We have put together our most Frequently Asked Questions. They are broken down into sections to make your question easier to find. Please click on the appropriate area for your question or feel free to scroll down through them. If you can’t find the answer to your question, please feel free to either call us at (303) 659-2472 or email us at [email protected].
CONTACTING US
How do I contact you?
Mail: Brighton Animal Clinic
180 E. Bromley Lane
Brighton, CO 80601
Phone: (303) 659-2472
Fax: (303) 637-7697
Email: [email protected]
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE CLINIC
From Interstate 25
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From Interstate 76
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From E-470
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| Q. | I have an appointment for a PennHIP/OFA radiograph. What do I need to bring with me to the appointment? |
| A. | You will need to bring a copy of the AKC Registration Papers for the dog. You will need to fill out paperwork when you arrive before we can take the radiographs. Please arrive a few minutes early so that you can get the paperwork completed. |
| Q. | Do you use anesthesia when doing the radiographs? |
| A. | If requested, we make every attempt to take radiographs without sedation. However, sometimes the dog just will not cooperate and in order to take them, we would need sedation. There is an additional charge for sedation. If the owner is adamant about not wanting sedation, the appointment may have to be rescheduled for another time if the dog will not cooperate. |
| Q. | Why do I need to place a deposit to hold my OFA/PennHip appointment? |
| A. | We ask for a $100 deposit to hold your appointment as we are blocking out an hour of our time in order to do the radiographs. If you fail to show for your appointment or cancel without 24 hours notice, the $100.00 deposit will be forfeited. |
| Q. | When should I get an ultrasound done to confirm pregnancy? |
| A. | We recommend that you get an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy between day 28 and day 30 after the bitch is bred. |
| Q. | What is the importance of ovulation timing? |
| A. | Ask yourself the question: “How bad do I want puppies”? Ovulation timing is done so that the semen is placed in the bitch at the optimum time in order to increase the chance of conception. With ovulation timing, we are trying to confirm the LH surge and when the bitch ovulates. Ovulation timing is very important for both chilled semen and frozen semen as there is a shortened life for the semen once it is inseminated into the bitch. Ovulation timing is also important if you have not been able to get your bitch pregnant. It can tell us if there is a problem with her reproductive cycle that could be causing her not to get pregnant. |
| Q. | What is the cost for a progesterone test? |
| A. | The cost for your first progesterone test is $ 125.00. Any subsequent ones are $ 75.00. |
| Q. | How long does it take to get progesterone test results? |
| A. |
Here at our facility, we have a miniVidas machine on the premises and can have results in about an hour! Sending out progesterone to a commercial lab such as IDEXX can take from 24 to 72 hours to get results. At the initial stages of testing, the delay in getting results is not such a big thing, but as it gets closer to the time to actually do the insemination, 24 hours can be enough of a delay to not get the bitch successfully bred. If you are in an area that it takes longer than 24 hours to get results, you can have your vet send the samples to us by FedEx Overnight to do the testing for you. From the time we get the sample, we can have the results in about an hour. In order for us to do your testing for you, you need to have your vet draw the blood, spin it down, chill the serum and send it to us by FedEx Overnight on ice. You need to complete a Progesterone Level Request form and enclose it with the sample. You can find this form on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. If we are going to be doing the insemination of your bitch, we ask that when it is closer to the time to breed your bitch, you bring her to us and if needed leave her with us so that we can test and do the insemination when the time is right. |
| Q. | How many progesterone tests do I need to have done? |
| A. | On average, we figure that you will need from 3 to 7 tests in order to estimate LH surge and determine ovulation. Every bitch moves differently through their cycle; in fact, each cycle that a bitch has is somewhat different. We recommend that you get your first test on day 5 or day 6 after seeing discharge. |
| Q. | I am using fresh chilled semen. What is the best method of insemination? |
| A. |
The best method for inseminating fresh chilled semen should be decided by the bitch owner and their veterinarian. There can be many different variables that determine how best to inseminate. The bitch may be a fast mover and you can’t get the semen quick enough to do a Vaginal AI or the time to do the Vaginal AI or TCI is on a Sunday or Holiday and you can’t get the semen delivered. Also, you need to consider the stud dog and his recent history on getting bitches pregnant. Additionally, is it high quality semen? All of these factors need to be considered when determining the best method of insemination. |
| Q. | I am using frozen semen. What is the best method of insemination? |
| A. |
The preferred method of insemination of frozen semen is Surgical. As the semen only lives for 12 hours once it is thawed, you want to ensure that it is with the eggs for as much of that time as possible. Ideally, if you have access to 2 breeding units of frozen semen, a TCI one day followed up by a Surgical 12 to 18 hours later works well. This way, you have semen fertilizing the eggs for an extended period of time. |
| Q. | What is the difference between a Vaginal AI and a TCI? |
| A. |
A Vaginal AI is when the semen is placed in the bitch with a pipette. The pipette is inserted into the bitch as far as it can easily be inserted and then the semen is released in front of the cervix. A TCI is when the semen is placed into the bitch using a rigid endoscope. With the endoscope, we are able to go into the vaginal vault, visualize the cervix and pass a catheter through the cervix so that the semen is deposited into the uterus. |
| Q. | What is the difference between chilled semen and frozen semen? |
| A. |
Chilled Semen is semen that is collected elsewhere, has extender added and then cooled down and shipped overnight in special packaging for insemination into the bitch. At the time we receive the semen, there is a window of 24 to 48 hours in which the semen will live and fertilize the eggs. Frozen Semen is semen that is collected and frozen for storage either with us or at another center. The semen is shipped in a Dewar that is charged with liquid nitrogen. The frozen semen can be shipped for use when the timing is correct. You don’t have as great of a worry about weekend and holiday breedings as the semen can be shipped whenever it is convenient. Upon thawing frozen semen, it will live and fertilize eggs for only 12 hours. |
| Q. | Where can I order the shipping packages used to ship chilled semen? |
| A. | We sell the ICSB Puppy Paks at our facility. You can order from us directly and have them shipped to the stud dog owner or their veterinarian. Contact our office for the cost of the Puppy Pak. You can download a Puppy Pak Order Form on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. Completely fill out the form and mail or fax it to us and we can ship to the location you specified on the form. All prices quoted are current as of 1/1/2022 and subject to change at any time and without notice. |
| Q. | How do you ship chilled semen? |
| A. |
We ship Chilled Semen via FedEx First Overnight. The delivery time for the semen varies from area to area but generally it should arrive before noon. Saturday Delivery is not available to all areas. Also, you can not get FedEx delivery on Sundays and Holidays. If Sunday or Holiday delivery are required, you need to make arrangements for counter-to-counter shipment with an airline. This service is not available in all areas. Most airlines require that you be a “Known Shipper” in order to ship packages in this manner. It is the responsibility of the stud dog and the bitch owners to find a “Known Shipper” if they are not one themselves. In some cases, FedEx can act as a “Known Shipper” but you will need to contact them to find out if it is available. Please be advised that his method of shipping semen can be quite costly. |
| Q. | Can I ship chilled semen internationally? |
| A. | It is not recommended to ship Chilled Semen internationally except to Canada. Chilled Semen is very time sensitive and every country has the right to hold any package at Customs. It has been our experience that it takes a minimum of 3 days for semen to arrive internationally. Due to the shortened life of chilled semen, it more than likely would not be viable for getting a bitch pregnant upon arrival. |
| Q. | Can I ship to or import frozen semen from other countries? |
| A. |
Many countries will allow the shipping of frozen semen across their borders. Each country has their own set of rules and regulations concerning frozen semen. Shipping internationally to other countries requires a lot of advance planning. It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months to ship semen internationally depending on the regulations and requirements for the country that the semen is going to. If you visit www.ik9sb.com, they list several countries and the basic requirements for those countries. It is the responsibility of the person wanting to ship the semen to contract the appropriate consulate for the country that the semen is going into or out of to get a copy of the current regulations, if any, for that country. Several countries require quarantines and specific testing be done on both the semen and the stud dog in order to import the semen into their country. Once the semen is shipped it can take anywhere from 3 days to more than a week for the semen to reach its destination. The quickest we have had semen arrive internationally is 3 days. Every country has the right to delay any package at Customs. Once the package is picked up by FedEx, we have no control over the time that it takes to arrive at the destination. We take no responsibility to any damage or destruction of the semen as a result of shipping or due to the time it can take to clear customs. Shipping semen internationally can be very expensive. If at all possible, you might want to try and combine your shipment with someone else’s in order to reduce the costs. We generally will contact another ICSB location to see if they have anything scheduled to go out in order to help reduce costs on international shipments. Some countries do impose duties and taxes on the semen when it comes into their country. This dollar amount can run several hundred dollars and is the responsibility of the semen owner to make sure that is paid. |
| Q. | How long will chilled semen live in the bitch once it is inseminated? |
| A. | Chilled semen will live from 24 to 48 hours once the package is received. The actual time that the semen will live in the bitch will depend on the time of day the semen was collected, how long it actually takes to get to its destination after collecting and how soon it is inseminated into the bitch once it arrives. In some cases, it is possible to extend the life of the semen before it is inseminated by adding additional new extender once it is received. |
| Q. | How long will frozen semen live in the bitch once it is inseminated? |
| A. | Frozen semen will live for approximately 12 hours once it is thawed. |
| Q. | Why freeze and store canine semen? |
| A. | There are many reasons at to why people freeze and store canine semen. Is there a large demand for your stud’s semen? Is your stud out on the road for shows and trials or is traveling internationally? Is there a history of sudden infertility in the line? Is your stud nearing the end of his reproductive prime? Many people like the security of knowing that they have insurance if something should happen to their stud dog. |
| Q. | How do I know if my dog is a good candidate for freezing and storing his semen? |
| A. | Ideally, you would want to freeze and store your stud’s semen when he is in his reproductive prime. This is generally between 2 and 5 years of age depending on breed. We have been able to get excellent semen from a dog as old as 14. However, semen concentration and quality usually diminish with age. We do a semen evaluation at the start of the freeze process to make sure that they are a good candidate for freezing. |
| Q. | How much does it cost to freeze semen? |
| A. |
The price for an initial collect and freeze semen appointment is $ 365.00. This price includes file set up and reporting to appropriate registries, the first year of storage and first 4 (FOUR) breeding units that are collected. Any additional breeding units over 4 that we get a the time of the collection, and you want to keep, would cost $ 60.00 each to purchase. If you desire to have any additional collections done on your dog, the base price is $240.00. This includes the first 4 (FOUR) breeding units that are collected on the additional collection. Additional breeding units collected at the time of the additional collection cost $ 60.00 each. If your total number of breeding units for a dog goes over 25, there are additional storage fees that apply. You can find a more detailed Fee Schedule for Collecting and Freezing Semen on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. |
| Q. | How much does it cost to store semen? |
| A. |
The yearly cost of storage for frozen semen is $ 75.00 per year for each 25 breeding units that you have stored for a specific dog. You are billed annually in the anniversary month of the first collection for a specific dog. All prices quoted are current as of 1/1/2022 and subject to change at any time and without notice. |
| Q. | How long does it take to collect and freeze semen? |
| A. | The complete collection and freeze process takes approximately 1 hour to complete. The actual participation required of the stud dog and owner/handler is approximately 20 minutes. That amount of time includes the actual collection, semen analysis and an estimate of the number of breeding units that will result from the freeze process. After we have completed the analysis and estimate, the owner/handler and dog do not need to remain. We will contact the owner with the final totals, or any issues, when completed. |
| Q. | How do I make an appointment? |
| A. |
To make an appointment, please call us at (303) 659-2472. It can sometimes be more than a week before we can get your appointment scheduled. At the time you make your appointment, we require a credit card deposit of $100.00. If you do not show up for your appointment or cancel without 24 hours notice you forfeit your deposit. After making your appointment, make sure you get all the forms and information together that you will need to bring with you to your appointment. The Authorization to Collect and Freeze Semen form is on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. |
| Q. | What do I need to bring with me to my appointment? |
| A. |
You will need to print out and complete an Authorization to Collect and Freeze Semen form on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. In addition, you need to bring a copy of the registration papers for the dog and if you have previously had a DNA profile completed we need a copy of that too. If you do not have a DNA profile, we have the AKC testing kits and can do it for you at your appointment. There is a fee payable to AKC for the DNA profile. |
| Q. | What happens to my semen if something happens to me? |
| A. | Something that many people do not take into consideration is what to do with the semen if something should happen to them. You should think about the future of your semen. Please let us know in writing what is your intent should something happen to you. |
| Q. | How is the semen stored? |
| A. | The semen is stored in vials/breeding units in liquid nitrogen tanks. The tanks are refilled monthly. Storage is not dependent on electricity so you do not have to worry if the power goes out. |
| Q. | How do I utilize the semen once it is stored? |
| A. |
No semen will be released unless we have received a signed Authorization to Release Frozen Semen form. You can get this form on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. Even if you are utilizing the semen for yourself, we will need one of these forms completed. We require a 7 business day notice in order to process and ship the semen. If received after the office is closed, weekends or holidays, the first day of notice will be considered the next, open weekday. We consider official notice as a signed Authorization to Release Frozen Semen form from the stud owner or co-owners of the semen. We do not consider phone authorization, either by the stud or bitch owner, as official notification. Due to the time to charge a tank and the preparation required to ship the frozen semen, we can not guarantee frozen semen shipment with less than 48 hours notice. Shipping charges are for delivery of semen and returning the Dry Shipper to us Less than 7 days notice can and will incur additional release fees Unique circumstances may require special handling and additional fees Fees for International Shipments are higher A more detailed Fee Schedule for Release of Semen can be obtained on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. All prices quoted are current as of 1/1/2022 and subject to change at any time and without notice. |
| Q. | Who has access to my semen? |
| A. | This depends on your dog. If your stud is registered with a governing body, i.e. AKC, any registered co-owner listed on the stud's registry is able to access this semen. If your stud is not registered with a governing body, only those people listed on the initial freeze paperwork have access to your semen. You do have the option of completing paperwork that gives another person authorization to utilize your semen at any time. Please contact us to get a form to authorize others to have access to your dog’s semen. |
| Q. | How much are the release fees and shipping for frozen semen and who is responsible for paying them? |
| A. |
Generally, the bitch owner is responsible for any release fees. However, that is between you and the bitch owner. Before the semen is shipped from our office, arrangements will need to be confirmed and any incurred charged resolved. Shipping charges are for delivery of semen and returning the Dry Shipper to us Less than 7 days notice can and will incur additional release fees. Unique circumstances may require special handling and additional fees Fees for International Shipments are higher A more detailed Fee Schedule for Release of Semen can be obtained on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. All prices quoted are current as of 1/1/2022 and subject to change at any time and without notice. |
| Q. | How do you ship frozen semen? |
| A. |
We ship our frozen semen via FedEx Overnight. It is shipped in a liquid nitrogen Dry Shipper Dewar. In ideal circumstances, the Dewar should hold its charge for 10-14 days if it is left sealed and unopened. The shipment is insured to cover the loss of the Dewar. If you desire additional insurance let us know on the Authorization to Release Frozen Semen form that you send to us authorizing the shipment. If you have a FedEx Account you can provide us with that info for the shipping charges. Please remember that when shipping frozen semen, you are paying shipping on getting the semen to its destination AND returning the tank to us. |
| Q. | I have been contacted by someone who wants to use my frozen semen. What do I need to do? |
| A. | As soon as you can after being contacted by the bitch owner and working out your stud agreement, send us a completed Authorization to Release Frozen Semen form that you can get on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. In order to reduce any additional fees for release of the semen, you need to get the completed form to us as soon as you can. You may fax it to us at (303) 637-7697 and then drop the original in the mail to speed up the process. We can not guarantee shipment of frozen semen without a minimum of 48 hours notice. |
| Q. | I no longer want to keep my frozen semen. How do I authorize its destruction? |
| A. |
Complete a Request to Destruct Semen form that you can find on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. You can fax the completed form to us at (303) 637-7697 to start the destruction process. There is a fee to destroy your semen and report it to the appropriate registry. At the time of the destruction, all current storage fees due will be removed and you will be charged the destruction fee. |
| Q. | I have sold some or all of my semen to someone else. How do I transfer ownership? |
| A. |
All prices quoted are current as of 1/1/2022 and subject to change at any time and without notice. |
| Q. | I want to transfer some or all of my semen to another storage facility. How do I do that? |
| A. |
Print and complete a Transfer Semen Ownership/Transfer Storage Facility form from the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. Mail or fax the completed form to us. All the information must be included on the form in order for us to start the transfer process. You do not have to complete the New Owner section as ownership is not changing. Less than 7 days notice will result in additional release fees being charged. Depending on the number of breeding units to transfer, we do not guarantee the ability to transfer to a new facility within 7 days. |
| Q. | I have my semen stored elsewhere and want to transfer it to your facility. What do I need to do? |
| A. | You will first need to contact the facility where it is currently stored and ask them what you need to do to transfer your semen storage to our facility. Once you have started the process with them, contact us and we will get your account set up. Upon arrival of the semen, we will bill you for the Account Set-Up Fee and your first year of storage. |
| Q. | My account is not current. What could happen to my semen? |
| A. | Any client whose account is not current may not utilize their frozen semen. In order to utilize your semen, your account must be current. Depending on what is outstanding on the account, you have need to pay all charges due in order to access the semen.
If your account continues to be outstanding for an extended period of time, we will attempt to contact you with the information you provided to us at the time of the semen freeze. If after doing our due diligence, we are still unable to contact you to bring your account current, your semen will be considered abandoned and we will begin the process to destroy the semen. It is the responsibility of the semen owner, not the Brighton Animal Clinic, to keep their information current and up to date. |
| Q. | What Microchip registry do you utilize? |
| A. | We currently carry and utilize the HomeAgain microchip. We utilize ISO chips that confirm to international travel regulations. We include the fee for registering the microchip with HomeAgain in the cost of the microchip. |
| Q. | Why is it important to update my address and phone number with HomeAgain? |
| A. | If your animal is ever lost and picked up by someone, they can have most vet offices, shelters or animal control scan for a microchip if there are no tags identifying the animal. When the animal is scanned and a microchip number comes up, it can be called into or entered into the HomeAgain website and they can trace the owner through the information provided when the chip was registered. If you do not update your information with HomeAgain, then they will not be able to contact you to get your animal back. |
| Q. | How do I update my information with HomeAgain? |
| A. |
The easiest and fastest way to update your information is to do it via the HomeAgain website. You will find a link to their website on the Forms & Links page. In addition, you can call them at 1-888-HOMEAGAIN, (1-888-466-3242). |
| Q. | Why does the AKC require DNA testing? |
| A. | DNA is an absolute form of identification. Previously, AKC required photographs as a means of positive identification for a dog and as you can imagine, an all black Labrador in a picture looks like all the other black Labradors. The DNA profile is absolute identification if for some reason there is a question as to who is the sire of a litter. You can get more information on AKC and DNA testing by following the AKC DNA link on the FORMS & LINKS dropdown menu above. |
| Q. | My dog is not AKC registered. Do I still need a DNA profile in order to freeze the dog? |
| A. | No, if your dog is not AKC registered it is not required to have a DNA profile in order to breed the dog or collect and freeze their semen. It is recommended however, as it is absolute identification for the dog. |