In certain breeds, and sometimes in individual dogs, natural insemination may not be practical or advisable. With the help of hormonal blood tests and vaginal smears, artificial insemination may be used at the time of ovulation. Typically, this procedure may be repeated again in 24-48 hours to help increase the rate of conception.
If only chilled or frozen semen is available, a one-time surgical insemination is suggested. The dog is anesthetized and a small incision is made into the abdomen to allow direct insertion of semen into the uterine horns. Recovery is usually uneventful and the success of this procedure is quite high.
