November 27, 2013

…I hope we did not but we won’t know it for one more month.  I guess, Tom Levy of HPCA was right after all when he wrote to me, “new technology is fine, however, experience is what really matters.”

My experience with Harang’s artificial breeding has been seriously challenged.  Anything that can go wrong has gone wrong.  First, instead of the many great recommended and researched private clinics, I chose Cornell University.  Second, the vet, forgot to submit the first blood sample to the lab for progesterone test, so we ran blind or “about OK”  the first insemination.  Third, the packaging of the chilled semen that has been collected and shipped from NC, was leaking . Fourth, the vet, for abour three hours could not insert the catheter in poor Harang’s cervix  with a one five-minute break ( imagine my dog standing there patiently without sedation.) During this time, they have changed the catheter size, several time, the light attachment has fallen apart due to a missing adapter, until finally the chief vet arrived and inserted the catheter in to the cervix.  After my three hours drive home, I was called that after hours they supposedly got hold of a lab person who did the progesterone test and the numbers have dropped below “five.” has she had a split heat or what…? We have been in limbo…

Fifth, two days later, we made the three hours trip back to Cornell, where the vet, – instead of calling me, so I do not have to do the long drive – informed me in the office that all the chilled semen have arrived dead due to improper packaging in the NC vet office.  It was Saturday, so we obviously lost Sunday and we had to wait until Tuesday trying the process again.  I called the vet office in NC, to pass the instruction from Cornell, how to pack the chilled semen correctly.  The vet, instead of apologizing,  told me over the phone that she’s been doing this for over eighteen years and she has never had a problem before. (except the last two shippings to Cornell… my notes) I listened to her quietly and gave her the instructions anyway about the packaging and viola, the shipment has arrived intact and alive finally the third time (ok almost…I save you from the details. The point is that the semen has been much better than the first time.)

So finally, yesterday, in the midst of a major snowstorm I had to drive back to Cornell, where the vet AGAIN could not do the transcervical insemination and we had to settle for a vaginal insemination. At the end, I asked him that I hoped that I was  going to be billed for a vaginal and not a transcervical insemination, since he obviously could not insert the catheter.  As a response, he told me that “you will be billed for transcervical because we used the equipment….”

And this was the moment when the shit hit the fan… (those of you who know me usually have safety goggles in your pockets for rear moments like this…)  To save the day, the chief vet came and assured me that he will adjust the bill.

Epilogiue…

Although, the ideas of Enlightenment have generally been considered as the engines of human progress during modernity and even after,  I have always wanted to believe that Romanticism has generated the rocket fuel of scientific strides through utopian ideas. (Do you remember Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,  or The Modern Prometheus?”) 

Did I go out to too far on the “ledge” by trying this “NEW tech” and I fell, or I put my dog through hell because I did not listen to Tom Levy…?

Still I hope that we have a slight chance….

 Epilogue #2…

I just got an email from Cornell that her last progesterone test was over 14.85 so she was still in full estrus when we inseminated her yesterday.

Please pray for Harang that she gets pregnant.  (I will call you anonymously to check wether you pray or not so you better to…)