Shipping fresh-chilled dog semen with the Canine Express

Exodus brought its Equine Express system to dogs in the mid-2000s and found the two species very similar in how well semen stands up to chilling and shipping. The rules are much the same: process carefully, extend properly and pack the box the same way every time.

Preparing the dose

1. Collect the sperm-rich fraction with a canine collection kit, and keep as much of the prostatic fraction out of it as you can.
2. Check motility and concentration and measure the volume.
3. Extend it. Exodus’s starting point is 4 parts extender to 1 part semen, using a Next Generation extender. Testing your dog’s semen with different extenders is the way to find what keeps it best.
4. Match temperatures. Semen cools to room temperature almost as soon as it is collected. Keep the extender at room temperature too (about 20 °C) and always mix semen into extender at the same temperature. Exodus’s shorthand: shock kills.

Dose size

Size the dose to the bitch, not just to the count. Exodus’s guidelines:

• about 50 to 70 million progressively motile sperm per extended mL
• around 400 million progressively motile sperm in total, extended 4:1
• keep the volume modest: under 15 mL for large dogs, under 10 mL for medium dogs and under 5 mL for small dogs

Two smaller doses are better than one large one. Large volumes mean more handling at insemination and more chance of contamination. Concentration varies between breeds and between collections, so count every time.

Packing the Canine Express

1. Slide the capped all-plastic syringe into the gray foam thermoregulating sleeve.
2. Lay the dose in the bottom of the shipper.
3. Place the white foam plate on top of the dose.
4. Set the frozen coolant pack on the plate and fold in the plastic flaps.
5. Put the lid on and press it down to engage the dual-seal lid.
6. Place the unit in the corrugated box and fold in the side and front wings.
7. Thread the wire tie through the two holes on the bottom front edge of the box.

At the receiving end

• Gently invert the syringe to remix the semen, because it settles in transit.
• Use the semen promptly once it is out of the box. Exodus advised inseminating within about 15 minutes.
• Timing and insemination technique are for your veterinarian. They will plan the breeding around the bitch’s cycle.

Adapted from Exodus "How to Use the Canine Express" and canine collecting and processing outline. This guide covers handling and use only; breeding timing, insemination and anything involving medication are for your veterinarian.