Cindy Smalley, LVT, and Melissa Bowers, LVT, work side by side to administer canine reproduction at a Canine Reproduction Veterinary Practice. This practice has many Bull Terrier clients, and Melissa is a long-time Bull Terrier owner. We asked Cindy and Melissa to write this article for the Compass, addressing issues that can derail a client's breeding plans

Semen:

ALWAYS have a PLAN A and a PLAN B – Plan B is for semen that will be easily accessible as problems can arise with shipment delays, Border Customs inspections, semen arriving in poor condition, etc.

Males should be collected and evaluated 2-4 weeks prior to breeding or at the onset of heat to verify fertility.

A reproduction veterinarian or hospital must collect and evaluate semen PRIOR to shipment.

Make arrangements with the stud owner in advance of the bitches heat cycle. Know the fees, limitations for scheduling a shipment, and the process/arrangements necessary for shipment.

Ask about the quality of the frozen semen before making arrangements/purchasing. The post-thaw motility is the most used determiner: 60% ptm* or better is good, 40-60% acceptable, < 40% will require extra careful timing * ALL complete breeding units should have the same quantity of NORMAL sperm cells – the difference between a 60% ptm and a 30% ptm sample is primarily the stamina of the sperm cells/the longevity of the NORMAL sperm cell.

Usually, one breeding unit is all that is shipped if semen is of good quality.

We recommend using frozen semen on proven bitches only.

Brucellosis and DNA testing:

Brucellosis testing takes 3-4 days for results from most labs. If natural breeding occurs, we recommend testing both parents. Brucellosis is rarely seen in the US, it is primarily an import issue these days. It is passed via body fluids, including urine, etc. It is not exclusively a reproductive tract issue. Testing within six months of breeding is generally accepted.

DNA testing for carriers of specific breed concerns should be done well in advance. Most DNA testing takes 6-8 weeks for results.

Shipping:

Make arrangements/contact the ship site when the heat starts. Frozen semen should be arranged for and shipped in advance of the bitch's cycle or at the onset of her cycle. Most shippers only ship out Monday through Thursday to avoid weekend complications due to shipper delays.

Most shippers require a 1-week advance notice and completion of documentation to assure tank availability, etc.

The person the semen is getting shipped to should check with their vet to make sure they have frozen storage on site.

Another critical issue unrelated to the breeding:

We wish more folks knew about the herpes virus and its impact on a litter/whelp. We see this a few times a year and it is heartbreaking!

Herpes is a common virus. Many breeders will have a titer done on their bitches. For those bitches who have not been exposed to herpes/have no titer, exposure of bitch to herpes during or post pregnancy and pups post pregnancy often causes litter loss.

For this reason, the recommendation is to not expose bitch to outside contaminants for three weeks prior and three weeks post whelp. We strongly recommend isolation of the bitch from the rest of the colony during this time frame and disinfection before entering the whelp area/kennel.