why the kit is needed, what it does, and how to use it.
Q. Can I use the kit myself?
A. Yes, many successful breeders use PREMATE routinely. You need to be able to draw blood from the bitch's vein.
PREMATE is simple to use, inexpensive when you consider what it does for you, and gives you the results in a short time.
If you can’t draw blood yourself, usually your Vet will do this for you at a nominal cost and you then take the blood home to do the test. Your veterinarian's staff can do the test for you, however I feel that breeders usually get more reliable results doing it themselves at home.
Q. What supplies and equipment do I need other than the kit?
A. You will need 5 ml. syringes and # 22 needles to draw the blood, some plain tubes to put the blood in, some type of tourniquet, cotton balls and some alcohol to wipe the dog's skin.
The #22 needles required have a much large 'bore' than the needles used to give vaccinations. Don't try to interchange the two types.
The blood will settle on the counter or shelf in about an hour or so, and you will see the clear or pink-tinged
fluid (plasma) on the top. You will need only one drop of this fluid for the test.
If you have a
centrifuge, follow the directions in the pamphlet enclosed with the kit.
Inexpensive blood collection kits are available through Pinnacle Pet Supply for doing the blood work.
Q. How many tests do I get with one kit?
A. Ten to 30, depending on the number of bitches you test at one time. The average breeder will be able to do ten tests. A more detailed explanation follows under "Cost".
Q. What is the shelf life of the kit?
A. The time frame is dependent on the 'run' from the manufacturer. It may be as long as 7 months, but usually you will receive a kit with 3 or 4 months before expiration. Each kit has an expiry date on it. The date is written using the British system - meaning that it shows the day/month/year rather than our system of month/day year. Thus 6/2/94 on the kit would mean Feb.6/94 - not June 2/94.
While the kit must be kept refrigerated, Control D must be kept frozen between uses, or it will expire 90 days after mixing it when you first open the kit.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. If you test one bitch at a time, you will use three wells for each test. There are 32 wells in each kit, thus each test will cost you approximately $17.50.
If you test two females at the same time, you will
use 4 test wells, and thus you can do eight tests on each female, or total of 16 tests at a cost of $10.95
cents for each test.
As you can see, the more bitches tested at one time, the lower the cost of each test.
This is because,since you must make a standard sample A and a standard sample B for each test, those samples
can be used for all the wells containing the plasma from as many bitches as you are testing at the same time.
It is not, however, in your best interest as a breeder, to delay the testing of one bitch, while waiting for
a second bitch to become ready for testing just to save $17.50 and thus possibly "miss" on the first bitch.
The kit also will have the G.S.T. added to it plus the Fedex shipping costs.
Q. Do I need a centrifuge?
A. No, you do not. If you do have a centrifuge, the test results will be obtained faster, since it takes only 7 to 8 minutes to spin the blood in a heparinized blood tube, rather than waiting an hour while it separates by itself. The results will be the same.
Q. How often do I test?
A. If she had had 'misses' in the past, do one test when she first comes into season or at least by Day 4. Some bitches have been actually in heat for several
days with no blood show. If she has not had a 'miss' then I like to have my first test done no later than Day 7. This initial test will give you an idea where she is in her cycle.
Your sample results will be:
1. As dark or darker pink than A.- this means she has not begun to ovulate. Repeat the test in 48 hours.
2. Lighter pink than A but darker than B - this means that the progesterone is rising and ovulation is
probably going to occur. Begin testing daily.
3. As light as B or lighter. This means that ovulation has occurred and she should be mated without delay.
Q. What if she gets to status 2 (above) but never gets to B or lighter than B after 30 days.
A. That does happen occasionally and this is another great feature of the Premate test.
She is having a "False Heat". This is a natural process that sometimes happens.
Watch her closely. She will probably come into season again in 4 to 8 weeks and then it will be "for real".
Q. What if she gets close to B and then goes back closer to A the next day?
A. This is another great thing with Premate.
The test is telling you she is having a " Split Heat" and probably will get to status 3 (above) in the day or so, although I have seen some bitches take almost a week to get back to B.
Without the guidance of Premate, you would probably have bred her too soon, and missed the
conception period.
Q. I do vaginal cytology. If there seems to be a conflict, which do I believe?
A. The PREMATE test every time.
When you have had more experience using PREMATE, you will not
question it, because it will prove itself to you as it has done for so many others on many occasions.
Vaginal cytology is an indicator only, but one of history, as it is known to be as many as 48 hours
behind time.
PREMATE is measuring the progesterone level in the blood at the time it is drawn from
the bitch.
You will learn more about this in the PREMATE video, supplied with your first purchase.
Vaginal cytology is helpful in determining when the bitch is 'going out' as new cells can be seen, but it
can be confusing when the cells appear to be the same for several days. Usually then the bitch is
flagging, the vulva swollen and without the availability of PREMATE,you would breed at the wrong
time because she “looks and acts ready”.
The PREMATE kit may show you that she has not reached status 3 and thus has not ovulated.
This has
been seen many times at Camelot Farms and at Pinnacle Pet Supply, and then finally, with continued testing, to as late as Day 20 or later, PREMATE will tell you that she is now at status 3, is ovulating and is (finally) ready for mating.
If you bred earlier, you may have missed her.
This timing is extremely important particularly when using chilled
or frozen semen.
You have a made a considerable financial investment by this time.
Q. When the Premate test show she is light as B or lighter, when do I breed?
A. Canines are multiple ovulators, meaning that they ovulate over a period of time. Sometimes this can
be a matter of hours or several days depending on the bitch, her age and this particular cycle. No two
bitches are the same, nor is every cycle of a bitch the same each time.
I personally had to deal with a
bitch who ovulated on Day 6 was mated once and had 6 puppies, but the next year she ovulated on Day 14 and still had 6 puppies.
Both pregnancies were successful because of the PREMATE test.
The eggs are fertilizable 48 hours after ovulation occurs, so there is a "window" when conception will
take place.
Breeding too early or too late will result in a "miss".
Test with Premate daily at about the same time once she has moved to status 2.
Breed her when she is
the same or slightly lighter than B and repeat the mating in 36 to 48 hours if possible.
Camelot Farms has had excellent results using only artificial inseminations of fresh, chilled or frozen semen, including semen from Australia frozen by their own semen preservation system.
Pinnacle Pet Supply does not deal with frozen semen however my statistics are similar using chilled and fresh semen and using only artificial inseminations.
Q. Will you help me if I have any other questions?
A. Certainly. We not only sell PREMATE, but have used it very successfully many times and will be
happy to answer any questions you may have. Phone me at 204-864-2556 for more information.
We have ready access to Camelot farms for answers we may not have as well as to the manufacturer, who is now in Canada.
 Click Here to Return to the Premate Order Page
PAYMENT OPTIONS
VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
Cheques, Wires, Bank Transfers, Money Orders accepted with prior notice.)
N.B. - ALL PRICES ARE QUOTED IN CANADIAN CURRENCY
  | |
Please Sign Our Guestbook
View Our Guestbook
YOU CAN ALSO ORDER THIS PRODUCT BY
1.
Clicking Here To Email Me
2. FAX YOUR ORDER - 204-864-2206
3. TELEPHONE ON THE TOLL-FREE PHONE LINES
 CANADIAN CUSTOMERS
PHONE 1-877-968-7738
|
Located minutes west of Winnipeg, Mb.
Pinnacle Pet Supply - Marilyn Brotherton
7251 Assiniboine Road, Cartier, MB.
R4K 1B4. Canada
PH: (204) 864-2556 * Fax: (204) 864-2206
Click Here To Email Me
|
|
|
Canine Reproduction