Frozen Semen Breeding Info Please

[rottcrazed]

I am actually not sure if this post should be in Vets Corner or here in the Breeding section, so if I am wrong, please forgive me ....

We are eagerly awaiting Jewel's second and most likely last breeding after finding a BEAUTIFUL boy who lives up here just outside Calgary, but whose wonderfully helpful breeder lives in Idaho (and you know who you are ).

It will be a frozen semen surgical implant breeding (he is 10.5 years old), and although I have received some excellent information from both friends who have done breedings this way and from reading LOTS, I still want more information. I have contacted the clinic that will be doing the procedure, and I am planning on making some phone calls this week regarding the most accurate progesterone testing possible, what I am looking to find out is WHAT ELSE AM I MISSING (if anything)?

Any supplementation I should be looking at? I have started Jewel on Folic Acid as she is likely 6 weeks or so away from coming into season, I have also read increasing her food slightly during her cycle may help in conception ... I really don't know why, perhaps larger fat stores???

I just want to make sure this breeding has the best chance of taking, so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Kristi

[Bob_B.]

Frozen semen breedings in my opinion have the best chance of working if the semen was collected from the male at a young age.

[BostonRott]

Do not increase her food. Fat bitches have a harder time concieving, carrying and whelping. She needs no food increases until the last week or two, and at that point, you'll most likely be making smaller more frequent meals due to the pups compressing her stomach.

There is nothing different that you need to do. Keep her exercised and fit through the first 5-6 weeks of her pregnancy.

My B litter was frozen, surgical. We did progesterone's every other day (and my vet gets them back same day, numerical values, not the BS "shade of blue" testing). When the levels started to rise, we drew every day and also ran LH levels. After the LH spike, the implant was done.......took about 20 minutes, Frol walked in, got implanted, and walked out. Tiny incision (less than an inch long). Gluing the incision shut helped it heal VERY quickly (vs suturing the outer layers of skin). She was running agility again in 2 days, competed at 4 weeks pregnant (and earned her first Top 10 ranking doing so).

It's not cheap. I had $4000 into that breeding before we ever knew if she took. Ultrasound at 30 days, NO xrays!!!!, and then because she went late (based on LH predicted-dates), they let her go one more day and then sectioned her. My vet is VERY pro-c-section (I am not), and I did let her push me into it. I don't regret it, and b/c this was her second litter and I knew she could free-whelp, I wasn't so upset about it. 9 healthy pups, all of very good weights. The section was an additional $1500.

[rottnluv]

Kristi - tell me more about folic acid. Why? How much? Did you use it previously?

Thanks!

Marina

[rottcrazed]

I am using it for the same reasons as a human would take it if she was trying to get prego.

It has a few important benefits, like the formation and maturation of red blood cells by it's action on the bone marrow.

It also aids in protien metabolism, and may reduce some fetal abnormalities. Some breeders also believe it can aid in reabsorption, although I don't believe there are any studies to back it up.

I give it based on my own use of it before my pregnancy. If you research many processed dog foods, you will see that folic acid is one of the vitamin and minerals in there, for the reasons above.

It simply cannot hurt.

I give a low dose I think, 0.8mg per day.

Kristi

[rottnluv]

Interesting. Thank you. While I did take pre-natal vitamins I never thought to give any to my dog (how silly of me!) So, obviously I didn't use it with my previous litters and she seemed to produce fine. I guess I'll go with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality.

Thanks for sharing!

Marina