View Full Version : Artifical insemination- FINALLY
borzoimom
03-30-2007, 02:58 PM
After waiting weeks for my female to bless us in her pressence of the heat, with the male picked out for a long time- we are good to go!
**** please note- all puppies- regardless of how many- have a designated home already from a waiting list****
A few of you figured out " why isn't Galina going to this big upcoming show.." Well the answer is - she was coming into heat, and being bred. - FINALLY SHE BLESSED US, ( figures she would wait for almost aprils fools) and will be bred next week..
We are having her artifically inseminated. The reason is this- the male lives on the opposite side of the country, and to reduce her stress of airports ( which now the baggage area is loaded with airport restrictions etc) she is being inseminated at a near by expert on the subject in Va. Also- Borzois have a 18 -24 month heat cycle so its easy to miss..
We cant wait- !!! I waited a long time for this. Its taken along time in planning... Borzois are very fickel in heat cycles- and its been a long wait.
We figured it was less stress on her with no travel time other than the car ride to the place and back, no worries at the airport, and not likely to miss not having puppies with a breed we have to wait sooooooooo long for the next heat.. Wish us luck- and I promise pictures later...
golden&hovawart
03-30-2007, 03:01 PM
Cross my fingers that everything goes well!.
Cant wait to see the pictures!.
Are you keeping a pup?
dogluver4
03-30-2007, 03:02 PM
Wow! That's really great news! I hope everything goes as palnned!
Can't wait for pictures!:D
GreyhoundGirl
03-30-2007, 03:02 PM
Yeah!
Let's all sing!
"I'm so excited! *dundundun*
I just can't hide it! *dundundun*"
Can't wwait... oh yea, puppies... 101 borzois! Puppies! baby galina!! yea! Party!!! *gets drunk from eating too much Jello*
borzoimom
03-30-2007, 03:04 PM
Cross my fingers that everything goes well!.
Cant wait to see the pictures!.
Are you keeping a pup?
Yes we are keeping a pup- maybe two.. teehee... lol..
GreyhoundGirl
03-30-2007, 03:08 PM
On a side note... will you be feeding raw during pregnancy?
:offtopic:
BoxMeIn21
03-30-2007, 03:08 PM
Congrats!!! :cheers:
borzoimom
03-30-2007, 03:24 PM
On a side note... will you be feeding raw during pregnancy?
:offtopic:
Yes- I got some good advice. Increase organ meat, back off bone mid pregnancy as digestion slows down. GOOD QUESTION! She is also getting a prenatal vitamin called " " bit*ch pills" as it was the one most recommended. I had lots of help in the borzoi world as most feed raw like I have for all these years.
GreyhoundGirl
03-30-2007, 03:36 PM
Somehow I knew you would. :D
KatzNK9
03-30-2007, 03:38 PM
Wooohooo! Congratulations! Excellent news!
Borzoi mad
03-30-2007, 04:17 PM
Hi Congratulations pleased to hear that she has come in season at last . Hope it all goes well for her.
I have only ever had one Borzoi bitch (my others have all been males) guess I was lucky as she came in season every six months with perhaps the odd time it being seven month between, but never going on any longer between than that.
borzoimom
03-30-2007, 04:37 PM
Hi Congratulations pleased to hear that she has come in season at last . Hope it all goes well for her.
I have only ever had one Borzoi bitch (my others have all been males) guess I was lucky as she came in season every six months with perhaps the odd time it being seven month between, but never going on any longer between than that.
MAN ALIVE HOW DID YOU GET THAT??? Here its every 18-24 months... No wonder I have grey hair!!!!!
travis
03-31-2007, 02:12 PM
great news,hope everything goes as planned,I learn something new here everyday,today I learned about the Borzoi heat cycle,Thankyou:)
xcolbi
03-31-2007, 03:11 PM
CONGRATULATIONS! :p I'm so excited for you! Hope everything goes well and keep us posted! :D
borzoimom
03-31-2007, 09:33 PM
This Is How Galina Says She Does Puppies.. Lol.. " Uhhhhhh Mom- Is Ups Here Yet???? "
sheplovr
03-31-2007, 11:01 PM
Oh Bless Your Heart I had all my litter sold on Gillion n Inko first timers high ball drive drove her to jump too high twist in the air, (my fault) and she landed hard so hard she bouched two times and killed five puppies I lost. Gorgeous two I will post when I get good photos of a boy n girl thriving fine, just made me ill to loose five when I was playing n pitched the toy toooo high and she loves to jump a lesson well learned from my vet and other breeders it shocked the hearts from the hard landing and bounce that some were born dead, two lived several hours I gave mouth to mouth but the hearts too a jolt hard. So all breeders watch your females in play.
borzoimom
03-31-2007, 11:05 PM
We have a huge waiting list- and YOU SHEPLOVER- ARE THE DIVA of the shepherd world!!! I know you by rep and bow to the diva! ....
We are keeping one pup, considering two ... more on that later!
Sooooooo excited!!!!
YAY! I am so glad for you!!!
Cant wait to see you down here in sunny blacksburg!
coco-bean
04-01-2007, 10:38 PM
Michy, do you want to keep a female or male? Just as pets? or to possibly breed too?
borzoimom
04-02-2007, 07:25 AM
For show- and of course- all my dogs are also pets. We are thinking a female- then the next we think male, then the next day- maybe keep two-.. lol. I am afraid until they get here, that decession will have to wait for now..
cassiesmom
04-02-2007, 07:36 PM
On a side note... will you be feeding raw during pregnancy?
:offtopic:
Can a dog eat uncooked food during pregnancy, Borzoimom? What meats can be fed uncooked? I'd be afraid of trichinosis, salmonella, E. coli... But I guess it is not unlike steak tartare, ceviche or sushi ... if you buy absolutely fresh food, preserve it safely and feed it promptly.
The puppies are being delivered by United Parcel in about three months, right? :) Does that make you BorzoiGrandmom?
KatzNK9
04-02-2007, 07:40 PM
:) Does that make you BorzoiGrandmom?
LMAO! Of course it will!:p
borzoimom
04-02-2007, 07:41 PM
Do not worry cassiesmom- I never defrost meat more than 36 hours in use so I know its safe..
And she thinks UPS is late.. ! And its not 3 months- its two.. lol.. She sure did take her sweet ever lovin time here.. jeeeeeeeez... We waited for weeks.. lol.. What a fickle breed.. lol..
coco-bean
04-02-2007, 08:38 PM
this is her first litter right?
cassiesmom
04-02-2007, 08:39 PM
Do not worry? You are so sweet! But I can't help it. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
borzoimom
04-02-2007, 08:47 PM
Oh honey- do not worry- raw diet to me is old hat! lol.. Been there, done that, got the t shirt and the tattoo.. lol.. ( but she did get the telephone today in her room and called a chinese take out food place.. lol.. I picked up the phone with this angry person on the other end.. lol..)
You're coming to blacksburg tomorrow!!! So excited!
For ya'll who dont know, Virginia Tech has one of the top reseacrh Vet schools in the nation (being that we are a research university). The vet school is mainly known for horses, but is amazing in a bunch of other things as well. Its a really awsome place to go visit...the library is amazing also :p
They handle a fair amount of AI, both of of the frozen and chilled vareity...its all a very neat process :p
borzoimom
04-03-2007, 10:34 AM
Okay all- I will be gone for a few days. Galina goes tomorrow, thursday in and out, friday at the show with zubin and saturday too.
Wish us luck! This AI has been a learning experience, but after all the months of planning and waiting for her, I do feel its less stress on her than air plane trips etc.
I hope she is ready in progestrone levels. She " thinks" she is- ... lol.. ( boy shepherds were so much easier.. lol.. adds more grey hair..)
Janimal
04-03-2007, 10:39 AM
Congratulations :cheers: I do hope we wll all be seeing some little puppies very soon then.;)
KatzNK9
04-03-2007, 10:41 AM
Wooohooo! Exciting news ... finally, the time has come!
borzoimom
04-03-2007, 10:41 AM
yea- with pictures of me with greyer hair.. lol..
GreyhoundGirl
04-03-2007, 07:38 PM
Does that make you BorzoiGrandmom?
LMAOOO!!!! :D
borzoimom
04-03-2007, 08:36 PM
After months of planning- do not remind me... lol...
mysterydog1
04-05-2007, 09:03 PM
Borzoi mom I have a question... Wait. I bet you don't know the answer. =(
I'll ask anyway. How much did cooling the semen cost? How much was there to use, did a vet insert it, and what company did they use to cool it?
I can help with this. One shot of semen can insemminate alot of females because they use something called an extender to mix the semen (this is because there is only a certain amount of sperm in the ejaculate needed to impregnate a female (say 500,000) when one ejaculate can contain billions of sperm.) Additionally, the extender helps prevent cold shock from happening during the cooling processes.
For cooling, the ejaculate is cooled to 5-8 degrees over time and at least with horses I know that the semen can last 12-36 hours before it needs to be used, and the good containers that are used to ship the semen are about 300 bucks a pop....you can buy cheaper ones, but from what I have heard they are not as reliable.
With frozen semen the semen can last days, months or even years, though there is more sperm p. ejaculate required because some sperm dont react well to the freezing process. These are normally packed in liquid nitrogen containers which I can imagine cost quite alot.
Our horse program uses cooled semen....and they do it all themselves...its not a hard process...it just needs to be exact.
Hope this helps.
mysterydog1
04-05-2007, 09:21 PM
It does a lot. I'd need to freeze it. but not ship.
borzoimom
04-05-2007, 10:00 PM
Ceph has been a God sent to me in this process. I had no idea this is so common in dogs now. That is also why she meets me at the vets each time. I really owe her alot.
I 'm use to natural breed, but Borzois have fickel heats, and this has helped ease my mind alot! This breeding has been planned for a long time, and her help has been past the point of " beyond the call of duty"- its helped ease my mind beyond words!!!
And it helps that Virginia Tech is Awsome!!
Hokie Pride!!!!
borzoimom
04-05-2007, 10:41 PM
yea... lol.. I already noticed.. !!!!!!!!! :cheers:
BoxMeIn21
04-06-2007, 03:23 PM
I can help with this. One shot of semen can insemminate alot of females because they use something called an extender to mix the semen (this is because there is only a certain amount of sperm in the ejaculate needed to impregnate a female (say 500,000) when one ejaculate can contain billions of sperm.) Additionally, the extender helps prevent cold shock from happening during the cooling processes.
For cooling, the ejaculate is cooled to 5-8 degrees over time and at least with horses I know that the semen can last 12-36 hours before it needs to be used, and the good containers that are used to ship the semen are about 300 bucks a pop....you can buy cheaper ones, but from what I have heard they are not as reliable.
With frozen semen the semen can last days, months or even years, though there is more sperm p. ejaculate required because some sperm dont react well to the freezing process. These are normally packed in liquid nitrogen containers which I can imagine cost quite alot.
Our horse program uses cooled semen....and they do it all themselves...its not a hard process...it just needs to be exact.
Hope this helps.
That's pretty interesting...I know you mentioned this before (I think) but what are you going to school for?
I am an animal science major...my specialty is in horse production...which is why I know alot about AI, but we also cover a vareity of other animals.
BoxMeIn21
04-06-2007, 04:12 PM
I am an animal science major...my specialty is in horse production...which is why I know alot about AI, but we also cover a vareity of other animals.
That's awesome. AI is very interesting, got to watch one at UC Davis - science is amazing!
lol, so true.
I have seen AI and collection done on horses and pigs...and with horses its pretty cool....pigs are kinda gross.....:eek:
BoxMeIn21
04-06-2007, 04:36 PM
Lol!
mysterydog1
04-06-2007, 06:00 PM
Ceph has been a God sent to me in this process. I had no idea this is so common in dogs now. That is also why she meets me at the vets each time. I really owe her alot.
I 'm use to natural breed, but Borzois have fickel heats, and this has helped ease my mind alot! This breeding has been planned for a long time, and her help has been past the point of " beyond the call of duty"- its helped ease my mind beyond words!!!
:p Whips only come in heat like once a year!
applesmom
04-06-2007, 06:02 PM
I've only seen collections and AI in dogs. Not too sure I'd want to assist with collections on a horse or a pig! :D
borzoimom
04-06-2007, 06:08 PM
:p Whips only come in heat like once a year!
Question- are whippets as fickel ??- showing signs for weeks etc..
Oh- and ceph- I didnt let galina read the pig comment.. lol.. She already thinks those people are " rude".. but loves the chicken mc nuggets on the way home.. rofl..
mysterydog1
04-06-2007, 06:31 PM
Not showing signs for a week, Like showing almost no signs at all! =O
They are also tricky to impregnate.... >.< Poor friend of my breeders...took her 4 years to get a dog pregnant. AND She only had 3 pups!
borzoimom
04-06-2007, 06:37 PM
My girl showed signs for weeks- .. but once started in full force, it was bam - here it is.. Shepherds were alot easier!
borzoimom
04-12-2007, 08:58 AM
Galina goes tomorrow early morning. I can pick her up late tomorrow afternoon. I lined the inside of the van with extra thick comforters, although I have been told she wont be too sedated like picking up a dog from a spay. She stalled out for two days, then picked back up. .. Wish us luck..- hopefully I will be a granma borzoimom.. lol..
For anyone thinking of doing this- I have learned alot by going through the process and have a few things I noticed as the owner side of this. Ceph has been a God send being a student in this, and more familar with this hospital. It was recommended by my vet as being the best.
First of all- they have to take the progestron level tests every 48 hours. That meant alot of travel time for us. Galina at the 3rd trip, came up 3 pounds under weight from where she was. This occured because she was missing a breakfast every other day in order to do the 3 hour car ride there. Now she back up to her weight- even a half pound heavier than when she was first seen. If the female is eating ( mine are chow hounds), then there should not be weight loss. I would suggest to anyone doing this- once your female hits close to leve " 2" in progestrone, that you let the dog stay there if they will kennel well. Much to our amazement, Galina did. ( she had never been kenneled before..). After that decission was made to make sure she didnt miss meals, and stay there- she took off again. Also- make sure they will keep the dog on the diet she is used to. They did for us. Remember since this is science, while you may think they are ready, all the factors have to be in line for optimum results. The stress wasnt on her- but I was getting worried.. lol.. My place let me bring her blankets, even her feeder bowls etc and call me daily. The only negative thing I can think of is, if you were a " natural " type breeder for a long time, this waiting is torture. I have learned that with Galina, if she had been bred when she would accept a male, it would have been too early. - Contrary to anything I had seen before. Since this is a " one shot" deal, they can tell by all the levels when the female is actually really ready.
I hope this information is helpful to anyone considering doing this.
KatzNK9
04-12-2007, 09:01 AM
Fingers crossed that tomorrow will be the day & that all will go well.
KatzNK9
04-13-2007, 08:56 PM
Message from Borzoimom:
(she can't get into the forum)
Due to computer problems, I cant log in to to post. Galina is doing fine, She is home now and resting. More later
PomeranianCrazy
04-13-2007, 08:59 PM
Message from Borzoimom:
(she can't get into the forum)
Due to computer problems, I cant log in to to post. Galina is doing fine, She is home now and resting. More later
Borzoimom, we miss you today. Hope you get to log in soon!:drunken:
borzoimom
04-14-2007, 02:30 PM
We are finally back. Man I missed you all. Galina is doing great, and it looks good. I will post updates as they occur. She is due june 8-12, and palpate/ultrasound may 11th.. The long wait is over- now the new wait begins!
xcolbi
04-14-2007, 03:43 PM
WOOHOO! Congratulations! I'm so happy and excited! Can't wait for the little bundles of joy! :D :D :D :D :D
Monkey
04-22-2007, 10:52 PM
WOW!! Im so happy for you!! I cant wait for cute Borzoi pics either...
*jumps up and down*
They are soooo purdy!!!
*crosses fingers* Congrats!!