Is there such a test for unproven stud dogs, and is it available at most vets?

Any help much appreciated. x

I bought a cheap crappy microscope from ebay and tickled his fancy myself. He is a very fertile little boy, lots of active healthy swimmers. He has gone on to be a proven sire to his first litter also.

I had a young dog tested last week, I didn't fancy getting him all worked up myself LOL but someone who does AI did it and examined the sperm, he also showed it to me under the scope. Wriggly little fella's.

I check my lads out when one of the girls is in season as it is easier to get the goods at those times.

But do you get it done at a local vets or do you have to have it done by F&F?

Thanks for the replies, seems wiggly is a good thing! ;)

I got Rhuari done initially by F&F but at £40+ plus the trip to Preston with one of my in season bitches[ she was having fertility investigations as well as being the tease bitch] it was so much hassle and the kids microscope was so easy and cheap not to mention much calmer on my nerves than a 50 mile round trip with him whining and throwing himself around in the crate.

Interesting, so how do you know what you're looking for? How do you know if it's active enough? I thought it was something a local vets would do if it's as simple as a sample under a microscope.

I had mine done at F+F also :)  they said it was concentrated and 15 squillion or something silly like that :/ ... no sure if we have a microscope around here, don't fancy getting the stuff anyway, I get enough stick off my husband about loving the dogs more than him, oh could you imagine the hassle that would cause LOL

well they were very wriggly and well shaped, and looked like they were all swimming about fast, quite amazing acutally, i guess quality stands out over slow moving and mis shaped sperms. not sure how they calculate numbers , probably times what every they count in a 0.1 of a ml or something.

I'm guessing Piglet was very fertile in his younger days because the vet even found some active sperm in a urine sample!

Well formed flagella very motile and at 900x its like a mound of ants best way to describe it. The microscope I bought was plastic and v poor quality but under £20. There wasn't a dial to focus very well but I could still see them. I've used a microscope at degree level looking at rabbit sperm. Will try my hand at vaginal cytology when I get a new scope, to see if I can see the difference in cells around the progesterone peak.

I'm not.squeamish at all about that stuff. Its human bodily fluids I find gross, I'm forever getting poo on my hands picking it up and during whelping you get covered.

I wouldn't be squeamish about the stuff itself, but I don't think I could get it from the dog myself!!

Thanks Louise, that helps. It's funny how just when you think you have your head around breeding a new part opens. I'm hoping to own a stud dog in the next coming few years and wanted to get some more info on it.

Yes the thought of collecting semen is quite a daunting task!

Ah well if your anywhere near Lincoln then I can take a sample for you. The younger the friskier less need for a tease bitch.

Hahaha!Nothing sensible to add other that, Louise, you must be your dogs VERY BF!!!I am imagining a queue of horny dogs waiting in your garden(see snooker picture for image!)
Sorry folks, now, back to your sensible discussion.