Dogs Flashcards
Reasons for using AI in dogs
- Increased genetic pool to therefore creating greater genetic diversity
- No need to control the male dog- issues regarding separation of dogs to prevent misalliance.
- To make use of semen that is frozen- enable breeding from dogs that are no longer alive. This is important in dog showing as particular breed traits are desirable.
- Can be less traumatic for bitches that don’t allow dogs to mate with them, but they will tolerate AI.
- Can provide precise details of when the dog was mated and the pedigree linage from which the puppies will be produced.
What are the benefits of using fresh chilled semen over frozen semen
- Using frozen or chilled semen enables the semen to be stored for longer periods of time. This sperm can be reserved for when the bitch comes into season.
- Frozen thawed semen has a relatively short lifespan. The bitch should therefore be inseminated immediately before or after ovulation.
- Using chilled semen, best result are achieved if ovulation is done 24 hours after ovulation.
- What types of breeders are dogs
• Bitches are monoestrus breeders. They have one breeding season a year.
how often does the oestrus cycle occur?
- Proestrus= when a bitch comes into season and the vulva swells, a bloody vaginal discharge may develop. They can also show signs such as restlessness and frequent urination. This stage lasts on average 9 days (3 - 17 days variation). The bitch will attract males but be unlikely to stand for a mating.
- Oestrus= when the bitch is usually mated and falls pregnant. It lasts on average 9 days (3 - 21 days variation). She may stop bleeding at the start of oestrus although some bleed throughout the cycle. The bitch will more likely stand and allow a mating while in oestrus.
- Dioestrus= lasts between 60 and 90 days in non-pregnant females and approx 58-64 days in pregnant females. During this time progesterone levels (the pregnancy hormone) are high in both pregnant and non-pregnant females.
What are the signs of a bitch in oestrus?
- Stands to be mounted
- Bitch may start bleeding
- Restlessness
- Frequent urination
- What hormonal changes occur when the bitch is in season?
- Oestrogen= rises prior to ovulation.
- LH= rises at the point of ovulation.
- Progesterone= falls before ovulation and increases after ovulation has occurred. Progesterone then falls before whelping.
What are the vaginal cytological signs of a bitch in oestrus?
- Anoestrus= vaginal cells are parabasal- cells have a rounded cytoplasm and a large stipled nucleus.
- Pro-oestrus bitch= cells are cornified- have an angled cytoplasm and small nucleus.
- The number of cornified cells increases by 10% each day. Di- oestrus is signified by an abrupt change on day 1 to 50% of cells being non- cornified.
Describe the methods of pregnancy diagnosis in the bitch and how far into pregnancy is it before you can diagnose pregnancy?
- Can be assessed in the dog by palpation. This is done from day 20 after ovulation. From days 32, the individual swellings can no longer be identified and the uterus feels as one large fluid sac.
- Radiography can also be used. This is performed from day 42 after ovulation. Occurs once the skeletons have calcified and to prevent harm or mutation occurring in the puppies.
What is the maintenance energy requirements for pregnant and lactating bitch?
• Bitch gestation= feed maintenance energy + 25% body weight after day 28 of pregnancy. Maintenance energy becomes 145 x 75% of body weight + body weight x (24 x number of puppies between 1 and 4) + (12 x number of puppies between 5 and 8) x correction factor for stage of lactation.
What is the nutrition of a puppy?
- Puppies are weaned from 3 weeks old and should be fully weaned by 8 weeks old.
- Puppies 8 weeks- 6 months old= 2.0 x maintenance energy
- Puppies 50% of adult body weight= 1.5 x metabolisable energy
- Puppies 80% of body weight= 1.2 x metabolisable energy
What are the signs of parturition in the bitch?
- Signs of nesting and looking for a suitable place to whelp
- Stop eating during the last 24 hours of pregnancy
- Rectal temperature drops below 37.8 degrees centigrade
- Straining begins in the second stage of labour
What are the normal foetal dispositions of puppies?
• Dogs are polytocous species. The puppies should have posterior presentation, dorsal position and extended posture.
Why is a puppy born quickly after bitch is given oxytocin?
- At the end of gestation, the uterus must contract vigorously and for a prolonged period of time in order to deliver the fetus. During the later stages of gestation, there is an increase in abundance of oxytocin receptors on uterine smooth muscle cells, which is associated with increased “irritability” of the uterus (and sometimes the mother as well). Oxytocin is released during labor when the fetus stimulates the cervix and vagina, and it enhances contraction of uterine smooth muscle to facilitate parturition or birth.
- Oxytocin is important in parturition, but it does not initiate parturition. It is involved in the ferguson reflex.
What is sero-sanguinous fluid?
• means containing or relating to both blood and the liquid part of blood (serum). It usually refers to fluids collected from or leaving the body. For example, fluid leaving a wound that is serosanguineous is yellowish with small amounts of blood.
