Hamby Road Animal Hospital

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

Depending on the location and availability of the stud dog and bitch, semen may be collected for immediate use (fresh semen) or processed for use at a different location or later date (chilled or frozen semen).  When using fresh semen both the stud dog and bitch must be on site.  Ovulation timing is necessary to identitfy the bitch's optimal breeding time.  A combination of vaginal cytology, progesterone and LH tests will ensure that breeding is performed during the bitch's fertile period in order to maximize the chances of a successful breeding.

When using chilled semen, the semen quality is evaluated immediately after collection. If the quality is acceptable, a buffer or extender is added to protect the sperm during chilling and transport.  Once the semen is chilled the sperm will live 48-72 hours (vs.4-7 days with fresh semen); therefore, more precise ovulation timing is required than when using fresh semen.  With frozen semen accurate ovulation timing is even more essential since the stress of freezing and thawing sperm cells decreases their lifespan to only 12-24 hours once thawed.

SEMEN FREEZING

Collecting and freezing semen from a stud dog has many different advantages.  Long -distance breedings may be accomplished without the cost, danger or effort of shipping either the bitch or stud dog.  There are also many situations where the stud dog may not be available when an individual bitch needs to be bred (show schedule, illness,etc.) and frozen semen can provide bitch owner's with an opportunity to overcome these limitations.  Finally, freezing a valuable stud dog's semen can preserve his reproductive breeding potential for years to come.

SEMEN STORAGE

All collected and frozen semen will be permanently stored at CLONE-ATLANTA unless otherwise requested by the owner of the stud dog. Frozen semen is stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degrees C, which allows semen to be safely preserved for an indefinite period of time, in many cases for several years.  Release of semen for subsequent use by another individual requires written authorization by the semen owner and can easily be accomplished by fax or email.  We ship semen all over the world and can help coordinate a semen shipment for you at your request.  It is important to plan breedings with frozen semen with enough time to prepare necessary paperwork, ensure availability of specialized shipping containers and perform ovulation timing in the bitch.

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS

Due to the relative unpredictability of heat cycles, it may be difficult to reliably schedule breedings or semen collections ahead of time.  However, planning ahead as much as possible is crucial to avoid unnecessary delays or missed breedings.  Please feel free to call and discuss any ideas or questions you may have concerning an upcoming heat cycle or breeding with our front staff or with Dr. Adams.  We will be happy to advise you on any preparations which might be necessary to optimize your chances of achieving a successful outcome.

FEES

OPERATING AS A SMALL BUSINESS, WE DO ASK FOR PAYMENT AT THE TIME SERVICES ARE RENDERED. WE STRIVE TO COMMUNICATE IN ADVANCE WITH OUR CLIENTS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THEIR APPROVAL OF ANY PLANNED SERVICE OR PROCEDURE, FOR WHICH WE ARE ALWAYS MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE. WE ACCEPT PAYMENT BY CASH,CHECK, VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER AND AMERICAN EXPRESS. WE ALSO WELCOME MANY TYPES OF ANIMAL HEALTH INSURANCE.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

     For stud dog collection it's best to bring either a bitch in heat with you for teaser purposes, or contact us in advance to coordinate your visit at a time when we have a bitch in heat.  Collection rates are usually more successful with an estrual teaser bitch present as the males are more highly stimulated and tend to produce more concentrated semen samples. After the collection, the doctor will look at the sample under a microscope and look for certain aspects of healthy sperm (motility, morphology,etc.). Depending on your goals, she might measure the concentration of the semen, and maybe draw blood for a Brucellosis test. If the semen is not of good quality at the time of collection, the doctor will talk to you about some things you can do to build up semen quality.

   If are going to breed your bitch, we can advise you on all your options. Are you wanting to do a regular vaginal A.I. (Artificial Insemination), transervical, or surgical artificial insemination? You will need to know where you are getting the semen from. For instance, is the semen getting shipped from across the country, or is the stud able to be onsite?. Bloodwork will have to be drawn for progesterone results, and possibly for thyroid as well. A vaginal cytology might be taken, and from there Dr. Adams can better tell how far along the bitch is in her cycle, and calculate the best possible day for breeding. After the insemination has been performed, you will need to come back in 25 days ( later is fine, but no earlier) in order to have an ultrasound to see if the dog is pregnant. Further on ( at least 50 days) you can come in to have an x-ray to get a puppy count. On the due date you can either have a natural birth, or come in for a c-section. Even if you plan for a natural birth, be prepared to come in if there are any complications. We can help with whelping procedures, and if the mother is not producing milk yet, we can show you how to "tube" feed the puppies. A few days later ,depending on the breed, we can take off the dew claws and dock the tails.

      While we do our best to make every breeding opportunity as successful as we can, we cannot guarantee a pregnancy. Many variables come into play with reproduction- each with their own percentage of success rate

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What is a:

Vaginal A.I.? this is the most basic procedure of artificial insemination. It requires no anesthesia, is very cost effective, and still provides great results.

Transervical A.I.? the doctor will use an endoscope to view the inside of the vagina and will visually guide a catheter into the cervix to place the semen as close to the ovaries as possible. This procedure is also done without anesthesia.

Surgical A.I.? This method has the highest success rate and is the most involved. The bitch will be put under anesthesia and surgery performed. The semen will be implanted in each horn, thus substantially increasing the chances of semen reaching the ovaries.

Progesterone test: Depending on the numbers of your bitch's first progesterone test, the doctor will decide how often the test needs to be done. If the bitch is close, a progesterone might be taken every day or every other day until the right numbers are reached. If she is not very close, and just started her heat cycle, these tests might be taken more sporatically.

LH testing: an LH test detects the luteinizing hormone in the bitch. Usually this test will be started when vaginal cytology indicates at least 50% cornification. The fertile period of a bitch falls between a certain amount of days after the LH surge.If you decide to do a surgical A.I., then blood samples for an LH test will need to be taken every day.

Vaginal Cytology (or swab): The doctor will take a physical swab of the vaginal lining of the bitch. Under a microscope she will be able to determine how "cornified" she is, or basically how the red blood cells look. This is a good indicator of how "far along" or ready she is to start the breeding process. 

Brucellosis test: Canine brucellosis is a chronic infection that causes generalized lymphadenitis and certain reproductive symptoms. In the U.S., surveys approximate that incidence rates may be up to 10%. In males testicular atrophy and impotence may be present, and in females there might be fetus resorption, infertility, and vaginal discharge.

   With all these factors coming in to play, it helps to have a doctor who can lead you in the right direction and a place where you can go to get all these things done. From start to finish, Hamby Road Animal Hospital is there to guide you through all the decisions  and any obstacles that come your way. Dr. Adams works with some of the best breeders in the Southeast and has helped spawn several award-winning dogs. She has the experience and special training needed for such detailed specific procedures. 

 For those of you that are just starting out in the breeding field or still have questions, we sell an excellent book called '' The Dog Breeder's guide to Successful Breeding and Health Management"   written by Margaret Root Kustritz.