Abstract   

    Vaginal smears from 45 multiparous Nigerian Mongrel bitches in proestrus (n=10), oestrus (n=22) and pregnancy (n=13) were examined, Differential cell count of exfoliated vaginal epithelial cells showed that the mean percentage of superficial cells was 95 in oestrus, 65.5 in proestrus and 15 in pregnant bitches. Oestrus smears were characterized by the presence of predominant superficial cells. The phase of predominance of superficial cells (>90%) was consistent with the phase of high vaginal mucus electrical resistance .measurements and sexual activity. It is therefore concluded that vaginal cytology can be applied in the detection of oestrus in the Nigerian Mongrel bitch.    

Key words: Mongrel bitch, Oestrus, Vaginal cytology.