Page 60 - Aussie Magazine - 2024 Issue 3
P. 60
Breeding
When using fresh or chilled which functions to help flush and reaching the fallopian
semen with adequate sperm the semen into the uterus in tubes (oviduct), the site of
numbers and sperm quality, the same way prostatic fluid fertilization. This obviously
deposition of semen into the does during natural mating. results in a lower pregnancy
very end of the vagina can This is a technique that can rate and litter size.
result in pregnancy and litter be used in all bitches, is non-
sizes equivalent to natural invasive, requires less skill Last technique is surgical
mating. There are many and equipment than intra- insemination. This technique
different types of catheters uterine artificial insemination involves a general anesthetic
that can be used for vaginal techniques, and therefore is and surgery with associated
artificial insemination. Most also more economical. It is risks. An incision is made
vets insert a special artificial often used in maiden bitches into the abdomen, the
insemination catheter into and studs that fail to “tie” uterus is then identified and
the very end of the vagina. At or mate, which can be due exteriorized. The semen is
this point, a bulb at the end to several reasons. Vaginal then injected directly into the
of the catheter is inflated to artificial insemination is not the uterine horns. It can only be
mimic the swelling of the dog’s preferred method for use of carried out once during
bulbous glandis during mating. frozen-thawed semen. the bitch’s heat.
Further, surgical
insemination
does not
increase
conception
rates or
litter sizes.
Every clinic
usually has
own study or
success rate of
insemination. Natural
breeding in fertile dogs bred
once between 4 days before to
3 days after ovulation resulted
in 95% conception rates in
one study*. In other studies**,
This not only prevents As well as the greatly reduced conception rates for vaginal
back flow of semen, but lifespan mentioned previously, insemination of fresh semen
stretches the vaginal wall frozen semen breeding yielded between 60% and
resulting in oxytocin release units contain significantly 95% pregnancy rates. Chilled
and stimulation of vaginal lower numbers (i.e. 100 semen success rates when
and uterine smooth muscle million motile sperm per “AI compared to fresh semen are
contractions, facilitating dose”) than a fresh or chilled seen to be very similar; with
transport of the sperm into insemination dose. Therefore, 94% and 95% pregnancy rates
the uterus. After the bulb is deposition of low numbers in the study*.
inflated, fresh semen is slowly of fragile frozen-thawed
injected down the catheter sperm into the hostile vaginal • * V.R. Neagu et al.,
into the far end of the vagina. environment results in low Theriogenology (2011)
This is then followed by numbers migrating through • ** M.V. Kustritz et al.,
warm canine semen extender the cervix into the uterus Theriogenology (2007)
60 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Aussie • Issue 3/2024
