Assisted Reproduction Services for Canines

TCI, a technique in which an endoscope is used to deliver sperm directly into the uterus, bypassing the cervix, is the optimal choice for canine artificial insemination in nearly every way compared to surgical insemination. It’s less invasive, less expensive, faster, usually requires no sedation, allows two inseminations in a cycle, and has higher pregnancy rates and litter sizes. The only time we recommend surgical insemination is when the bitch has endometrial (uterine) cysts, which we can reduce at the time of surgery.

Because TCI requires specialized equipment and training, we are one of the few practices in this region to offer it. Notably, a veterinarian – not a veterinary technician – performs every TCI procedure at Kokopelli. Further, our insemination timing is spot-on because we fully understand the canine reproductive cycle. What’s more, our TCIs are always accompanied by state-of-the-art semen analysis, so we know precisely how many viable sperm are being used, ensuring a better chance of success. In fact, our success rate for TCI with fresh or chilled semen is greater than 90%, and for frozen semen, better than 75%.

Many practices rely on progesterone testing alone to determine breeding timing. We not only monitor progesterone levels (and offer same-day, affordable progesterone analysis), but we also use hands-on techniques such as vaginal cytology and vaginoscopy, enabling us to interpret results more precisely – and ensure successful breeding.

Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection that can cause reproductive issues in dogs (and it can be transmitted to humans). It is imperative to test both male and female dogs for brucellosis before breeding, and we require brucellosis testing every six months in actively breeding males and females in our care.

If a bitch is at high risk of problems during natural whelping, we recommend a scheduled elective c-section. High-risk canines include brachycephalic breeds, those with a personal or line history of whelping problems, or bitches with very large or very small litters for their size. Elective c-section is also a safe, reasonable option, even for a bitch that may otherwise whelp naturally. Importantly, with our experience and testing resources, we are able to accurately determine the best timing for these procedures.

As specialists, we pay close attention to details in c-sections that others may overlook – but which can have a significant impact on outcomes:

• Pre-procedure: Expectant mothers receive a preoperative ultrasound to evaluate fetal health and maturity, reverse-progesterone testing to determine when she is entering the first stage of labor, a full 20 minutes of oxygen prior to induction to ease her in and out of anesthesia, and an Adaptil collar that emits calming pheromones
• Pain management: Opioids are not used prior to puppy removal; instead, we use local analgesia initially, then administer opioids for pain management after puppies are removed.
• Puppy safety: Oxygen supplementation is available for any struggling neonate. Acupuncture also is used to help it start breathing. Once revived, each puppy is placed in a state-of-the-art canine incubator and closely monitored.
• Nursing/feeding: We supervise the first nursing to ensure each puppy receives colostrum. If the bitch doesn’t have milk, we can administer hyperimmunized plasma to allow passive transfer of immunity; we also can pharmacologically induce milk production. Our qualified staff can train owners how to safely tube-feed puppies, if necessary, which is safer than bottle feeding.
• Postop puppy care: Each puppy receives a detailed evaluation with APGAR scoring to guide owners about which puppies are thriving and which need extra attention.

Unlike most other practices that rely on subjective evaluations, we have invested in the most advanced semen analysis system currently available (SpermVision from MiniTube). It provides reliable, objective analysis of canine semen quality – contributing to our consistently high success rates.

We routinely perform x-rays a few days before the anticipated whelping date. This enables us to accurately count the fetuses and gauge the size of the fetal heads against the size of the maternal pelvis to assess the ease of whelping and the potential need for a c-section. Digital radiography is extremely safe for pregnant dogs – the amount of radiation exposure is equivalent to the amount you’d experience on a cross-country flight.

If a dog has missed breeding opportunities or conception has failed, inducing estrus – bringing a female dog into heat – may be performed to enable mating within a specific timeframe, to terminate a prolonged anestrus (a nonreproductive period), or to synchronize ovulation for embryo transfer. Various hormones or hormone-like substances may be used to induce estrus.

With our full array of ultrasound and digital radiography, we are the only practice in the Sacramento area offering gestational aging for clients who do not have ovulation dates for their animals. This enables us to determine the animal’s whelping window more precisely.

With our advanced diagnostic capabilities, we are able to identify such conditions as intersex, cystic ovaries, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, prolonged interestrous intervals, non-cycling, and reproductive tumors. Notably, Kokopelli is the only practice in Northern California offering transcervical endometrial biopsy for evaluating lowered fertility in females – a technique that Dr. Christensen helped pioneer. We work with a board-certified pathologist with special training in the canine reproductive system to interpret results.

Certain canine prostate conditions may be treated medically (non-surgically), preserving the dog’s fertility. No other practice in this region has our depth of experience in medically treating prostate disease in breeding males.

This life-threatening uterine infection occurs due to hormonal changes in a female dog’s reproductive tract and typically affects older, intact bitches. While spaying may be indicated in severe cases, we offer comprehensive medical treatment in appropriately selected dogs – something few other practices have the expertise to do. And many of our patients have gone on to have successful litters.

The OFA is a database of x-rays and genetic tests that dog breeders use to help prevent the breeding of certain diseases, including hip and elbow dysplasia, hyperthyroidism, and heart and eye conditions. We provide the appropriate exams, x-rays, and blood draws for submission to the OFA for certification to help you produce the healthiest puppies possible.

With our specialized experience, we understand that all male dogs’ semen doesn’t freeze the same. That’s why we’re the region’s only practice to use multiple types of semen extenders and perform an initial “test freeze” to determine which extender works best for each stud.

In most cases we will plan on collecting semen from your male twice on the same day. This protocol has been found to significantly increase the number of breeding doses from a freeze, in some cases doubling the amount of sperm.

We’re also the only practice in this area using a computer-assisted semen analysis system to ensure that sperm counts and motility analyses are accurate and consistent. We’ve discovered that many practices tend to “eyeball” semen samples; as a result, the quality of the semen doses we receive from other practices is often overestimated.

In addition, we’re able to get frozen semen to just about any place in the world through our alliance with Sires on Ice, an international semen shipping company.

Lowered fertility in a stud dog can occur for a variety of reasons including lack of libido, poor semen quality, failure to copulate or ejaculate, testicular degeneration, or prostatic diseases. With the breadth of our theriogenology capabilities, we are able to provide a comprehensive evaluation of subfertility in male dogs. This evaluation includes a detailed history, complete physical examination, advanced semen analysis, and selected diagnostic testing, which may include testicular biopsy – something no other practice in this region offers.

When accidental mating results in an unwanted pregnancy, we offer safe, medical (nonsurgical) termination without sterilization. To our knowledge, we are the only practice in this region to provide this type of treatment.