Logical Approach to Repro Disease in SAs Flashcards
When presented with a reproductive problem, what initial question should be considered?
Whether it is a manifestation of normal reproductive physiology or whether there is a clinical disease.
What historical questions are important to ask with regards to reproductive disease?
Neutered/entire Last season (when, normal, mating?) Breeding history Current/Planned use of animal Previous illness/surgery?
What specific elements of the animal should be focused on in the clinical exam with regards to reproduction?
Female:
- Vulva
- Mammary glands
- Vaginal/Rectal exam
- response to behavioral stimuli
Male: -Scrotum/testes Prepuce/penis -mammary glands? -Rectal
What things could be found on abdominal palpation that may give clues for the Dx of reproductive status/disease?
Massess Uterine enlargement? Fluid Thrill Visceral displacement Pain
What should one be looking for when examining the mammary glands?
Enlargement, lactation, massess, pain, discharge
What should one be looking for with regards to scrotum?
- Skin
- Two testicles?
- Testicular size, shape, consitency, mobility, pain
What should one be looking for when assessing the vulva/prepuce?
Size, shape, position, Skin Discharge Mucous membrane, mucocutaneous junctions Extrude penis - shaft, urethral orifice
What organs can be palpated per rectum in the dog?
Anal sacs Urethra Prostate Vagina Enlarged dorsal LNs Pelvis (diameter)
What are the signs of oestrus in the bitch?
Vulval enlargement
Standing on rump pressure +/- tail displacement
Haemorrhagic/straw coloured discharge
Characteristic smell
Why is knowing neutered status so important?
Many reproductive diseases are hormonally driven and these would be ruled out/extremely rare in neutered animals.
Why is urinanalysis/urine bacteriology needed in reproductive disease diagnosis?
The UT and repro tracts are closely associated so infection in one is often associated with infection in another.
What hormonal assays are available in the UK?
Are the used often?
Testosterone
Oestrogen
Progesterone
Relaxin
Not commonly used in practice
What structures in ultrasound not very useful for imaging in terms of reproductive structures?
Intra pelvic structures
What is radiography most useful for when diagnosing reproductive diseases?
- Foetal mineralisation/number
- Pelvic anatomy
- Injury to os penis
- Contrast techniques can be used to demonstrate luminal abnormalities of the vagina and urethra particularly.
How can the lumen of the vagina be imaged?
With an endoscope - however, a long scope is needed to examine the entire length.
