Male Reproductive Program

Freezing semen is a good way to preserve bloodlines for future use. It is also beneficial for dogs with a rigorous or demanding event schedule. Storing semen on a dog prior to sending them out with a handler ensures good quality semen available at any time. Freezing semen is also a way to continue using a valuable stud dog after neutering.

While older dogs can still be collected and stored, a younger stud’s sperm is more resilient and survives the freezing process better. The best age has been found to be between the ages of 2 and 6 years old.

It is helpful to have a female in heat present (teaser). Some dogs may take more than one attempt for a collection, but this is rare. If your stud has not been used for several months we recommend he be collected then wait 2 weeks before obtaining the “keeper” sample. Likewise, if a dog has been very active as a stud it may be wise to rest him for a week or so to obtain the best sample. The importance of these factors will vary greatly from dog to dog.

The collection process will usually last 30 minutes or less, at which point the owner can leave. However, the analysis and freezing procedure will take us several hours. Please have the proper paper documentation ready upon request. Having a “teaser” female (in heat) usually will be helpful to interest the male and increase libido.

This will vary from dog to dog and collection to collection. A normal dog’s sperm count is from 200 million up to 1 to 2 billion. Each collection will be somewhat different. Other factors critical in determining the number of breeding units will be 1) % normal sperm 2)% motile sperm 3)% motile sperm on test thaw after freezing. All of these factors will be considered to determine the proper number of breeding units. Remember, splitting into a higher number of breeding units should only be performed if the proper number of normal, active sperm permit it. Smaller breeds can present a challenge due to the lower sperm counts.

In the event that we determine a semen sample is less than optimal, we will contact you before proceeding with the freezing process. Should you wish to proceed we will note our discussion on your paperwork and continue per your request. Should you wish to stop or try for another sample on a different day, we will charge you only for our time and materials up to that point in the process.

Both are acceptable and successful methods for freezing semen. Many times the people that use straws say their method is best and those who utilize pellets say their way is best. We use the straw method. The method may not be as critical as the individual performing the procedure and their adherence to proper techniques in freezing, storing, thawing, insemination, and timing of the breedings.

While most dogs will allow themselves to be collected when a female teaser is present, occasionally certain dogs will not permit it. Sometimes a followup visit will find the dog less apprehensive and a better outcome. If you plan on using a dog as a stud dog, remember not to correct or discourage him from showing interest in females. Certain dogs will not respond well to females in heat because they have been conditioned or trained not to by their owners. We have also found it helpful to introduce the collection process to a dog when he is fairly young, rather than waiting until they are several years old. If a dog cannot be collected, clients will only be charged for the office visit.

Zoetis is the largest canine frozen semen storage bank in the world. Semen for is stored in a liquid nitrogen bath at a constant -196 degrees Celsius temperature. The facility boasts a 15,000 gallon liquid nitrogen tank which automatically fills the storage tanks, offsite alarm services, individual tank monitors and full-time security guards to monitor restricted areas. The Zoetis’ staff has years of experience coordinating shipments of frozen semen nationally and internationally. Please visit the following link for more information on Zoetis storage solutions.

After semen collection, the semen is evaluated to determine if the semen is of sufficient quality to freeze. After semen has been frozen, a drop will be thawed to determine post-thaw motility. This information is used to determine the amount of frozen semen needed per insemination. We will call you with this information. The owner can decide whether to have additional semen frozen depending on the number of inseminations.

VMC is available for canine reproduction patients 7 days a week when reproductive procedures cannot wait, such as artificial inseminations, TCIs, semen collection for fresh-chilled shipments and emergency caesarean sections. Call us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cahallan, our canine veterinary specialist.