Examination and BSE of Male Flashcards
Why are examinations of males performed (3)
+define sterile/infertile/fertile
Document normality (BSE)
To determine prognosis for fertility:
- Fertile (ability to reproduce normally)
- Infertile (often used inter-changeably with sterility but not the same – probably better described as impaired fertility)
- Sterile (absolute inability to reproduce)
Detect an abnormality (not necessary relating to fertility)
Why would you do bacteriological/ virological screening or genetic test for male
Bacteriological
CEMO, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas in stallions
Virological
PRRS in boars
Genetic tests
Dogs: many eye disease (PLL, Cataract, PRA), von Willibrands
7 elements of libido behaviour to assess
Interest in the female
Detection of oestrus female response
Species-specific (e.g. playing in dog, aggression in cat)
Mounting behaviour
Species-specific (e.g. multiple attempts in stallion and dog but rapid in ruminant)
Erection
Species differences in mechanism (e.g. stallion musculo-cavernous penis achieves full erection before intromission, in the dog penis rigidity is produced by the os penis and full erection occurs after intromission)
Intromission
Ability to achieve correct position
Size differences between male and female
Ejaculation
Duration compared to normal for species (short in ruminant / prolonged in dog and boar)
Ability to achieve normal position (e.g. in dog there is copulatory tie where male and female face opposite directions)
Interest after mounting?
Species differences in lag time to return of libido (e.g. very short in ram
Things to examine about the scrotum (4)
Normal or abnormal scrotal skin?
Previous trauma (e.g. cat bites with subsequent orchitis)
Testis freely mobile within the scrotum?
No evidence of previous disease or trauma
Absence of abnormal scrotal contents?
Presence of hernia may result in increased testicular temperature and impact on fertility, may be important as an hereditary disease, may be important in the animal that is going to be castrated
Ultrasound of scrotum
May document cause of abnormal palpation findings
e.g. hernia or fluid
What to examine about the testes (2)
Palpation of testicular size, texture, tone and evenness
Measurement of testes
Measurement of scrotal width or scrotal circumference
Tone should be firm and resilient (softer in rabbit)
Large, small, soft, flabby, uneven testes can be related to pathology and changes in semen quality
Ultrasound examination of testes
Measurement of volume
Estimation of parenchymal echogenicity
Detection of focal or diffuse abnormalities
What to examine about the sheath
Normal appearance includes normal direction
Freely mobile penis (may not be the case if castrated pre-pubertally)
Normality of preputial skin
Assess size of orifice and presence of discharge
Absence of fibrosis/evidence of previous disease
How much discharge is normal?
Ability to protrude penile tip is a good guide to normality
Remember differences in anatomy (e.g. preputial fold seen in the stallion)
What to examine about the penis
Examine the penis in the non-erect and erect state
Normal appearance (e.g. spines in the tom-cat)
Absence of penile-preputial adhesions
Penile deviations
What to examine about accessory glands
Detection of normality or abnormality with various diagnostic methods depending upon species (mainly dog’s prostate)
Semen collection- can assess prostatic fluid
Rectal palpation
Radiographic (often including positive contrast)
Trans-rectal or trans-abdominal ultrasonography
Lavage techniques
5 things to examine in ejaculate
Number of sperm
Motility of sperm
Morphology of sperm
Live staining
Other cells in ejaculate
When would endocrinological tests of a male be used
To test for presence of testicular tissue
Important things for stallion examination (7)
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of inguinal canal
Sheath, penis, routine bacteriological swabs according to HBLB guidelines
Examination of urethra and accessory glands via rectal palpation and ultrasonography, endoscopy,
Examination of semen
Basal hormone and stimulation tests
Important elements of bull examiantion
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of sheath, penis
Examination of semen
Important elements of ram/boar examination
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Examination of sheath, penis
Examination of semen
Important elements of dog examination
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Sheath, penis, perineum
Examination of urethra via radiography and prostate gland via rectal palpation, lavage, radiography and ultrasonography
Examination of semen
Basal hormone and stimulation tests
Important elements of Tom cat examination
Libido
Examination of scrotum, testes, epididymides
Sheath, penis
Examination of semen
Basal hormone and stimulation tests
