We are happy to offer this service to our valued breeding clients at Wingham and Valley Vets and have state-of-the-art equipment that ensures accuracy and maximises conception rates.
When exact timing is paramount (eg using frozen semen), the use of progesterone testing and vaginoscopy is the gold standard.
- Semen collection, assessment, freezing and storage
- Transcervical insemination (TCI)
- Oestrus cycle tracking / Ovulation Timing
- Vaginal cytology
- Vaginoscopy
- Pre-mating swab collection and submission
- Ovarian follicle ultrasound scans
- Progesterone testing (in house)
- Pregnancy monitoring and viability scans
- Caesareans – both elective and emergency
- Infertility or Subfertility investigations
When exact timing is paramount (eg using frozen semen), the use of progesterone tests and vaginoscopy is the gold standard. We are happy to offer this service to our valued breeding clients at Wingham and Valley Vets and have state-of-the-art equipment that ensures accuracy and maximises conception rates.
Accurate and rapid progesterone testing is extremely valuable to breeders as it allows them to determine their bitch’s progesterone levels (and hence when they are likely to ovulate) within 10 minutes of blood collection. Without in-house progesterone testing, results can take as long as 24 hours and matings can be missed. In-house progesterone testing is much more convenient and practical, especially if you need to run multiple progesterone tests. This will mean fewer missed ovulations and will make it much easier to plan both artifical inseminations and natural matings. Progesterone testing is also useful for elective caesareans (especially if there is not an accurate mating date recorded) and in some bitches with recurrent pregnancy loss.
TCI is an insemination technique that deposits semen directly into the uterus. Insemination is performed using a special endoscope (internal camera) that allows clear visualisation of the bitch’s cervix. A catheter is then passed through the cervix and into the uterus. The optimal timing for insemination is determined by blood progesterone testing, and by ‘vaginoscopy’ – i.e. looking at the appearance of the vaginal wall using the TCI endoscope.
Benefits of TCI:
1. Ethical, safe alternative to surgical AI. No need for an anaesthetic or abdominal surgery. The TCI procedure is performed in the conscious, standing bitch.
2. You can be present with your bitch during the TCI, to reduce stress for her. No need for boarding or whole-day stays at the vet hospital.
3. Fast recovery – your bitch can go home immediately after the TCI procedure is completed
4. Boosts conception rates compared to vaginal AI, and is equivalent to surgical AI in terms of conception and pregnancy rates.
5. Consecutive TCI (two inseminations) can be performed on a bitch if desired – e.g. if using poorer quality semen, or if wanting to boost pregnancy chances even further.
We have a state-of-the-art ‘phase’ microscope to allow direct visualisation and assessment of semen motility and morphology. This is useful after collection and prior to storage, so breeders have assurance that the semen they are using or providing to another breeder, is fertile.
All semen assessments will be provided with a certificate outlining the results of the semen testing.
1. To ensure a young dog about to begin a stud career has normal sperm production.
2. To investigate infertility problems.
3. To monitor sperm production after an illness (e.g. prostatic disease) or drug therapy to ensure the dog is still fertile.
4. To assess the semen as part of an artificial insemination program.
5. To assess semen quality during cryopreservation ("freezing") of semen.
Colour – Normal semen should be milky in colour. Clear semen is abnormal.
Sperm Motility – a drop of semen is placed on a warm slide and immediately viewed under a microscope. The percentage of sperm swimming actively is assessed. Most fertile dogs have a motility of 90-95%. Dogs with motility below 80% are likely to have reduced fertility.
Sperm Morphology – one hundred sperm in the drop of semen sample are examined and any shape (morphology) abnormalities are recorded. Abnormalities of the head or tail affect the sperm’s ability to swim and reach the egg, and also its ability to penetrate the egg cell. If the percentage of normal sperm is below 80%, it indicates reduced fertility.
Sperm Concentration – A semen sample is diluted and placed in a counting chamber. The number of sperm in specific squares of the chamber are counted and the sperm concentration is calculated.
Total Sperm Output – Calculated by multiplying the concentration of sperm (per ml) in the sample by the total volume of semen collected.
Fresh semen is when you have the dog and bitch available, the collection is done from the male and immediately inseminated into the bitch.
Fresh chilled semen is collected and added to a semen-extender and then shipped, refrigerated, to the owner of the bitch. Fresh chilled semen is very simple to use and the spermatozoa will survive for several days.
Frozen semen is collected from the male, frozen in straws and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks. Frozen semen generally lives about 12-18 hours on average after thawing.
It is recommended that frozen semen only be used if the insemination will be directly into the uterus – e.g. surgical insemination, or by transcervical insemination (TCI) using an endoscope and transcervical catheter. At Wingham & Valley Vets, we perform all frozen insemination using TCI, as this avoids the need for an anaesthetic and surgery on the bitch, and has been proven to achieve pregnancy rates comparable to (or slightly better than) surgical insemination.
For insemination with fresh or fresh chilled semen, there is the option of using either vaginal AI or TCI.
“Michael & his team of nurses and admin staff went out of their way to help us. I travelled from Queensland and found their whole set up offered an exemplary reproductive service. Even when circumstances put us on weekend time, Michael came in on his day off to perform a collection and TCI after hours. Wingham & Valley Vets pricings were very affordable & considerably cheaper than we would have paid in regional Queensland. Fabulous, professional service with great attention to the requirements of both animals & humans alike. I can only highly recommend this animal hospital. Thankyou for everything W&V Vets!”
Our friendly team is here to assist you with all your veterinary needs. Booking an appointment is quick and easy.
