Blood Test For "Relaxin" Hormone - Page 1

Has anyone here any experience with testing for "relaxin"(blood test) in confirming your pregnancies? Ostensibly, the harmone relaxin is produced by the embryonal placenta upon implantation of the fertilized egg, typically around day 21 post-breeding or 25 days post-ovulation and remains elevated through gestation. Now fertilization can occur as much as 5 days after mating because sperm cells can live for several days in the bitch, therefore, very early testing may need to be repeated if the test is negative. The female in question should be, by my calculations be around 5 weeks pregnant, if conception took place. The relaxin blood test came back negative today, meaning she is not pregnant. At times she looks a little pregnant(full behind the ribs) and at times, I don't just don't know. If anyone has any experience with this test and it's accuracy, I would appreciate your input. I am wondering could the results have come back negative and the female is actually pregnant. I would hate to cease pre-natal care(extra vitamins, puppy feed, ect) if in fact she needs these extra nutrients. I would also had to have her balloon up in weight, feeding her this puppy feed and she is not actually pregnant. Thanks in advance for your input. Stephen

Stephen, I have used this test with mixed results. The first test (taken at 35 days) said my female was negative. 26 days later, she had 8 pups. Another test was negative, and that female was not pregnant (taken at day 36) I do not know. I think I would rather get an ultrasound, or be really patient and wait to get an x-ray at 55 days. Perhaps cut back your female to half of the supplements until you know for sure? I always feed them as if they are, and if they are not, it usually takes me a month or two to get the weight back off of them. :) Good luck!

She missed the last two attempts and I do not want her to go through the weight loss program, to get her back in shape, was the reason for my concern. The vet checking her thought she was pregnant and I almost did not have the blood drawn for the test. Thanks for your imput. She definatly has a different body shape that pre-mating, so I will have to play the waiting game, until x-ray time, I suppose. Thanks, VomFelsenHof.

I have read several times that this test can fairly often give a false negative (especially with small litters or if done before 30 days) but never a false positive. I have personally only used it once (due to difficult availability here), it was positive and she was pregnant. I hope your female is - good luck!

http://www.antechdiagnostics.com/clients/antechNews/2000/jan00_02.htm

This is the old fashioned way - measure the circumference of the bitch's abdomen. Start about 4 weeks after mating and measure at exactly the same spot once a week. If the measurement increases, she is probably pg. If it's a small litter you might not see an increase until into the 7th or 8th week. By that time most I know have already had the bitch ultrasounded or xrayed. Not many did that years ago, we just waited it out LOL.

Thanks Blitzen, this diagnosis was done by the Arkansas State Department of Livestock and Poultry blood lab. I don't know their proficiency in conducting this test or if they do it routinely with accurate results, or what.

Don't give up yet. This subject was recently discussed on my Malamute list and some have had false negatives if it's done a bit too early or if there is a small litter. Keep the faith.......

With this hormonal test, you can get false negatives, but it is not possible to get a false positive. That is the only definate thing about it. A friend of mine used it and got false negatives 3 times - his girl produced 8 puppies. I know its tempting to want to know, but hold on to your money,and as VomFelsenHof says, cut back a little on her "pregnancy goodies" so you are covering all events. Good luck. Mo Lakin Mascani

Stephen, Is your female pregnant. I recently had a negative relaxin and I'm not sure it is correct. Please let me know. I have bullmastiffs. You can also reach me at tjbulls@earthlink.net Thanks!!!