Reproductive Care

As a passionate canine enthusiast, you understand how crucial top-notch reproductive care is not only for preserving the optimal health and quality of your beloved breed but also for ensuring a successful breeding outcome through professional and experienced guidance.

At Willow Creek, our dedicated veterinarians and technicians are here to provide expert support for not only pregnant females but also for their precious litters. With extensive experience in health clearances for breeding, we adeptly assess and address fertility challenges, whether they stem from genetics, illness, or hormonal imbalances. Our chief veterinarian and lead reproductive technician are well respected for their knowledge in breeding, pregnancy management, and neonatal care. We're excited to partner with you to ensure the best outcomes for your dogs and their future families.

Reproductive System Diagnostic Tests and Procedures That We Perform

Willow Creek Veterinary Clinic has an array of the most advanced equipment. Our capabilities include:

• Ultrasound imaging with the technologically advanced Mindray Vetus E7 color Doppler system, enabling non-invasive visualization of the reproductive system, pregnancy confirmation, fetal monitoring, and assessment of gestational age
• Progesterone (PG) testing, using a Tosoh Bioscience Immunoassay Analyzer as well as an in-house IDEXX Catalyst assay for assessing hormonal levels to precisely determine the optimal interval for breeding, as well as predicted whelping
• Brucellosis testing to detect a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Brucella canis that can cause infertility and abortion in dogs and is transmissible to humans
• Semen collection and motility analysis using Minitube Sperm Vision, the most sophisticated computer-assisted semen analytical (CASA) system available
• Transcervical insemination (TCI), a specialized, highly effective, nonsurgical technique to transfer sperm into the uterus by endoscopy
• Surgical artificial insemination if medically indicated
• Advanced cesarean section for dogs experiencing expected or prior pregnancy complications or obstructed labor
• Semen handling, including freezing and storage, and shipping fresh chilled semen
• Vasectomies to prevent unwanted breeding while leaving hormonal characteristics intact
• Medical treatment for pyometra, a life-threatening infection of the uterus, as a means to preserve fertility

Health Clearance Assessments

Willow Creek Veterinary Clinic adheres to the latest protocols and the best practices in determining the suitability of a dog for reproduction and competition, including:

• Advanced non-sedated (or sedated if indicated) Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) protocols — radiography using safe, low-level dosages to assess health and genetically inherited diseases as recommended for each specific breed
• Complete health clearance clinics, validated by OFA certification, including advanced cardiac care performed by a board-certified cardiologist and ophthalmology certification by a board-certified ophthalmologist
• BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing
• PennHIP procedure, done under sedation to produce three views of the pelvis: extension, compression, and distraction, to assess the laxity of the hip joint; PennHIP can be performed on dogs as young as 16 weeks old
• German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany hip and elbow clearance assessments by means of radiographic imagery certified by an independent panel — a protocol recognized by agencies including Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (ADRK) of Germany — to verify the presence or potential of hip and elbow dysplasia