Page 1089 - Cote clinical veterinary advisor dogs and cats 4th

Infertility, Male 541

household at a later date (consider artificial • Serum progesterone concentrations at that Technician Tips
insemination). time and weekly if there is any indication • Be prepared for many questions from clients
VetBooks.ir continue training in the venue in which they embryonic loss clients think that all bitches should be bred Diseases and Disorders
whose dogs fail to produce puppies. Many
of variability in embryonic vesicle size or
• Performance bitches may be allowed to
on a particular pair of days from the onset
compete but under optimal environmental
and hygiene conditions to minimize risk to
bitch and fetuses. PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME of proestrus (e.g., 10th and 12th days) or
every day while she is receptive, and these
• Good to excellent for clients who comply preconceived notions should be anticipated
Drug Interactions with breeding management recommendations and addressed with medical facts.
Use care in the selection of any medication • Guarded for bitches with uterine disease and/ • Ensure that serum samples for progesterone
used in a breeding bitch. For example, topical or ovarian dysfunction are collected in appropriate sample tubes.
corticosteroids that are commonly found in otic • Poor for bitches with primary anestrus due
preparations can be absorbed systemically and to chromosomal abnormalities Client Education
are not recommended. • Suggest a reproductive workup before the
PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS next anticipated estrous cycle.
Possible Complications • Educate about the value of vaginal cytologic
• Mibolerone causes clitoral hypertrophy, Comments evaluation, vaginal culture, and serum
epiphora, and tear staining and may • Infertility of the stud dog is the second most progesterone testing
increase aggression toward other dogs. common cause of female infertility after • Importance of good semen and proper
This drug can exacerbate existing liver improper breeding management. The stud insemination technique
enzyme elevation. Dogs with normal liver dog must also be evaluated and demonstrated
enzymes rarely have changes as a result of to produce adequate numbers of motile and SUGGESTED READING
the drug. morphologically normal sperm, and the Wilborn RR, et al: Clinical approaches to infertility
• The progestational compounds may cause semen must be inseminated properly. in the bitch. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract
masculinization of female fetuses, mammary • Failure to cycle is often a failure to observe 42(3):457-468, 2012
enlargement, and/or prolong gestation result- the bitch adequately for physical changes AUTHOR: Frances O. Smith, DVM, PhD, DACT
ing in fetal death. consistent with proestrus. The client should EDITOR: Michelle A. Kutzler, DVM, PhD, DACT
blot the vulva daily to detect vaginal dis-
Recommended Monitoring charge and change in vulvar size and shape
• Confirm pregnancy ultrasonographically 30 ± monthly progesterone assays to detect
days after breeding. ovulation with unobserved estrus.

Infertility, Male

BASIC INFORMATION CONTAGION AND ZOONOSIS PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS
Brucella canis • Libido may be normal or decreased.
Definition • Testes may be small and soft or normal in
• Spermiogram abnormalities may be catego- GEOGRAPHY AND SEASONALITY size and consistency.
rized as follows: Lower total number of spermatozoa and • Testes, epididymides, or spermatic cords may
○ Asthenozoospermia: decreased numbers percentage of morphologically normal sperma- be enlarged (inflammation or neoplasia) and/
of progressively motile spermatozoa per tozoa in summer months expected in North or thickened.
ejaculate (<30%-50%) American dogs • Scrotum may be enlarged or thickened
○ Teratozoospermia: increased numbers of (dermatitis, trauma, edema or fluid
morphologically abnormal spermatozoa ASSOCIATED DISORDERS accumulation).
per ejaculate (>40%-50%) ± Poor libido • Prostatomegaly possible (symmetrical or
○ Oligozoospermia: abnormally low numbers asymmetrical; painful or nonpainful)
of spermatozoa per ejaculate (<22 million Clinical Presentation • In dogs with asthenozoospermia due to
spermatozoa/kg body weight in the dog DISEASE FORMS/SUBTYPES primary ciliary dyskinesia/immotile cilia
or < 5 million total spermatozoa in the • Reversible versus irreversible syndrome, additional signs may include
tom) • Compensatory versus noncompensatory recurrent nasal discharge and/or cough,
• Other causes of male infertility are listed on hydrocephalus (open fontanelle, domed
p. 1247. HISTORY, CHIEF COMPLAINT calvaria), or situs inversus (spleen is palpated
• Declining or consistently poor fertility on the right side of the abdomen; heartbeat
Epidemiology • Recent episode of malaise or fever is strongest on right hemithorax).
SPECIES, AGE, SEX • Prior history of heavy physical training • ± Fever (infectious causes of infertility)
Dog or cat, intact males, any age (possibility of performance-enhancing drugs)
• History of bloody penile or preputial Etiology and Pathophysiology
RISK FACTORS discharge or pain with ejaculation Causes (all categories):
Age, systemic disease (especially those resulting • History of chronic respiratory disease • Infectious or inflammatory (orchitis, epididy-
in increased body temperature), endocrinopathy, (asthenozoospermia) mitis, prostatitis including infection with B.
testicular disease or trauma, chemotherapy, canis, mycoplasmas or other aerobic bacteria,
hormone therapy or feline infectious peritonitis [FIP])

www.ExpertConsult.com