Evaluation of the Stud Dog

Question 1

What is the first problem you see with 2 animals bred together that are too closely blood related (i.e. brother/sister, son/mom, etc.)?

Answer 1

Fertility - decreases the closer you get

Question 2

What age is peak fertility in dogs?

Answer 2

2-4 years of age

Question 3

What age is peak freezability of dogs?

Answer 3

2-5 years of age

Question 4

T/F: Toy breed dogs may have peak fertility earlier than 24 months of age, whereas giant breed dogs may not have peak fertility until later.

Answer 4

T

Question 5

What is the gold standard screening test for Brucella canis?

Answer 5

Cornell mutliplex test

Question 6

Should you perform a physical exam before or after semen collection?

Answer 6

After

Question 7

Why do overweight dogs have poor fertility?

Answer 7

Dogs put fat in their scrotum -> adds heat -> sperm don’t like to be hot -> poor fertility

Question 8

Which of the following endocrine abnormalities affects fertility?

A. Hypothyroidism
B. Cushing’s
C. Addison’s
D. A & B only
E. B & C only
F. All of the above

Answer 8

E, Cushing’s & Addison’s

Question 9

How long is the spermatogenic cycle?

Answer 9

60 days

Question 10

T/F: If you give a stud dog antibiotics, it will only affect his fertility for the next 30 days.

Answer 10

F, it will affect his fertility for the next 60 days because spermatogenesis lasts 60 days.

Question 11

T/F: It is safe to use Bravecto in breeding animals.

Answer 11

F!!!!! Decreases fertility & causes birth defects

Question 12

What internal & external structures should be evaluated in all male dogs when present for a reproductive examination?

Answer 12

• Penis & prepuce
• Testicles, epididymes, spermatic cord, scrotum
• Prostate gland

Question 13

What is smegma & should you be concerned if a male dog presents with this?

Answer 13

Preputial discharge containing a mixture of WBCs & debris;

This occurs in intact & non-intact males & it is normal.

Question 14

Why should you let a dog urinate & defecate outside prior to attempted collection?

Answer 14

Colon sits right on top - if they have not defecated yet, then it might be uncomfortable for them to give you a sample (& they may not even give you one because of it)

Question 15

When collecting semen, why should you avoid lubrication containing chlorhexidine (i.e. KY lube)?

Answer 15

Because chlorhexidine is toxic to sperm cells

Question 16

Describe how to perform a manual ejaculation for semen collection in a male dog.

Answer 16

1. Grasp penile body behind the bulbus glandis
2. Apply strong constant pressure (NOT friction) to create a tourniquette effect.
3. Apply pulsatile pressure to bulbus glandis

Pulsations should begin with or without thrusting from him

Question 17

For penile blood flow, the blood will flow into the ________ ___________ and the ___________ from the female keeps that blood in during natural breedings.

Answer 17

Corpus spongiosum, occlusion

Question 18

What is in the first fraction of ejaculate?

Answer 18

Some prostatic fluid +/- urine (this is the presperm fraction)

Question 19

What are the 3 fractions of ejaculate?

Answer 19

1. Presperm fraction
2. Sperm-rich fraction
3. Prostatic fraction

Question 20

What is in the second fraction of ejaculate?

Answer 20

Sperm-rich semen; comes from epididymes & testis

Question 21

What is in the third fraction of ejaculate?

Answer 21

Prostatic fluid only; this is the post-sperm fraction

Question 22

What is a non-invasive way of evaluating the prostatic fluid when you suspect disease?

Answer 22

Semen collection. Collect the first 2 fractions, remove the bag, and when the 3rd fraction begins, grab a red top tube.

Question 23

Describe the color of each of the ejaculate fractions.

Answer 23

Presperm = slightly cloudy
Sperm-rich = grayish white
Postsperm = crystal clear

Question 24

Do you need to keep the third fraction from the ejaculate?

Answer 24

No, unless you need to evaluate the prostate

Question 25

You have just collected prostatic fluid that is orangish in color. What are you concerned for?

Answer 25

Prostatitis

Question 26

When quickly evaluating motility, what type of movement from the sperm cells are you looking for?

Answer 26

Progressive linear movement;

Done at 10x magnification for gross motility (40x for individual motility w/ coverslip) & look for a set of 10 sperm cells. Of those 10, how many are moving & how many are going in a linear progressive movement?

Question 27

At what objective do you evaluate sperm morphology on a microscope?

Answer 27

100x under oil immersion

Question 28

What is the minimum number of sperm cells you should evaluate morphology?

Answer 28

100 (classify as normal vs. abnormal (primary or secondary))

Question 29

What 2 machines are both acceptable means for determining the concentration of ejaculate?

Answer 29

Nucleocounter (gold standard but expensive) & hemacytometer (best in private practice)

Question 30

What is the minimum number of normal sperm per ejaculate in small breed dogs?

Answer 30

100-150 million

Question 31

What is the minimum number of normal sperm per ejaculate in large breed dogs?

Answer 31

200 million

Question 32

T/F: Cytology of ejaculate uses a modified Wright’s stain. This stain is appropriate to use when looking at sperm morphology.

Answer 32

F

Question 33

What is modified Wright’s stain good for when evaluating cytology of ejaculate?

Answer 33

RBCs, WBCs, epithelial cells in ejaculate

Question 34

Why should you compare cytology of prostatic fraction to a U/A?

Answer 34

Dogs are constantly retrograde ejaculating into their bladders; if something is going on with the bladder, then it is also going on with the prostate & vice versa

Question 35

T/F: There is normal flora present on the penis, prepuce, and urethra in the male dogs.

Answer 35

T

Question 36

What are the organisms that are considered normal flora on the penis, prepuce, & urethra in males?

Answer 36

Pasteurella, Staph, Strep, Mycoplasma.

Sometimes will see E. coli too.

Question 37

When is the only time that we perform cytology/culture on ejaculate?

Answer 37

When we suspect infection or something else going on. Hard to interpret results sometimes because of normal flora present.