Canine Surgical Insemination

Q: What is canine surgical insemination?

A: Following anesthesia and aseptic preparation, an abdominal incision is made and the uterus located. Semen is directly injected into an anterior horn of the uterus with a small needle.

Q: Why is canine surgical insemination a useful procedure?

A: Highest fertility rate and breeding success occurs when adequate semen can be placed, at exactly the proper time, into the anterior uterus. The technique is especially useful when semen quality is low, when using low-dose frozen semen or when the female has fertility problems related to the cervix.

Q: What are the benefits of canine surgical insemination?

A: With a natural breeding, the semen must traverse the cervix to enter the uterus for fertilization to take place. Surgical insemination allows direct exposure of the semen to the developing egg. The success rates for pregnancy are excellent using this method of breeding, especially if the female is sub-fertile or if the semen is questionable.

Q: What is necessary for a successful surgical breeding?

A: Because of the expense and time involved in surgical insemination often only a single breeding is performed. To maximize conception rates and litter sizes with a single insemination, ovulation timing is critical. A comprehensive pre-surgical examination and pre-anesthetic laboratory screening are advised prior to surgery.

Q: I don’t really want my female to undergo anesthesia, is there any other way to implant semen directly into the uterus?

A: Intrauterine deposition of semen can be accomplished using transcervical insemination and this alternative is generally advised as the first option. In circumstances with very poor semen, or a female with known problems with the cervix, surgical insemination is the preferred and recommended technique. It provides the best opportunity for successful pregnancy.