Advanced Care for Modern Breeding Needs
At Suffield Veterinary Hospital, we offer a full range of reproductive services to help breeders in Suffield and the surrounding areas achieve the best possible outcomes. Our team has the experience and the equipment to support you from the early stages of breeding planning all the way through whelping.
We understand that breeding is a significant commitment — emotionally, financially, and in terms of the time and care involved. We take that seriously, and we're here to help you succeed.
Start Your Breeding Consultation
Breeding Timing and Fertility Testing
Getting the timing right is one of the most important factors in a successful breeding. Breeding too early or too late in the cycle significantly reduces the chance of pregnancy, even when everything else goes right.
We offer advanced testing to accurately identify the best days for breeding. This includes:
- Reproductive Cytology (Vaginal Smears) — A simple test that examines cells from the vaginal lining to determine where the bitch is in her cycle. It's usually one of the first steps in timing a breeding.
- Progesterone Testing — Blood testing that measures progesterone levels to precisely identify ovulation and the optimal breeding window. This is the most reliable method for timing and is especially important when using chilled or frozen semen, or when coordinating with a stud dog from another location.
Insemination Services
We offer multiple methods of insemination depending on the type of semen being used and the specific needs of the breeding:
- Natural Breeding Assistance — We can assist and oversee natural matings when both dogs are present.
- Artificial Insemination (AI) — Used with fresh or fresh-chilled semen. A straightforward procedure that can be done in the clinic.
- Transcervical Insemination (TCI) — A non-surgical method that deposits semen directly into the uterus using an endoscope. It's well-tolerated by most dogs and is often the preferred method for chilled or frozen semen.
- Surgical Insemination — In some cases, surgical insemination may be recommended, particularly when working with frozen semen or when other methods have not been successful.
Semen Collection, Evaluation, and Freezing
We can collect and evaluate semen to assess quality, motility, and morphology. This is a valuable step before breeding, particularly for studs being used for the first time or those with a history of fertility concerns.
Apart from this, we also offer semen freezing for stud dogs, which preserves genetic material for future use. Frozen semen can be stored long-term and used for breeding even after the stud is no longer available for live mating.
Requirements and Recommendations
To ensure the health and safety of every animal involved, we have a set of requirements that must be met before reproductive services can be scheduled. Please read these carefully. Failure to meet the requirements will result in services not being scheduled.
Requirements:
- Pre-breeding exam to screen for health issues prior to breeding.
- Bitch and stud have been examined within 12 calendar months by a licensed veterinarian and records need to be submitted to SVH prior to any appointments being scheduled if services are not performed by SVH doctors.
- Bitch must be up to date on a heartworm/tick test (often called a SNAP or 4DX test) within 12 months of breeding and the results submitted to SVH.
- Bitch and stud must be up to date on rabies vaccination and a copy of the rabies certificate must be submitted to SVH (receipts are not a complete record).
- Bitch must be a minimum of 18 months (1.5years) old for reproductive services.
- Stud must be a minimum of 18 months (1.5years) old for reproductive services.
Recommendations:
- Stud be up to date on heartworm/tick test within 12 months of breeding and the results submitted to SVH.
- Brucellosis testing for bitch and stud within 30 days of breeding (minimum of once a year) with results submitted to SVH.
- Bitch and stud be up to date on distemper vaccination, as well as Lyme/Lepto/Bordetella if the owner/breeder so chooses.
Once breeding has taken place, we can confirm pregnancy via ultrasound as early as 25 to 28 days after breeding and monitor how things are progressing. In the final weeks of pregnancy, late-term radiographs allow us to count fetal skeletons and give you a reliable estimate of how many puppies to expect — so you're fully prepared when whelping day arrives.
Trusted Pet Care & a Friendly Welcome for Every Pet
Call/Text: (860) 668-4041
