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1. Artificial Insemination In Bitch
2. Pseudopregnancy And Its Management In The Bitch
Artificial Insemination In Bitch
What is Artificial Insemination?
It is the procedure of artificial collecting semen from a healthy male
dog and depositing the same into the female genital tract manually
by using simple sterile equipment. Although the technique is
performed by veterinarians, experienced trained breeders could
also do this. The first recorded instance of A.I. in the bitch was
in 1780, performed by an Italian physiologist Lazzaro Spallanzani.
Dogs both male and female were confined in Spallanzani's house
and after a lapse of 20 days, the bitch manifested signs of heat
of estrus (desire to get mated). Semen was collected from the
male and was artificially deposited into the vagina of the bitch with
the help of a pointed syringe. Sixty two days following insemination,
the bitch gave birth to three pups, all of whom resembled not only
the dam but also the dog from which the semen had been taken.
What started as an experiment is now a well developed technique.
Semen from a dog can be collected, diluted with a suitable extender
(diluter) and preserved at 50C in a refrigerator and used for
inseminating a bitch in heat upto 5 days after collection. Semen can
now be deep frozen at--1960 C after the addition of certain extenders
and processing techniques. Frozen semen stored in liquid nitrogen
can be used for A.I. in a bitch after several months after collection.
Steps in The A.I. of Bitches
a. Examination of the male.
b. Semen collection and evaluation.
c. Semen dilution.
d. Insemination of the bitch.
a) Examination of the male: Before the semen is collected from the male,
the external genitalia should be carefully examined. Testicles are gently
palpated to make sure that there are no adhesions, swellings or thickening
of the scrotal skin. The testicles must be well descended into the scrotal sac,
not hard on palpation but fairly firm and tonic. Now the penis is gently
palpated to make sure that there are no adhesions between the sheath and
the glans penis. The penis is then gently extruded from the sheath and
examined. The healthy penis should be bright pink in colour and should
be easily moveable on the penis.
b) Collection of semen: Semen from the dog is collected by any of the
following techniques:
i) Digital manipulation of the penis.
ii) By the use of an artificial vagina.
iii)By means of electro ejaculation.
Of all the above methods the most simple and requiring the least equipment
is by digital manipulation of the penis. The procedure is as follows:
The apparatus required for semen collection by digital manipulation consists of
a sterile glass funnel of 2-3 inches diameter inserted into a graduated test tube.
This equipment is warmed to about 370C before use. Before semen collection
is attempted, a bitch in heat preferably of the same size is kept ready.
The bitch is restrained so as to be relatively montionless. If the bitch is of a
biting nature, she should be muzzled. The male is then allowed to approach
and sniff the vulval region of the bitch. The person collecting semen should
be by the side of the male and hold the collecting apparatus in the right hand.
The penis is grasped through the external sheath by the left and just behind
the bony portion of the penis. Moderate pressure is applied with the thumb
and index finger. In most cases erection and ejaculation occur without any
manipulation within a few minutes. The funnel of the apparatus is held near
the tip of the penis so that the ejaculate enters the funnel.
Dog semen is ejaculated in three different fractions. The first fraction consists
of 0.5 to 2ml of clear fluid and does not contain sperm cells. The second
fraction that is ejaculated in 60 to 90 seconds is fairly whitish and rich in
perm cells. Quantity is around 1 to 4 ml. Third fraction is again a clear fluid
like the first one and contains 3 to 20 mililitres in quantity. it takes around
5 to 30 minutes for complete ejaculation of the third fraction. It is not
necessary to collect much of the third fraction. Semen may be collected
from the dog every alternate day without loss in quality.
Detailed valuation of semen for its quality can only be done in an
andrological laboratory by a qualified veterinarian. However simple
examination of semen for the motility of sperms can be done with the
help of warm (370 C) slide and a microscope. A drop of semen immediately
after its collection is mixed with a drop of physiological saline (0.9% sodium
chloride solution) on a clean glass slide and cover slip is applied and examined
under low power of microscope. Good quality semen exhibits progressive
motility of about 80 to 90% of the sperm cells. Other examinations include
sperm count, morphology of sperm cells, acrosomal structures etc.
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Fraction Number I II III
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Duration 50 Sec 60-90 Sec 5-30Min
Quantity 0.5-2 Ml 1-4 Ml 3-20 Ml
Number of sperm 90 to 300
Cells per Ml. -- millions
(highly variable)
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c) Semen Dilution and Preservation: Immediately after the semen is collected
it is handled carefully to prevent shock to sperm cells from temperature changes
or from excessive vibrations. The semen in a measuring tube is kept in a beaker
containing warm water maintained at 35-370 C. Undiluted semen survives for
about 15-20 hours. In most cases where transportation of semen is not required,
the entire quantity of semen is inseminated into the bitch through the vagina
immediately after the collection without any dilution. If the semen has to be stored
for more than a few hours or to be transported elsewhere it is necessary to dilute
with an extender. Semen tube kept in a warm beaker is kept in a refrigerator for
gradual cooling. Many semen extenders of which the simplest is pasteurized milk
heated to 940 C for 10 min. and then cooled. After cooling the top scum is removed
by carefully decanting into a test tube. Semen is a gradually and gentle diluted into
this milk at the rate of 1:4 or 1:8 (semen: milk). Before dilution pencilin G sodium
at the rate of 1mg/ml of extender are added this will check the microbial growth
in the extended semen. This extended semen keeps the sperms alive for 4 to 5
days when stored at 50 C. In thermos flasks containing ice cubes extended semen
can be transported to long distances and insemination of bitches can be carried
out. Other extenders for canine semen have also been successfully developed.
They include Egg yolk-Sodium Citrate-glycine-glucose extender, Tris-egg
yolk-glycerol and Tris-egg yolk-citric acid-fructose-glycerol extenders. Semen can
also be pelleted at- 790 C or deep frozen at-1960 C using solid carbon dioxide
(dry ice) and liquid nitrogen respectively and stored in liquid nitrogen containers
for several months or longer after proper processing.
d) Insemination of the bitch: The bitch to be inseminated must be in proper
heat. She must be in the stage of accepting a male if natural mating is allowed.
The correct stage of heat can be detected daily examining the vaginal smear
of the bitch.
A sterile plastic tube of about 20 cms in length and 6 mm in diameter if fixed
to a 10 ml syringe with the help of a rubber adapter. Diluted or undiluted
semen is draw into the syringe. The bitch in heat is placed on a suitable table.
Its vuval lips and hind portions are cleaned with cotton or a moist cloth and
then dried. The plastic tube is then inserted between the vulvar lips and
slowly directed upwards until it reaches the vagina and then the tube is
directed more horizontally and gently pushed till it reaches a point of
resistance or the anterior most part of the vagina where the entire quantity
of semen in the syringe is injected. The rear parts of the bitch are elevated
for about 3-5 minutes to prevent any back flow. This is called feathering, known
to improve conception rates. Thus Artificial Insemination is a boon to dog
lovers so as to perpetuate the line of their champion stock who are not in
a position to perform on their own.
Pseudopregnancy And Its Management In The Bitch
What Is Pseudopreganancy?
Pseudopregnancy is a normal physiological state of the bitch wherein the
symptoms exhibited by her completely resemble that of the pregnant state.
The word 'Pseudo' means false and pseudopregnancy means just that, it
is a false pregnancy. Sometimes this condition is referred to as 'pseudocyesis'.
In pseudopregnancy normal condition in the non pregnant bitch, which undergoes
a period called 'diestrus' of about sixty (60) days immediately following the
estrus period during the breeding season. In other words the onset of the signs
of Pseudopregnancy occurs approximately two months or more following the
onset of estrus. Pseudopregnancy can occur during anytime of the bitch's
breedable age following an estrus period. It can also occur in bitches with
history of a previous preg-nancy/pregnancies or with no history of a pregnancy
at all. It can occur in young bitches immediately after their first estrus period.
In one study pseudopregnancy has been reported to have occured in bitches
as young as seven (7) months old to as old as ten (10) years or more.
It was reported in all the twenty-eight (28) breeds of dogs studied.
In some bitches pseudopregnancy can be recurring phenomenon. Even a bitch
from whom the ovaries and uterus have been removed during their diestrus
period may show signs of Pseudopregnancy.
Symptoms Of Pseudopregnancy:
The symptoms of Pseudopregnancy mimic the signs of delivery and
lactation as in the case of a pregnant bitch. These symptoms are classed
under two groups namely the Covert type and the Overt type.
The Covert is less demostrative in its manifestation. In this type there
will not be much of behavioural change but there will be certain changes
in the uterus of the bitch and the mammary glands are enlarged.
In the Overt type, Pregnancy like signs, like enlargement of the uterus,
abdomen and the mammary glands are also seen. There will be secretion
of milk. The bitch will start to build its nest as if she is going to deliver puppies.
The other symptoms are restlessness, loss of appetite, vomiting, exhibition
of care towards inanimate objects, toys or young ones of other animals.
The milk secreted may be watery sticky or normal in consistency. The secretions
may be restricted to only one gland or may involve more than one gland.
In rare cases concurrent to milk secretion specially under unhygienic conditions
the bitch may suffer from the inflammation of the mammary glands (mastitis)
and inflamation of the skin around the mammary glands (dermatitis).
Some bitches with severe overt type of Pseudopregnancy may become highly
irritable and behave violently causing damage to furniture, cushions, bedding etc,.
Care And Management Of The Pseudopregnant Bitch:
Whenever symptoms of Pseudopregnancy are suspected, the owner should
get the bitch examined by a Veterinarian. The veterinarian will confirm the
condition of Pseudopregnancy after ruling out pregnancy by abdominal
palpation or by subjecting the bitch to Radiography. If milk secretion is
noticed from the mammary glands become more active than going dry or
quiescent. Although no treatment is required for Pseudopregnancy, severe
engorgement of the mammary glands can be controlled by reducing the feed
and water given to the bitch for about 3-4 days. Suppression of lactation
can also be achieved by preparing a paste of anhydrous magnesium sulphate
and glycerin (equal parts) and applying the same externally on the mammary
glands daily for 4-5 days. This helps in the absorption of water from the
mammary gland through the skin and thus aids in suppressing lactation.
Some add a small quantity of boric will not cause any harm expect for a
mild laxative effect due to the presence of magnesium sulphate, which is
not of much consequence.
Treatment: The following treatments can be undertaken to suppress
the symptoms of lactation and Pseudopregnancy only under strict
Veterinary supervision.
1. Daily feeding of tablets of Bromocritine for about 10-14 days, 2.5 mg
tabs, 1-2 tablets daily.
Note: This above treatment is not generally recommended because of its
side effects like severe vomiting, constipation, drowsiness and reduction
in the essential levels of blood pressure.
2. A single i/m injection of androgens like repositol testosterone at the rate
of 1 mg/kg of body weight.
3. Feeding oral androgens like mibolerone at the rate of 40 micrograms/kg
of body weight for 5 days.
4. Injections of progesterone or progesterone like substances or oral feeding
of the same.
Note: This treatment is not generally recommended as progesterone preparations
bring about suppression of symptoms of lactation during the treatment but relapse
following discontinuation of therapy.
5. Is Pseudopregnancy is a recurrent phenomenon in any bitch, such an animal
may be subjected to the operation of ovaro hysterectomy, wherein the ovaries
and the uterus of the bitch are removed surgically by the Veterinary surgeon.
In conclusion it can be said that Pseudopregnancy in the bitch is a normal
physiological phenomenon, whose onset of signs occur approximately 60 days
or more after the onset of estrus in a non pregnant bitch. There is no need for
any treatment. However Overt signs may be controlled by suitable treatment
under veterinary supervision.