Breeding
Reproductive Services
Vilonia Animal Clinic is a frozen semen and reproductive center that offers many professional services to enhance the success rate of breeding programs.
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Female Services |
Male Services |
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Breeding Consultation |
Breeding Consultation |
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Brucellosis Testing |
Brucellosis Testing |
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Progesterone Level Testing / LH Testing |
Semen Collection |
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Artificial Insemination: Vaginal / Surgical |
Semen Evaluation |
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Natural Breeding Assistance |
Frozen Semen Preparation |
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Pregnancy Diagnosis: Ultrasound, Relaxin Test |
Frozen Semen Storage / Shipment |
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Puppy Counts: Radiographs |
Post Thaw Semen Evaluation |
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Caesarian Section |
Fresh Chilled Semen Preparation / Shipment |
Ovulation Timing
Early preparation and planning are essential for a successful breeding. Any certifications such as eyes, hips, etc., should be done several months prior to breeding your female. A brucellosis test is needed within 30 days of breeding. Breeders who wish to utilize fresh or frozen semen should make arrangements for purchase of semen with the owner of the stud well in advance of the bitch’s breeding time. The stud owner should be informed of all test results. The bitch will begin seeing one of our doctors around day 2-3 of her “heat” cycle for a breeding consult and progesterone testing. We encourage you to schedule this appointment at the first sign of vaginal swelling. Initial pregesterone testing in conjunction with additional testing later in the cycle, allows us to best define your bitch’s fertile period. Once the bitch has reached her fertile period, she can be naturally bred or artificially inseminated.
Insemination
Artificial insemination can be performed vaginally or surgically. There are two methods utilized for vaginal insemination: (A) Blind Method or (B) Transcervical Insemination. The blind method involves insemination through a pipette deep into the vaginal vault. The transcervical insemination, involves using a rigid endoscope and placing a catheter through the cervix into the uterus. In both methods of vaginal insemination, the bitch remains fully awake throughout the procedure. Surgical insemination requires that the bitch be anesthetized and the semen is implanted directly in to the uterean horns. The surgical implantation is the preferred method when using frozen semen and it is common to surgically implant and then vaginally inseminate again 48 hours later.
Pregnancy Diagnosis
Palpation: The oldest method for determining pregnancy in the bitch is done by palpation, a process of feeling for detectable swellings within the uterus.
Abdominal palpation of the uterus is usually scheduled between days 18 to 22 after the first breeding. Limitations to palpation do exist and may present as false-negative or false-positive results.
Ultrasound: Ultrasound technology utilizes the safe and non-invasive method of soundwave imaging for detection of fetuses. Typically, screening is performed at or after day 30 when the actual fetuses can be visualized and heartbeats are discernible. If there are no fetuses observed at day 30, the bitch may be scheduled for a repeat ultrasound 1 week later for conformation.
Blood Testing: The Witness Relaxin test can be performed to confirm a pregnancy. This test detects elevated levels of Relaxin, a hormone associated with placental development. This test is most diagnostic 26 days after breeding.
Radiography: Radiography utilizes x-rays to visualize fetuses and is limited to late-stage pregnancy and post-partum evaluation. This is primarily because fetal skeletons are not sufficiently mineralized and therefore visible on an x-ray until sometime between day 42 and 52 after breeding. Despite this limitation, radiography does have an advantage over ultrasound in its ability to more accurately determine the number of fetuses. Survey radiography is also capable of detecting skeletal deformity and may also be helpful for assessing potential whelping complications by providing comparison between fetal skull size or over-sized fetuses to the width of the bitch’s pelvic canal. In regard to post-partum diagnostics, survey radiography is routinely used to assess the bitch for retained fetuses.
Fresh Chilled Semen
There are many advantages to using fresh chilled semen over natural breeding. The most substantial advantage is that the semen is much easier and safer to ship than the actual stud dog. The semen is collected, extended, and kept at an appropriate temperature to preserve sperm. Younger males tend to be better candidates because they usually have higher a quality and concentration of sperm. When using fresh chilled semen, two collections and inseminations are highly recommended when using deep vaginal insemination method. Transcervical inseminations using fresh chilled semen can potentially have a conception rate of well over 90%.
Frozen Semen
Once the semen is collected, motility, morphology and concentration are evaluated to determine if the sample is appropriate for equilibration and freezing. If the semen is found to be sufficient, the sample is then extended with a freezing buffer solution that protects the sperm during the equilibration and freezing process. The sample is then diluted to a uniform concentration of 100 million sperm per ml. This concentration is considered the standard for frozen semen in the United State. Once the equilibration process is complete, the semen is frozen in individually labeled (.5ml) straws. After completion of the freezing process, a straw is thawed to judge post-thaw motility and quality. The post-thaw evaluation determines the number of straws needed for a single breeding. Currently, the accepted minimum in the United States is 100 million live viable sperm per breeding.
Frozen semen is stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 C, which maintains the semen in a viable state for an indefinite period of time. Since electricity is not required, there is no fear of accidental thawing due to a power failure. Vilonia Animal Clinic is a registered freezing and storage center which offers the convenience of collection, preparation and short-term storage all in one place. If long-term storage is required for your pet’s semen, we will then transfer the collection to Synbiotics in Kansas City, MO for permanent storage. The staff at Synbiotics is then available to assure proper monitoring of storage facilities and handling of semen until it is needed for breeding.
Why Have Frozen Semen?
Long Term Storage: If your stud has those endearing qualities that you would like to preserve for the breed or for your own future breeding program, you should have his semen frozen. This will guarantee his breeding availability for future generations.
For Breeding When the Stud is Not Available: Many times, the stud dog is not available when a bitch needs to be bred. The reason may be due to the stud’s show or trial schedule, overbooking of the stud’s services or any other scheduling conflict.
Long Distance and International Breeding: Long distance breeding may be accomplished without shipping either the bitch or the stud dog by using frozen semen.
How Much Semen Will Be Stored From Each Collection?
The quantity of straws obtained is directly dependent on the dog’s sperm count. The quantity and quality of semen produced in one ejaculation can vary, sometimes considerably, from dog to dog and collection to collection. Factors that affect the ejaculate include:
Age: In general, a young mature dog (2-4 years of age) will have a higher sperm count and better quality semen than older dogs or young, immature dogs.
General Health Status: An ill or stressed dog typically will not produce good quality semen. It can take as long as 3-6 months for the ejaculate to return to normal following recovery from illness. Certain drugs also affect sperm production.
Size: In general, large dogs produce more sperm than small dogs. Remember that it is the number of sperm cells, not the volume that is important.
Disposition / Temperament: In general, an experienced stud dog produces better quality semen than one who doesn’t fully understand what is expected of him. In addition, a dog that is accustomed to having people around and/or being handled while breeding will perform better when having semen collected.
If a dog is producing motile sperm cells, every attempt will be made to freeze his semen. Generally, if sperm numbers and/or qualities are compromised, only a small quantity of viable sperm cells may be stored. While this will give you an “insurance policy” bank of semen, every attempt should be made to improve semen quality and then freeze subsequent collections.
