Infertility workshop

Question 1

What is the common age of puberty in bitches?

Answer 1

Puberty in bitches typically occurs between 6 and 24 months, with smaller breeds reaching puberty earlier than larger breeds.

Question 2

What is the normal length of the oestrus cycle in bitches?

Answer 2

The normal cycle length is approximately 7 months, with proestrus (P) lasting 10 days, oestrus (O) lasting 10 days, luteal phase (L) lasting 65 days, and anoestrus (A) lasting 150 days.

Question 3

What are the common signs indicating that a cycle has been missed in a bitch?

Answer 3

Elevated progesterone for 70 days, mammary enlargement, lactation, and pseudopregnancy behaviors. Progesterone measurement is the most reliable method.

Question 4

What are some causes of failure to cycle in a bitch?

Answer 4

• systemic disease,
• exogenous reproductive steroids,
• chromosomal abnormalities,
• ovarian abnormalities,
• hypothalamic/pituitary disease,
• absence of ovaries.

Question 5

What is primary anoestrus in bitches, and how is it diagnosed?

Answer 5

Primary anoestrus refers to a bitch that has never cycled. Diagnosis includes gathering history (age, steroid use), clinical exam, and potentially tests like progesterone measurement. If the bitch is less than 24 months, waiting until 24 months is advised.

Question 6

What is secondary anoestrus in bitches?

Answer 6

Secondary anoestrus refers to a bitch that has passed through puberty but fails to return to oestrus at the expected interval. It can be caused by failure of observation, systemic disease, or drug-induced factors (e.g., corticosteroids).

Question 7

What is primary anoestrus in queens, and what factors influence puberty?

Answer 7

Primary anoestrus occurs when a queen does not experience puberty. Puberty typically occurs between 6-10 months, influenced by the season, birth timing, and body condition.

Question 8

What is secondary anoestrus in queens?

Answer 8

Secondary anoestrus in queens often results from inadequate lighting, systemic disease, or drug-induced suppression (e.g., corticosteroids).

Question 9

What tests should be done to investigate a possible pyometra in a bitch?

Answer 9

Vaginal cytology and uterine ultrasound are commonly used to rule out pyometra and make a diagnosis.

Question 10

What is the most likely diagnosis for Hetty, an 11-month-old bitch with swollen vulva and sero-sanguineous discharge 6 weeks after oestrus?

Answer 10

The most likely diagnosis is a split oestrus (ovulation failure). Treatment is generally not needed as she is likely to ovulate in the next cycle.

Question 11

How would you investigate signs of persistent oestrus in a young pubertal animal?

Answer 11

Consider ovulation failure as a primary cause. Diagnostic steps include vaginal cytology and ovarian ultrasound.

Question 12

What is the treatment approach for persistent oestrus in a young dog due to ovulation failure?

Answer 12

Hormonal treatment, such as hCG administration, may stimulate ovulation. If unsuccessful, progestogens might be used.

Question 13

What could cause persistent anoestrus in a bitch?

Answer 13

Causes of persistent anoestrus include delayed puberty, prolonged anoestrus, and ovarian neoplasia.

Question 14

How do ovarian cysts affect a bitch’s oestrus cycle?

Answer 14

Follicular cysts can lead to persistent oestrus, while luteal cysts can cause acyclicity or pyometra.

Question 15

What is the most likely cause of persistent oestrus in a young dog with a history of long first oestrus?

Answer 15

The most likely cause is failure to ovulate, especially in pubertal animals.

Question 16

What would you do to investigate Noodle, a 3-month-old dog with enlarging vulva and alopecia?

Answer 16

Investigate for possible exposure to exogenous oestrogens, such as from human hormone replacement therapy creams, which can cause signs of oestrus in younger dogs.

Question 17

What anatomical site is most commonly associated with abnormalities causing pain at coitus in a bitch?

Answer 17

The vestibulo-vaginal junction is the most common site of abnormalities causing pain during mating.

Question 18

What is Vaginal Hyperplasia?
what are the clinical signs?
how is it treated?

Answer 18

Vaginal Hyperplasia is an exaggerated response of the vaginal wall to normal estrogen concentrations during estrus, which can cause the ventral vaginal wall to thicken and sometimes prolapse, and occasionally be circumferential.

clinical signs: A mass at the vulva with the bitch in estrus and pain during attempted coitus.

Treatment options include conservative management (resolves at the end of estrus), surgical resection, or ovariohysterectomy for prevention.

Question 19

What are the common causes of failure to mate in females?

Answer 19

Causes include incorrect timing, inexperience or shyness, inadequate time to display normal estrus behavior, size differences, pain at coitus, and previous bad experiences.

Question 20

What are the causes of failure to mate in males?

Answer 20

Causes include inexperience or shyness, inadequate libido, musculoskeletal pain, previous bad experiences, penile/preputial abnormalities, and erection failure.

Question 21

What is the most common cause of infertility in the bitch?

Answer 21

The most common cause of infertility in bitches is mating at the incorrect time.

Question 22

What is the optimal mating time in the bitch?

Answer 22

The optimal mating time is within the ‘Fertilization’ or ‘Fertile’ periods, typically occurring st 12 days but can be between days 5 and 32 of the estrous cycle.

Question 23

What causes failure to get pregnant in bitches?

Answer 23

Common causes include inappropriate mating time, male factor infertility, abnormal uterine environment, and infectious causes of pregnancy failure.

Question 24

What is Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (CEH)?

Answer 24

CEH is a hyperplastic condition of the endometrium that impairs uterine clearance of commensal bacteria and may affect sperm transport and oocyte fertilization. It is often age-related and can lead to a hostile uterine environment.

Question 25

How does CEH progress to pyometra?

Answer 25

CEH can progress to pyometra (pus in the uterus), which may occur with or without mating and is usually seen in middle-aged to elderly bitches.

Question 26

What are the causes of pyometra?

Answer 26

Causes include bacterial contamination during estrus, therapeutic administration of estrogens or progestogens, and the presence of Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (CEH).

Question 27

What is Intersexuality?

Answer 27

Intersexuality refers to abnormalities in chromosomal, gonadal, or phenotypic sex, leading to atypical genitalia and reproductive characteristics.

Question 28

What are the signs of intersexuality in males?

Answer 28

Signs include absence of scrotal testes, small testes, penile bleeding during estrus, and possible pyometra if there is a uterus.

Question 29

What are the signs of intersexuality in females?

Answer 29

Signs include clitoral enlargement, abnormal vulva positioning, and failure to cycle, which can be confused with primary anestrus.

Question 30

How is intersexuality treated?

Answer 30

Treatment involves the removal of the reproductive tract, including gonads. In females, clitoridectomy may be necessary if the clitoris remains enlarged post-gonadectomy.

Question 31

What are the common causes of infertility in bitches?

Answer 31

Causes include failure to cycle, abnormal cycles, failure to mate, breeding at the wrong time, pregnancy loss, and intersex conditions.

Question 32

What is involved in a male breeding soundness exam?

Answer 32

The exam includes a clinical history, general physical and reproductive exam, observation of libido and behavior, scrotum and testes examination, penis and accessory gland checks, and semen collection for analysis.

Question 33

How is semen quality evaluated in a male?

Answer 33

Semen evaluation includes assessing volume, sperm motility, appearance, and checking for abnormalities like haemospermia, which could indicate prostatic disease.

Question 34

What are common causes of haemospermia in males?

Answer 34

Common causes include prostatic diseases, especially benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Question 35

What diagnostic tests are useful in cases of haemospermia or abnormal semen?

Answer 35

Diagnostic tests include semen analysis, rectal exam for prostate health, and possibly imaging tests like ultrasound for prostatic or testicular pathology.

Question 36

What is a focal testicular lesion?

Answer 36

A focal testicular lesion, can be detected via ultrasound, which might show mixed echogenicity, can be indicative of neoplasia. Further tests may include clinical exams and thoracic radiographs to check for metastasis.