Breeding

Question 1

Puberty definition

Answer 1

• Transition from immature to sexually mature and capable of reproduction
• Characterized by hormones, physical characteristics, and sexual behavior

Question 2

Relative onset of puberty in females vs males

Answer 2

Occurs earlier in females

Question 3

What hormone controls the onset of puberty?

Answer 3

Hypothalamic release of GnRH

Question 4

Relative onset of puberty in small vs large dogs and animals

Answer 4

• Occurs sooner in small size animals and breeds

- Small species and breeds have a steeper growth curve, which is why this occurs sooner

Question 5

What determines when puberty will occur?

Answer 5

• Percent of adult body weight

- In cats and dogs, likely when they hit about 70% of adult body weight

Question 6

Does body height factor at all into onset of puberty?

Answer 6

• No

- Estrogen produced AFTER puberty leads to closure of epiphyseal growth plates

Question 7

What will happen to bone growth if an animal is spayed or neutered prior to puberty?

Answer 7

• Prolongs bone growth

Question 8

Other factors that impact onset of puberty

Answer 8

• Genetics, BCS, gender, environment, presence of mature animals

Question 9

Average inter-estrus interval

Answer 9

• 4.8-18 months

- Larger breed dogs tend to have longer intervals (with the exception of German Shepherds

Question 10

Serum progesterone levels during different events in the estrous cycle and pregnancy

Answer 10

• SEE the other flashcards that you made

Question 11

LH surge relative to different events in estrous cycle and early pregnancy

Answer 11

SEE the other flashcard set

Question 12

How long can sperm survive in the uterus?

Answer 12

• 9-11 days in a non-capacitated state

Question 13

Are sperm capacitated or non-capacitated for fertilization?

Answer 13

Capacitated

Question 14

How long do sperm survive after capacitation?

Answer 14

• <1 day

Question 15

Where does the stricture occur with vestibulo-vaginal narrowing?

Answer 15

Right above the urethral tubercle

Question 16

What are alternatives to natural cover breeding?

Answer 16

1. Fresh collected side-by-side artificial insemination
2. Insemination with chilled shipped semen
3. Insemination with frozen thawed semen

Question 17

Processes involved in inseminating with chilled shipped semen?

Answer 17

• Requires accurate ovulation timing and coordination with persons collecting and shipping semen
• Hard to do over weekend and holiday periods

Question 18

Insemination with frozen thawed semen - how long are sperm capable of fertilization

Answer 18

Only 1 day

Question 19

What type of insemination is required with frozen thawed semen?

Answer 19

• Intrauterine insemination due to low quality
• Either surgical insemination or transcervical catheterization
• Highly precise ovulation timing required

Question 20

How can either fresh side-by-side or chilled shipped semen be inseminated via AI?

Answer 20

• Can use a special pipette to deposit it right outside of the cervix
• Intravaginal Mavic Catheter from Minitube
• Insert up the anterior vagina and inflate the tube
• Place the sperm forward and take an extender like fluid to act like the third fraction of the semen
• Valve on the end to put the semen in
• Wrap with gauze, but no pressure on the belly
• butt to butt time frame for 15-20 min

Question 21

Where can blood contamination in semen come from?

Answer 21

• Surface of penis, prepuce, or anywhere in the urinary tract (kidneys, epididymis, prostate, bladder, abdomen, penis, sheath)
• Blood could be due to infection or inflammation

Question 22

How does blood impact semen quality?

Answer 22

• Diminishes it, as sperm adhere to RBCs

Question 23

What to do if there is blood contamination in the semen?

Answer 23

• Repeat physical examination with prostate examination
• Urinalysis
• Cytology of semen
• Check ratio of RBC:WBC to differentiate inflammation from peripheral blood (if it’s similar, likely just peripheral blood contamination)
• Degenerative leukocytes or leukocytes with intracellular bacteria are highly suggestive of infection

Question 24

Surgical intrauterine insemination process

Answer 24

• Semen deposited in uterine horns with IV catheter
• Sx more simple than OVH
• Surgical risks include routine anesthesia and wound healing concerns

Question 25

Can you see the cervix with an otoscope cone?

Answer 25

No

Question 26

Fertile period for thawed frozen semen

Answer 26

• Has to be about 5-6 days from LH surge

Question 27

LH tests

Answer 27

• Can use when you think the LH surge is happening, but generally much cheaper and easier to measure progesterone

Question 28

Transcervical insemination - when do you thaw the semen?

Answer 28

• When you’ve got the bitch catheterized

Question 29

How long does fresh or chilled semen last in the vagina?

Answer 29

• 4-5 hours

Question 30

How long does fresh semen last in the uterus?

Answer 30

• 9-11 days

Question 31

How long does chilled semen last in the uterus?

Answer 31

• 1-2 days or longer

Question 32

How long does thawed frozen semen last in the uterus?

Answer 32

• Less than 1 day

Question 33

When is litter size largest?

Answer 33

• Large # of recently capacitated sperm in the presence of mature oocytes

Question 34

With natural cover breeding, how would you get largest litter size?

Answer 34

• Natural cover breeding every other day

- Days 2, 4, and 6 after LH surge or days 3 and 5 after LH surge

Question 35

When to get maximum litter size with fresh chilled semen?

Answer 35

• At the start of the fertile period and again 1-2 days later
• From days 3-5 after LH surge

Question 36

When to get maximum litter size with thawed frozen semen?

Answer 36

• Day 5 and 6 following LH surge

- Must use intrauterine insemination