Waggy Tails Veterinary Clinic
Welcome to the Waggy Tails K9 Fertility Family!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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About
About Waggy Tails
We’re absolutely thrilled that you have chosen to embark on this incredible journey with us. Our experienced team of experts is dedicated to ensuring the health, happiness and well-being of your precious dog, and we take this responsibility to heart.
Rest assured, we’re not just a service – we’re a community that shares in your excitement and commitment. From the initial planning stages to the successful insemination and beyond, we’re here to provide guidance, answer your questions and offer unwavering support.
As you embark on this journey with us, remember that your new adventure is also ours. We can’t wait to witness the wagging tails, the joyful barks, and the heartwarming moments that lie ahead for you and your four-legged friend.
We know better than anyone, how much time, money and energy you invest in every single breeding attempt.
Once again, welcome to Waggy Tails K9 Fertility! Thank you for choosing us to be a part of your story.
Here’s to a beautiful partnership and a future filled with furry love and happiness. At Waggy Tails, we
understand the profound joy that our beloved furry companions bring to our lives, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Warmest regards,
Kate & Nicolien
The Waggy Tails K9 Fertility Team
You’re probably wondering about the different options available to breed your bitch:
FAQ: Fresh semen insemination:
1. Determining the optimal day for breeding your bitch or AI assisted mating
Should you wish to know when the optimal days are for breeding your bitch, we can use either vaginoscopy and cytology or progesterone testing or a combination of these to determine your bitch’s most fertile days. We can also do assisted mating via artificial insemination if the stud is not up to the task for some reason or if you’d prefer to know the semen has been placed where it needs to be!
Please whatsapp (076 323 7000) or email us on thewaggytailscompany@gmail.com.
2. Fresh & Chilled semen artificial insemination (AI) in the bitch
This option is available if the male dog is in South Africa. Using a combination of vaginoscopy, vaginal cytology and progesterone monitoring, we will monitor the bitch to determine when her optimal day(s) are for insemination.
Once the bitch comes into season, please whatsapp (076 323 7000) or email us on thewaggytailscompany@gmail.com. It’s much less stressful for the bitch to stay with you, so we would like to see her for the first time 10 days after she started bleeding.
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When you come to see us on day 10, we will do a vaginoscopy and vaginal cytology and perhaps also take a blood sample for progesterone testing. Based on these findings, we will determine the optimal days to inseminate the bitch.
We will collect the dog and then depending on your preference, will inseminate the bitch vaginally or transcervically using our transcervical scope (TCI). Placing the semen directly into the uterus with the TCI scope allows for improved conception rates. The bitch is fully conscious during the TCI and we encourage you to be there with her (don’t worry, it’s nothing squeamish!) as this keeps her stress (and yours!) down, which helps conception. Most bitches tolerate the TCI very well and will stand patiently for the procedure to be performed.
If we are using chilled semen from somewhere else in South Africa, we will liaise with Veterinary Fertility Technologies (VFT) to get the semen shipped to us. We will then follow a similar protocol as for fresh semen AI, but would use the TCI scope to place the semen directly into the uterus to maximise the chances of conception.
Please make sure that your bitch is microchipped and bring her and the dog’s KUSA registration papers with you.
If the breed is predisposed to needing a caesarean section, then we would also need to determine Day 0 (when she goes off heat), so that we have an exact parturition date for an elective caesarean (+/- 1 day – we test progesterone around the predicted date to determine the exact day). We do this using a combination of vaginoscopy and cytology.
Will any of the procedures be painful or traumatic to the bitch?
No. The speculums we use are Perspex and small enough not to be painful for the bitch. The TCI scope is also very narrow and since the bitch in in standing heat when we do the AI, she is hormonally and psychologically ready. Plus, you’re there to hold her paw
Do I need to take blood daily from Day 5?
Yes, but only if you intend to do Frozen semen Insemination. We need to check for the rise in progesterone so that we can determine her optimal time for fertilization. The blood sample ideally needs to be taken at the same time each day and then we will run the samples when you come and see us on Day 10
Can I stand with her during the transcervical insemination?
Absolutely! We encourage you to be there the whole time to decrease her stress levels.
Is surgical AI not much better than the TCI?
No. With surgical AI, the bitch needs to go under anaesthetic and have surgery in order to place the semen in the uterus. This exposes the bitch to a greater risk under general anaesthetic and the drugs, including painkillers she’ll need to be on, can all influence the chances of conception.
What about my KUSA paperwork?
As a registered practice with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), we will complete and stamp all the paperwork at your last visit with us.
Are you qualified to do this?
Sr Nicolien qualified in 2000 and has worked in the Reproduction clinic at Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital for the past 15 years and has a wealth of experience in breeding dogs. Her particular interest is in neonatology.
Dr Kate May qualified in 2003 and completed her MMedVet in Reproduction at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria in 2013. She is also a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and has worked in the field of canine reproduction since 2010.
I live far away. Can my bitch board with you?
We highly recommend keeping your bitch at home with you if at all possible, as this really helps keep her stress levels down. However, if boarding is unavoidable, we can arrange kennelling for her at a reputable veterinary-owned kennel close to our practice. They can arrange transport for the bitch for all her appointments. These costs must be settled directly with the kennels.
How will I know if she is pregnant?
We would recommend a pregnancy diagnosis scan using an ultrasound around 4 weeks after insemination. We will be able to give you more accurate dates after monitoring the bitch. These appointments can be arranged either directly with us (R490) or at your local vet
Am I guaranteed success?
Ah, the million dollar question!! From our side, we do everything we can to optimise conception: the timing is optimal, the semen is first checked and then placed in the optimal place for conception to occur… and then, it’s up to the bitch to do her thing! Unfortunately, it’s not 100% guaranteed but having a young, healthy bitch definitely helps things. We know how much time, money and effort you invest in each breeding and as a gesture of our commitment to you, if your bitch is not pregnant, we will offer you a 10% discount off her next breeding cycle. In terms of the semen, fresh semen is the most fertile, then chilled and then frozen, and so the type of semen used can have a big impact on conception rates.
Where is your facility?
We are based at Veterinary Fertility Services (VFT) in Waverley, Pretoria, but have various satellite practices that we use and can even arrange home visits at a surcharge.
Please whatsapp us to find the practice closest to you.
Where can I do a full breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) and semen freezing?
We would recommend VFT
FAQ: Frozen semen insemination using a TCI scope
Artificial insemination using frozen semen is a bit complicated because the semen is more fragile and has a shortened lifespan after the freeze/thaw process. Please make sure that the frozen semen is in South Africa before the bitch comes into season! We will liaise with VFT to get the semen shipped to us.
When the bitch comes into season, please whatsapp (076 323 7000) or email us on thewaggytailscompany@gmail.com. Then to keep everyone’s stress levels as low as possible and to maximise the chances of a successful outcome, we would ask that you keep the bitch at home during this time and from Day 5 after she starts bleeding, head daily to your local vet for collection of a blood sample. We will call your local vet and explain exactly what’s needed. Please DO NOT test the progesterone at your local vet – we need to use our own calibrated machine to get an accurate reading.
Veterinary Endoscope for Insemination & Hysteroscopy
We will then see you on Day 10 after she starts bleeding. We will perform a vaginoscopy and cytology and run progesterone tests on certain of the daily blood samples to determine when the optimal days are to inseminate the bitch. We will perform the insemination using our transcervical endoscope (TCI) or place the semen directly into the uterus. The bitch is fully conscious during the TCI and we will encourage you to be there with her (don’t worry, it’s nothing squeamish!) as this keeps her stress (and yours!) down. Most bitches tolerate the TCI very well and will stand patiently for the procedure to be performed. Depending on the number of doses of semen available, we will perform either one or two AI’s at the optimal stage of her cycle. If possible, we prefer two doses of semen to maximise the chances of a successful outcome. Worst case scenario, if we cannot get the semen in using the TCI scope, we will perform surgical AI, but this is very uncommon.
If the breed is predisposed to needing a caesarean section, then we would need to determine Day 0 (when she goes off heat), so that we have an exact parturition date for an elective caesarean (+/- 1 day – we test progesterone around the predicted date to determine the exact day.). We do this using a combination of vaginoscopy and cytology.
Please make sure that your bitch is microchipped and bring her and the dog’s KUSA registration papers with you
Progesterone blood test
INCLUDES:
Blood collection
Progesterone test
Interpretation and advice by Dr May
ZAR 490
Artificial insemination assisted mating
9lease note: This option is for breeders that determine their bitches’ own breeding dates and just want to an assisted mating
Includes the following:
Consultation,
One semen collection and motility evaluation,
One normal vaginal insemination
Excludes vaginoscopy/cytology (R490) or progesterone testing (R490) per test including
interpretation, excluding courier fees if applicable)
ZAR 1000
Determining the optimal day for mating
Please note: This option is for breeders that determine their bitches’ own breeding dates and just want to confirm their timing
Includes the following:
Consultation,
One vaginoscopy and cytology,
One progesterone test including interpretation
Excludes artificial insemination
ZAR 1000
Fresh semen vaginal Insemination
Includes the following:
Consultation,
All oestrus monitoring,
Two semen collections and motility evaluations,
Two normal vaginal inseminations
Excludes progesterone testing (R490) per test including interpretation, excluding courier fees if applicable
ZAR 4500
Frozen/Chilled semen Insemination using intra-uterine endoscope (TCI)
Includes the following:
Consultation,
All oestrus monitoring including three progesterone tests,
Semen motility evaluation,
Two transcervical inseminations into the uterus using the endoscope (depending on the number of doses of semen available)
No surgery or anesthesia required
Excludes additional progesterone testing (R490) per test including interpretation, excluding courier
fees if applicable) and surgical AI if necessary
ZAR 10 000
Fresh semen vaginal insemination using the TCI scope
Includes the following:
Consultation,
All oestrus monitoring,
Two semen collections and motility evaluations,
Two inseminations using the TCI scope intra-cervical
Excludes progesterone testing (R490) per test including interpretation, excluding courier fees if applicable
ZAR 6500
Breeding soundness examination -Female dog
Specialist consultation fee
Radiologist ultrasound
Vaginoscopy and cytology
Blood collection
Excludes blood tests
ZAR 1800
Sexed Semen Insemination using Intra-uterine Scope
Includes the following:
Consultation,
All oestrus monitoring including three progesterone tests,
Semen collection and motility evaluation, chilling for transport
Courier services to and back from Bloemfontein
Semen sexing done by Ramsem
Transcervical insemination into the uterus using the endoscope
No surgery or anesthesia required
Excludes additional progesterone testing (R490) per test including interpretation, excluding courier fees for blood samples if applicable) and surgical AI if necessary
ZAR 26 000
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In collaboration with Veterinary Fertility Technologies
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