Artificial insemination for dogs is a procedure to impregnate a female dog without having to mate with a male physically. The cost of artificial insemination for dogs can run from $200 to $1,000, depending on the procedure type. You may also have to pay for semen, which can vary in price.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the various methods of artificial insemination for dogs. We’ll also discuss the expected costs you may have to pay.
The Cost of Artificial Insemination
The cost of artificial insemination for dogs will vary based on multiple factors. One of the most significant factors that will affect the price is the procedure type.
If you choose transvaginal insemination, you can do the procedure at home without spending a lot of money. You may need to pay $30 for materials. If you have to get a sperm sample, you may face additional costs.
Transcervical insemination can run you between $200 and $300. If you have to go the surgical route, you could end up spending anywhere from $350 and up, since it does require anesthesia.
Your location will also affect how much it costs to have your dog artificially inseminated. Some areas may have higher costs.
How Artificial Insemination Works
Artificial insemination is an assisted reproductive method that allows a female dog to be impregnated through fertile sperm without going through the natural reproduction process.
This technique can help overcome multiple canine infertility problems. It can also help improve conception rates, maximize the litter’s size, and provide healthy, quality puppies with desirable traits.
You can even use artificial insemination to continue the bloodline of a dog that has passed away or can no longer reproduce. Artificial insemination can be done with fresh, fresh-chilled, or frozen sperm.
During AI, sperm that has been collected from a male dog is inserted into the female’s vagina in one of three different methods at the optimal time during her cycle. Let’s look at the various techniques of artificial insemination.
Transvaginal insemination For Dogs
The most common and easiest method of Artificial insemination is transvaginal insemination. With this method, an insemination pipette deposits the collected sperm right in front of the cervix. This method should only be used on females with healthy fertility.
A breeder can do this technique with minimal training. The biggest concern is making sure you are using the proper size pipette. Check with a veterinarian or breeder to get size recommendations regarding your dog’s breed.
Using this method requires the female to keep her hindquarters (back legs) elevated for ten to fifteen minutes since the semen is not pushed through the cervix, as would happen in an actual mating process. Allowing the semen to pool can increase the number of pups in the litter.
If you go with this method, the costs are minimal. You will need to purchase the proper tools, which will be less than one hundred dollars. There is no recovery time for this treatment.
But you may have other costs regarding the semen. Stud prices vary by the breeder, breed of dog, and type of semen. You can expect to spend at least $200 or more on semen. Only fresh or fresh-chilled semen should be used for transvaginal insemination.
Transcervical insemination For Dogs
Transcervical insemination or TCI is an excellent Artificial insemination to choose if you’re using frozen semen. However, you can also use it for fresh or fresh-chilled sperm.
Many breeders of large to giant size dogs use this artificial insemination method rather than attempt traditional mating.
If you’re doing single breeding, meaning that this litter will be the only one a bitch (female dog) has, you’ll want to choose transcervical over the other methods due to the success rate.
Transcervical insemination occurs by palpation or an endoscope, which helps to view the cervix. A special tool bypasses the cervix and injects semen directly into the uterus.
Your female will not have to be sedated for this process as she will need to be in a standing position for the procedure.
However, the specialized tools and expert knowledge mean you will pay higher costs for this method. It is not a process that you can do on your own without specific training and expensive gear.
Surgical Insemination For Dogs
The final AI technique is surgical insemination, which also uses frozen or poor-quality semen. This method is best for females with fertility issues or that are older or have uterine pathology.
Surgical insemination does require anesthesia; therefore, it can be an expensive process. During the procedure, an incision is made in the abdomen so the uterus can be located. The semen gets injected into the uterine body by laparoscopy.
This process’s success rate is nearly 100% efficacy, but it is not the first choice of Artificial insemination due to the costs and invasive techniques. This procedure requires specialized equipment and advanced training, so it is not a method you can do yourself.
Reasons for Using Artificial Insemination
There are many reasons people decide to use artificial insemination to impregnate their female dogs rather than natural mating. Here are some:
Location
One of the biggest reasons to use artificial insemination is breeding. Many breeders keep their stock pure by breeding females with quality males from other breeders.
This process is known as studding. But it can be challenging to arrange a meeting of the two animals at the perfect time during the bitch’s heat. Especially when you want to breed two dogs that aren’t close to each other geographically.
Artificial insemination makes it easy for a breeder to sell a vial of their dog’s sperm, which another breeder can use to inseminate their female dog artificially.
This process allows two dogs on opposite sides of the world to create a litter of puppies together without ever meeting or mating.
Convenience
Some dogs have problems when it comes to mating. They may have infertility issues that prevent them from getting pregnant naturally.
Or they may become aggressive or fearful when approached by a male, which prevents the mating process from happening. Other females may allow mating but not take or become pregnant.
Crossbreeding
New breeds of dogs are always occurring. Sometimes, these new breeds happen when two different breeds of dogs mate together by accident. But there are other times when a new breed occurs on purpose.
There are physical limitations to breeding some types of dogs, due to factors like vast size differences. Attempting to reproduce naturally could result in injury to one or both dogs.
Artificial insemination allows a breeder to combine these two separate breeds without putting either dog at risk. You collect the sperm from the male and transfer it to the female through AI.
Genetics
With some breeds, there may be low genetic diversity, such as rare breeds. Artificial insemination can help continue a breed line when there isn’t a suitable match for physical mating.
Health Issues
Dogs, like humans, can catch and transmit sexually transmitted diseases. Allowing your female to breed with a male that hasn’t been tested can lead to your dog getting sick.
One disease, called Brucellosis, is transferred through intercourse and can lead to problems like sterility, miscarriage, or cancer. Artificial insemination can reduce STDs’ chances, although all semen should be analyzed before using it to be safe.
In Closing
Artificial insemination is a useful tool to impregnate a female dog without the hassle of naturally breeding with a male. There are many benefits to using Artificial insemination. The cost can vary from as low as $40 for equipment to $350 for surgical insemination. The final costs will depend on your location, type of procedure, and if you need to purchase sperm.
Kassidy Shepperd is the editor in chief for Canine-Prime.com. She is is a dog lover/trainer, a freelance writer and a volunteer at many pet rescue and shelter centers. Kassidy is based in Colorado and regularly writes for dog related magazines and blogs.
