16.8.1: Breeding

Question 1

This dog is in:
a) proestrus
b) oestrus
c) metoestrus
d) dioestrus

Answer 1

a) proestrus or b) oestrus
The vagina is oedematous with folds and mucus; it remains this way until oestrogen declines
Phase O = oedematous phase

Question 2

This dog is in:
a) proestrus
b) oestrus
c) metoestrus
d) dioestrus

Answer 2

a) proestrus or b) metoestrus
The vagina is oedematous with folds and mucus; it remainds this way until oestrogen declines
Phase O = oedematous phase

Question 3

This dog is in
a) proestrus
b) oestrus
c) metoestrus
d) dioestrus

Answer 3

b) oestrus
Will ovulate in about 2 days, oestrogen is declining.

Question 4

This dog is in:
a) proestrus
b) oestrus
c) metoestrus
d) dioestrus

Answer 4

b) oestrus
Ovulation is occurring now (Phase A1)

Question 5

Where is this dog in relation to the fertilisation period?

Answer 5

Beginning of the fertilisation period
Ovulation occurred 2 days ago.
This is Phase A2

Question 6

Where is this dog in relation to the fertilisation period?

Answer 6

Middle of fertilisation period
Ovulation occurred 4 days ago

Question 7

Where is this dog in relation to the fertilisation period?

Answer 7

End of fertilisation period
Ovulation occurred 6 days ago
Progesterone is still rising

Question 8

Which phase of her cycle in this dog in?

Answer 8

Luteal phase

Question 9

Label stages 1-5

Answer 9

1 - Anoestrus
2 - Proestrus
3 - Early oestrus
4 - Late oestrus
5 - Metoestrus

Question 10

What effect does elevated plasma oestrogen have on vaginal cytology?

Answer 10

• Elevated plasma oestrogen -> epithelial proliferation
• Epithelium changes from cuboidal to stratified squamous

Question 11

How can we assess the stage of a bitch’s cycle from vaginal cytology?

Answer 11

• Estimation of ‘cornflake cell index’
• Assessment of number of WBCs

Question 12

How long after ovulation can be detect pregnancy by ultrasound in the bitch?

Answer 12

• 20 days after ovulation
• Generally we opt for 28days from mating as the day of ovulation is not always known

Question 13

Answer 13

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia

Question 14

Answer 14

Mucometra
There is a small volume of fluid in the uterine lumen

Question 15

Answer 15

Early pyometra
There is thickening of the uterine wall and fluid accumulation

Question 16

Answer 16

Pyometra
Gross distension of the uterus with pus

Question 17

Answer 17

Pregnancy
21 days from ovulation
Embryo visible within anechoic yolk sac

Question 18

Answer 18

Pregnancy
28 days from ovulation
Embryo visible within the anechoic collapsing yolk sac and amnion
1 - collapsing yolk sac
2 - amnion

Question 19

Answer 19

Granulosa cell tumour in the bitch
There is marked enlargement, visible on radiography only as a soft tissue opacity

Question 20

What changes might we find on radiography if the puppies are dead?

Answer 20

• Mineralisation of the skeleton occurs at day 45 - assess number of pups by counting skulls
• Gas in foetus and uterus - pups have been dead for some time; check especially for accumulation of gas in blood vessels of the foetus
• Check for foetal change in shape: overlapping of the skill bones, abnormal posture

Question 21

True/false: progesterone can be used to assess timing of mating in the bitch.

Answer 21

True
Progesterone rises before and throughout ovulation

Question 22

What venereal pathogens do we need to screen for in the bitch?

Answer 22

• Brucella canis
• Canine herpes virus
• There are other viral infections that can cause pregnancy loss (canine parvovirus, canine adrenovirus, canine distemper) if the bitch becomes infected during pregnancy but these are NOT venereal pathogens

Question 23

What venreal pathogens do we need to screen for in the queen?

Answer 23

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)
* This is implicated in infertility, resorption and abortion
* This is the most common cause of infectious infertility
* Screening of queens prior to breeding is important

Question 24

Which feline viruses, although not venereal pathogens, can cause pregnancy loss if the queen is infected during pregnancy?

Answer 24

• Feline herpes virus - can cause late abortion, vaccine = effective prevention
• Feline panleucopenia viruse - can cause abortion, stillbirth, cerebellar hypoplasia

Question 25

Answer 25

• Ask when she was last in season - if in last 2 months, may need to worry about pyometra. See if clinically well on exam
• Need to find souce of discharge; could be: urethra/bladder/kidney/vestibule/vagina/cervix/uterus
• Could consider ultrasound of uterus, bladder
• Could consider cytology - this is purulent so would expect neutrophils
• Could test progesterone levels

This dog has prepubital vaginitis (overgrowth of commensals in the vestibule and vagina). It improves with first season as local immune system improved.

Question 26

Answer 26

• Need to palpate the base of the mass and find out where it is coming from
• This mass will prevent normal breeding - would have to AI
• Consider heritability - it might not be the best idea to breed from this dog

She has vaginal hyperplasia that has now prolapsed. It will likely disappear when the dog ovulates. This could be conservatively managed and the dog could then be spayed at an appropriate interval.

Question 27

You examine a dog that has enlarged mammary glands. What history question do you need to ask?

Answer 27

When was the last season?
Mammary glands will be enlarged if the last oestrus was within 2 months/70 days

Question 28

How could progesterone concentration be used to estimate the timing of parturition?

Answer 28

• Could use PreMate test to assess progesterone concentration
• Progesterone falls before parturition
• This could help us work out if a dog has primary uterine inertia for example - she would not be showing contractions, but progesterone would have fallen

Question 29

How could we confirm the presence and function of gonads in dogs?

Answer 29

• Present and functioning ovary -> hCG stim test
• Present and functioning ovary + pituitary -> use GnRH stim test -> the pituitary will priduce FSH and LH and follicle will then produce oestrogen

Question 30

How could we confirm the presence and function of ovaries in cats?

Answer 30

• Induce ovulation via hCG stim test
• Induce ovulation via GnRH stim test
• After ovulation has been induced, the elevation of progesterone can then be detected