SA - K9 Male Reproduction Flashcards
What are the parts of the canine penis?
Bulbus glandis, penile shaft, glans penis, and urethral opening
What is the only accessory sex gland in the dog?
the prostate
What is the prostate?
A bilobed structure present caudal to the bladder surrounding the proximal urethra
How is the prostate evaluated?
Digital evaluation to asses size and symmetry
Ultrasound
Occasionally radiographs
What history is important to gather when doing a breeding soundness examination on a male dog?
General history Breeding history-live cover, side by side collections Ever been collected previously Last litter Last Brucella testing
What should be evaluated during a reproductive evaluation?
Scrotal palpation and ultrasonography, penis and prepuce examination, prostate examination, and Brucella canis testing
What should be assessed during scrotal palpation and ultrasonography?
Testicular size, consistency, and architecture and the epididymides
When you examine the penis and prepuce of a dog, what state should you examine it in?
erect and non-erect
What should the prostate feel like in a normal male?
Smooth, symmetrical, and intrapelvic
What happens when the prostate enlarges and what must you do to evaluate it at this state?
It frequently falls into the abdomen and must be palpated concurrently with intraabdominal pressure to assess the general size and symmetry
How often is Brucella canis testing recommended?
Every 6 months
What is the test of choice for Brucella canis testing?
Rapid Slide Agglutination Test (RSAT)
How should the environment be for a patient during semen collection?
Acclimate to collection area
Non-slip flooring
White coat syndrome - may need to take it off
Keep the room quiet
Determine if owner presence is better or worse
Should teaser females be used when semen is collected?
Yes - when possible they should be used to encourage libido and increase sperm numbers
If there isn’t access to a teaser female, what can be used to stimulate the male during semen collection?
A vaginal swab that was taken from a female from estrus to be tested for Brucellosis (negative)
In naive males, what is encouraged to be present during semen collection?
Presence of a teaser bitch, estral swabs if a teaser bitch isn’t available, and potentially prostaglandin to decrease the ejaculatory threshold
Describe the process of manual stimulation for semen collection.
Exteriorization of the penis caudal to the bulbus glandis. Circumferential pressure is applied manually. Some males prefer stroking pressure to bulbus glandis or continual pressure to the galns penis.
What should males be monitored for post collection?
Detumescence
What is detumescence?
Inward rolling of the prepuce
What can hairy dogs get that can lead to detumescence?
hair rings
What clinical signs are associated with detumescence?
significant discomfort and/or aggression
What condition could detumescence lead to?
paraphimosis
What can be done to mitigate risk of detumescence in dogs post semen collection?
Apply lubricant post collection and monitor closely until fully returned to the prepuce
What is unique about the canine ejaculate?
There are three fractions
Describe the first fraction of canine ejaculate.
It is clear, prostatic, and designed to clean out the reproductive tract
0.5-1 mL
Describe the second fraction of canine ejaculate.
It is cloudy-milky and sperm rich
Typically 0.5-5 mLs
Describe the third fraction of canine ejaculate.
It is clear and prostatic
1-30 mLs
What does yellow semen indicate?
urine contamination
What does pink to red to brown semen indicate?
hemospermia
What does brown to tan semen indicatE?
pyospermia
If you are at a normal clinic without fancy equipment, what tool can you use to determine sperm concentration?
hematocytometer - it is the gold standard
What other equipment can be used to determine concentration of sperm?
Densimeter and nucleocounter
What is required to use a hemocytometer to determine semen concentration?
A microscope and the ability to dilute
What dilution is required for semen in a hemocytometer?
1:100 dilution
How do you evaluate concentration with a hemocytometer?
Count amount of semen in 25 squares. Count on both sides and average it out. The average number is how many million you have.
i.e. if your average is 27 sperm, then you have 27,000,000 in that semen sample
How does a densimeter work?
It estimates sperm concentration based on light transmission
What type of semen sample is used for a densimeter?
raw semen
What type of semen is a nucleocounter best for?
shipped cooled or frozen semen
What does a nucleocounter measure?
It counts semen and determines viability
How is total sperm calculated?
Concentration x volume (sperm rich fraction)
How is motility of sperm assessed?
Put a drop of semen on a coverslip and the total motility is the % of sperm moving
What is the ideal progressive motility concentration for dogs?
70%
What is CASA?
A computer-assisted sperm analysis that assesses motility of sperm with multiple parameters
What is the ideal normal morphology of sperm in dogs?
> 70%
What stains can be used to assess sperm morphology?
Eosin-nigrosine stain or wet mount
How is sperm processed for shipment?
It is added to a warmed semen extender as soon as possible to maintain motility - frequently extended with a 1:1 ratio
How is semen packaged for shipment?
Placed in a centrifuge tube wrapped in parafilm, then placed in a plastic syringe, then a shipping container, and then delivered the next day
What should the semen paperwork include on it?
Male’s name, Owner’s name, Brucella status, and semen analysis information
