Vaginal Cytology
Vaginal cytology studies cells from a vaginal swab under a microscope to help show the stage of the heat cycle and any sign of inflammation or infection. It can be done in dogs, cats, cows and buffaloes.
- Sample
- Cotton swab of vaginal mucosa
- Quantity
- As advised
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- Proportion of small round cells and large flat (cornified) cells
- Red blood cells (seen in early heat or with bleeding)
- White blood cells (neutrophils), which help stage the cycle in dogs or may point to infection
- Bacteria or yeast on the slide
Benefits of this test
- Helps judge where a female dog or cat is in her heat cycle.
- Helps plan the timing of mating or artificial insemination in dogs.
- Can show signs of vaginal inflammation or infection when there is a discharge.
- Needs only a gentle swab, with no needle or surgery.
- Can be repeated every few days to follow the changes.
When your vet may advise it
- A female dog has a swollen vulva or bleeding and the owner wants to know the stage of heat.
- Mating or artificial insemination is planned in a dog and the right days must be worked out.
- A female cat is restless, calling or rolling and the vet wants to see whether she is in heat.
- A female animal has a vaginal discharge or bad smell and the vet wants to check for inflammation.
- A cow or buffalo has unclear heat signs or a discharge and the vet wants extra information along with the examination.
About this test
Vaginal cytology means studying the cells from the vagina. A soft cotton swab is gently rubbed on the vaginal lining, rolled on a glass slide and stained. In dogs and cats the lining changes with the hormones of the heat cycle, so the type of cells on the slide changes from one stage to the next.
In female dogs, it helps the vet see whether the dog is in early heat, in the fertile days or past them, and it is often read with a progesterone blood test to plan mating. In female cats, it can help show whether the cat is in heat. In cows and buffaloes it is used less often. The vet may use it as extra information about heat, or to look at the cells and germs when there is a discharge.
The slide may also show white blood cells, red blood cells or bacteria, which may point to inflammation, bleeding or infection. One smear is only a snapshot, so in dogs vets often repeat it every few days during heat. Reporting time is confirmed when you book.
How to prepare
Note the day heat signs began and any bleeding or discharge, and do not wash the area or apply cream or powder before sampling; follow your vet's advice. No fasting is needed, and the swab is taken gently by the vet or trained staff. Free sample collection is available anywhere in Bhopal; from outside Bhopal, your local vet can send the swab or slides by courier or bus parcel.
Reading the result
Your registered veterinarian reads the cell pattern together with the animal's signs, heat history and other tests, such as progesterone in dogs. The vet then explains the stage of the cycle, or any sign of infection, and what to do next.
Questions about Vaginal Cytology
Can vaginal cytology tell if my dog is pregnant?
When should vaginal cytology be done in a female dog?
Does vaginal cytology hurt my pet?
Can vaginal cytology be done in cows and buffaloes?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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Vaginal Cytology: Bhopal and the big cities of Madhya Pradesh
Free sample collection anywhere in Bhopal. From the other cities, send the sample by courier, bus parcel or through your local veterinarian, and the report comes to you online.
Free collection in these Bhopal areas
Read more
Vaginal Cytology in Dogs: Timing the Heat and Breeding
Vaginal cytology in dogs studies cells from the vaginal wall on a stained slide. The cells change through the heat cycle, so the test helps a vet judge the stage reached.
18 Oct 2026