Reproductive System Flashcards
What is the Estrous Cycle?
the time from the beginning of one heat period to the beginning of the next
When is the Onset of Puberty?
6-24 months
What is the average Breeding Age?
9-10 months
What are the Follicular Phases?
- proestrus
- estrus
What are the Luteal Phases?
- diestrus
- anestrus
What are the stages of the Estrous Cycle?
- proestrus
- estrus
- metestrus
- diestrus
- anestrus
What is Proestrus?
the period when the bitch is sexually attractive, but rejects the males advances
What are the physical signs of Proestrus?
- serosanguinous vaginal discharge
- vulvar swelling
- vaginal edema
What are the internal physical signs of Proestrus?
- lengthening and hyperemia of uterine horns
- enlargement of cervix
- thickening of vaginal wall
What are the hormonal signs of Proestrus?
- increasing serum concentrations of estradiol (estrogen)
- as proestrus progresses, estrogen levels begin to peak and initiate the onset of estrus
What are the cytologic signs of Proestrus?
- parabasal cells (predominant)
- intermediate cells (predominant)
- WBC
- RBC
What is the duration of Proestrus?
3-17 days (avg: 9 days)
What is Estrus?
period of acceptance of the male
What are the physical signs of Estrus?
- swollen vulva is less turgid
- vulvar discharge is usually less bloody
- bitch allows mating (standing heat, flagging)
What are the 2 stages in Canine Mating?
- 1st: coitus (1-2 min), the turn (2-5 sec)
- 2nd stage: coitus (5-45 min)
What muscle allows the “turning”?
ischiocavernous muscle
What are the hormonal signs of Estrus?
- estrogen peaks in late proestrus and early estrus
- estrogen peak initiates a surge of LH
- progesterone levels begin to increase toward the end of estrus
What hormone is responsible for maintaining pregnancy?
progesterone
What are the cytologic signs of Estrus?
- anuclear squamous cells
- RBCs
What is the duration of Estrus?
3-21 days (avg: 9 days)
What is Metestrus?
period after ovulation when corpus luteum develops
What are the internal signs of Metestrus?
- lining of uterus is thick and juicy in preparation for implantation of fertilized ovum
- loss of cornified epithelial lining that developed
What is Diestrus?
- period where corpus luteum has reached max size and effectiveness
- begins with bitch’s refusal to mate
What are the physical signs of Diestrus?
none except the cessation of signs of estrus
What are the hormonal signs of Diestrus?
- progesterone levels increase and peak
- rapid pre-partum drop in progesterone 24hrs before birthing (pregnant bitches)
- gradual decline (non pregnant bitches)
What are the cytologic signs of Diestrus?
- sudden decrease in number of superficial cells
- reappearance of intermediate and parabasal cells
- RBCs and WBCs disappear completely
What is the duration of Diestrus?
- 2 months
- longer if pregnant
- at 2 months CL is lysed by prostaglandin
What is Pseudopregnancy?
- prolonged diestrus
- animal is showing signs of pregnancy but isn’t
- signs fade with time
What is Anestrus?
- follow diestrus and ends with the onset of proestrus
- first time plasma progesterone reaches below a 3
What are the cytologic signs of Anestrus?
- acellular
- parabasal cells and intermediate cells are present
What is the duration of Anestrus?
4.5 months
When is the onset of puberty (Queen)?
6-9 months
What type of cycle do cats have?
- polyestrous
- controlled by photoperiod and body weight (12-14 hrs of light, 2.5kgs)
What is Proestrus (Queen)?
period of follicular development, but refusal to mate
What are the physical signs of Proestrus (Queen)?
- increased affection
- no vulvar swelling or discharge in cats
What are the hormonal signs of Proestrus (Queen)?
increasing estrogen concentration
What are the cytologic signs of Proestrus (Queen)?
epithelial cells become cornified
What is the duration of Proestrus (Queen)?
1-2 days
What is Estrus (Queen)?
period of sexual receptivity and follicle maturation
What are the physical signs of Estrus (Queen)?
- queen allows copulation
- extreme affection
- lordosis (booty in the air)
What are the hormonal signs of Estrus (Queen)?
peak serum concentrations of estrogen
What are the cytologic signs of Estrus (Queen)?
max vaginal epithelium cornifications
What is the duration of Estrus (Queen)?
7-9 days
What are ways to diagnose pregnancy?
- palpation (21-30 days)
- hormone assay
- ultrasonography (18-20 days past LH peak)
- radiography ( day 45)
What hormone are pregnancy tests looking for?
relaxin
When is the optimum time to use an ultrasound to diagnose pregnancy?
33-45 days
What is Gestation?
the period of pregnancy
How long is gestation in dogs?
59-68 days
How long is gestation in cats?
56-69 days
What are the 3 stages of labor?
- uterine contractions
- delivery of newborn
- delivery of placenta
What are signs of impending partuition?
- nesting behavior (12-24hrs before)
- inappetance
- panting, shivering
- drop in rectal temp (24-48hrs before, <98*)
What is Labor (Stage 1)?
intermittent uterine contractions with no sign of abdominal straining
What are signs of Labor (Stage 1)?
- restlessness, panting, nesting may continue
- cervix dilates
How long does Labor (Stage 1) last?
4 hrs (can last up to 36 hours)
When should the bitch be placed in the whelping box?
atleast 1 week prior to partuition
What is Labor (Stage 2)?
delivery of the newborn
What are signs of Labor (Stage 2)?
- rectal temp begins to rise or return to normal
- passing of fetal fluids
- expulsive uterine contractions accompanied with abdominal contractions
What happens during Labor (Stage 2)?
- 1st fetus dellivered within 4 hours
- bitch will break amniotic membrane, lick neonate and sever umbilical cord
How long does Labor (Stage 2) last?
3-6 hours but may be as long as 24 hours total
How much time should be spent birthing each puppy?
20 minutes to 1 hour (no more than 2 hours should elapse between each puppy born)
What are warning signs for Labor (Stage 2)?
- greenish discharge, but no pup born within 2-4 hrs
- fetal fluid passed more than 2-3 hours previously, but nothing more has happened
- bitch is having weak, irregular straining for more than 2-4hrs
- bitch has had strong, regular straining for more than 20-30 min, but no pup born
- more than 2-4 hrs have passed since last puppy born
- has been in stage 2 labor for more than 12 hrs
How long is the interval between each birth?
5-20 minutes
What is Labor (Stage 3)?
expulsion of the placenta
How long after the fetus should the placenta follow?
15 minutes
What is Lochia?
- greenish postpartum discharge of fetal fluids and placental remains
- seen for up to 3 weeks or more
When should Dystocia be suspected?
- labor doesn’t begin when expected
- stage 2 labor lasts 1 hour without delivery
- 1-2 hours have passed between delivery
- dam or neonates show sign of distress (stillborn)
- greenish-black discharge without immediate delivery
- significant hemorrhagic vaginal discharge
What is Dystocia?
difficult birth or the inability to expel the fetus through the birth canal without assistance
What are the causes of Dystocia?
- maternal (weak uterine contractions
- fetal (oversize, death, abnormal position)
How often does Dystocia occur in dogs?
5%
How often does Dystocia occur in cats?
3-5.8%
How do you diagnose Dystocia?
- digital palpation of vagina
- radiographs
- ultrasound
How do you treat Dystocia?
- manual manipulation (manually dislodged)
- uterine inertia (oxytocin injections, calcium preparations
- c section
What is appropriate maternal behavior?
- allow nursing
- grooming (stimulate CV, RS function; stimulates elimination and removal of waste)
- retrieving
- protecting
What is inappropriate maternal behavior?
- attack, kill or canabalize young
- overly protective, restless, agressiveness
What is Agalactia?
- lack of milk production
- causes: stress, malnutrition, premature partuition, infection
What is Galactostasis?
milk stasis, which can result in mastitis
hormone related
What is Mastitis?
septic inflammation of the mammary gland
What are clinical signs of Mastitis?
- pain
- discolored milk
- fever
- reluctance to allow nursing
- abscessed glands
How do you treat Mastitis?
- antibiotics
- warm compress
- don’t allow nursing from affected glands
What is Pyometra?
pus in the uterus
What causes Pyometra?
- high levels of progesterone cause changes in uterus
- better site for microbes
- hyperplasia and hypertrophy of endometrial glands of uterus
- decreased myometrial contractions
What are clinical signs of Pyometra?
- vulvar discharge
- vomiting
- dehydration
- PU/PD
- azotemia
How do you diagnose Pyometra?
- radiology
- ultrasound
- bloodwork (leukocytosis, neutrophilia with left shift)(closed pyometra)
What is Vaginitis?
an inflammatory process, not necessarily infectious
What are the 2 types of Vaginitis?
- prepuberal bitch (puppy vaginitis)
- adult vaginitis
What are the causes of Puppy Vaginitis?
- inverted vulva
- hormonal influctuations
What are the clinical signs of Puppy Vaginitis?
- purulent vulvar discharge
- +/- licking the vulva
How do you treat Puppy Vaginitis?
- systemic antibiotics
- topical douching
What are the causes of Adult Vaginitis?
- anatomical abnormalities
- canine herpesvirus
What are clinical signs of Adult Vaginitis?
- purulent vulvar discharge
- +/- licking the vulva
- peri-vulvar skin irritation or infection
- perceived urinary incontinence
How do you treat Hyperplasia/Prolapse?
- ovariohysterectomy
- will usually resolve spontaneously but will recur
What is the signalment for Mammary Tumors?
- older intact females
- 50% of all tumors in female dogs
- 3rd most common in cats
What % of Mammary Tumors are benign in dogs?
50%
What % of Mammary Tumors are benign in cats?
10-20%
How do you diagnose Mammary Tumors?
biopsy and send for histopathology
What is the Prostate?
male sex gland in cats and dogs
Where is the Prostate located?
caudal to the bladder encircling the proximal urethra at the neck of the bladder
What is the purpose of the Prostate?
produce a fluid as transport and support medium for sperm during ejaculation
What is the cause of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
altered androgen/estrogen ratio
What are clinical signs of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
- mild or no clinical signs
- tenesmus
- enlarged prostate gland but not painful
How do you treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
castration results in 70% decrease in size within 14 days
What are clinical signs of Prostatitis?
- lethargy
- anorexia
How do you diagnose Prostatitis?
urinalysis (hematuria, increased WBCs, presence of bacteria)
How do you treat Prostatitis?
- antibiotics
- castration
What is the signalment for Prostatic Neoplasia?
older castrated male dogs
How do you treat Prostatic Neoplasia?
- cox inhibitors (piroxicam, carprofen)
- total prostectomy
- radiation (not pursued due to risk)
What is the prognosis of Prostatic Neoplasia?
fatal disease (die within a few months)
How is Transmissible Veneral Tumor (TVT) spread?
sexual contact
What are clinical signs of TVT?
tumors found on penis, prepuce and scrotum
How do you treat TVT?
- chemotherapy
- surgical removal of small localized mass
What is Cryptorchidism?
one or both testicles have been retained in the abdomen or inguinal canal
How do you treat Cryptorchidism?
castration
What is the signalment for Cryptorchidism?
small dogs, boxers
What is GnRH?
gonadotropin releazine hormone
GnRH (site of production)
hypothalamus
GnRH (target tissue)
anterior pituitary
GnRH (action)
allows release of FSH and LH
FSH (site of production)
pituitary
FSH (target tissue)
ovary (follicle)
FSH (action)
stimulates follicle development and estrogen production
LH (site of production)
pituitary
LH (target tissue)
ovary (follicle)
LH (action)
induces ovulation, corpus luteum development and progesterone production
Estrogen (site of production)
ovary (follicle)
Estrogen (target tissue)
- brain
- anterior pituitary
- oviduct, uterus, cervix, vagina, vulva
Estrogen (action: brain)
induces changes in hehavior associated with heat
Estrogen (action: anterior pituitary)
enhances the release of FSH and LH during estrus
Estrogen (action: oviduct, uterus, etc)
increases muscular activity and production of a fluid of low viscosity to facilitate the migration of the sperm and the egg towards each other
Progesterone (site of production)
ovary (corpus luteum)
Progesterone (target tissue)
- anterior pituitary
- uterus
Progesterone (action:anterior pituitary)
prevents complete maturation and ovulation of follicles
Progesterone (action: uterus)
decreases muscular activity and prepares the uterus to be a suitable environment for the embryo
Prostaglandins (site of production)
uterus
Prostaglandins (target tissue)
ovary (corpus luteum)
Prostaglandins (action)
induces the regression of the corpus luteum and a decrease in progesterone
