EDUCATIONAL POST Understanding Vulval Changes During the Canine Heat Cycle During the canine oestrous cycle, changes in the vulva are driven by hormonal fluctuations — not guesswork, myths, or “rules of thumb”. In pro-oestrus, rising oestrogen causes increased blood flow and fluid retention, resulting in a vulva that appears swollen, smooth, firm, and shiny. Despite the obvious physical changes, the bitch is not yet fertile at this stage. As the cycle progresses into oestrus,

I’m seeing more of these “automatic ovulation detectors” being advertised for dogs, so I want to clear up some confusion before anyone wastes money or misses a mating. These handheld probes do not detect ovulation. Ovulation in the bitch is driven by hormonal changes (progesterone rise). It cannot be accurately identified by measuring vaginal moisture, conductivity, resistance, or “numbers on a screen”. Those values can change for many reasons — discharge, irritation, probe p

Accurate timing. Better breeding decisions. Fewer mistakes. If you’re breeding dogs, assisting with mating, or working in canine fertility, guesswork has no place in your decision-making. Canine vaginal cytology is one of the most valuable, low-cost diagnostic tools available — when it’s done properly. This course teaches you exactly that. The Canine Vaginal Cytology Course from ProPet Training  is designed to give you real, practical competence, not just theory you’ll forget