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History & Initial Assessment
History & Initial Assessment
• Breeding Management: Verification that adequate management was practiced and that previously bred bitches had normal fertility.
• Breeding Management: Verification that adequate management was practiced and that previously bred bitches had normal fertility.
• Medical History: Documentation of recent illnesses (e.g., fever, which can affect semen for >60 days) and use of drugs like anabolic steroids.
• Medical History: Documentation of recent illnesses (e.g., fever, which can affect semen for >60 days) and use of drugs like anabolic steroids.
• Litter History: Recording the time sequence of litters sired and any failed conceptions.
• Litter History: Recording the time sequence of litters sired and any failed conceptions.
General Physical Examination
General Physical Examination
• Mounting Ability: Checking for severe joint disease or spinal problems.
• Mounting Ability: Checking for severe joint disease or spinal problems.
• Endocrine Health: Evaluation for hyperadrenocorticism or hypothyroidism, which may be associated with weight or hair coat abnormalities and decreased fertility.
• Endocrine Health: Evaluation for hyperadrenocorticism or hypothyroidism, which may be associated with weight or hair coat abnormalities and decreased fertility.
• Infectious Disease: Mandatory screening for Brucella canis; dogs should be retested annually.
• Infectious Disease: Mandatory screening for Brucella canis; dogs should be retested annually.
Genital Organ Evaluation:
Genital Organ Evaluation:
• Penis & Prepuce: Inspection for persistent frenulum, growths, balanoposthitis, or lacerations that may cause bleeding during breeding.
• Penis & Prepuce: Inspection for persistent frenulum, growths, balanoposthitis, or lacerations that may cause bleeding during breeding.
• Prostate (Per Rectum):
• Prostate (Per Rectum):
◦ Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Common in dogs >5 years; characterized by non-painful, uniform enlargement.
◦ Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Common in dogs >5 years; characterized by non-painful, uniform enlargement.
◦ Signs: Hematuria, hemospermia, or rectal tenesmus.
◦ Signs: Hematuria, hemospermia, or rectal tenesmus.
◦ Diagnosis: Use of ultrasonography for echotexture assessment and guided biopsy.
◦ Diagnosis: Use of ultrasonography for echotexture assessment and guided biopsy.
• Scrotum & Testes:
• Scrotum & Testes:
◦ Palpation: Small/soft testes suggest poor quality; enlargement suggests orchitis or epididymitis.
◦ Palpation: Small/soft testes suggest poor quality; enlargement suggests orchitis or epididymitis.
◦ Measurement: Scrotal width correlates with body weight and sperm production potential.
◦ Measurement: Scrotal width correlates with body weight and sperm production potential.
◦ Pathology: Evaluation for scrotal dermatitis (affects thermoregulation) and testicular/epididymal masses via ultrasound.
◦ Pathology: Evaluation for scrotal dermatitis (affects thermoregulation) and testicular/epididymal masses via ultrasound.
Semen Collection
Semen Collection
• Environment: Conducted on non-slippery footing (e.g., a rug) to avoid intimidating the dog.
• Environment: Conducted on non-slippery footing (e.g., a rug) to avoid intimidating the dog.
• Stimulation: Presence of an estrous bitch is preferred; pheromones like methyl-paraben can be used as alternatives.
• Stimulation: Presence of an estrous bitch is preferred; pheromones like methyl-paraben can be used as alternatives.
• Technique: Use of a lubricated collecting cone or the gloved hand technique to apply pressure caudal to the bulbus glandis.
• Technique: Use of a lubricated collecting cone or the gloved hand technique to apply pressure caudal to the bulbus glandis.
• Fractions: Collection includes the first (clear prostatic) and second (cloudy sperm-rich) fractions.
• Fractions: Collection includes the first (clear prostatic) and second (cloudy sperm-rich) fractions.
Semen Analysis & Standards:
Semen Analysis & Standards:
• Appearance: Typically clear to cloudy; red/brown indicates blood (hemospermia), while yellow may indicate urine.
• Appearance: Typically clear to cloudy; red/brown indicates blood (hemospermia), while yellow may indicate urine.
• Volume: Typically ~5 mL, but highly variable (<2 to >20 mL).
• Volume: Typically ~5 mL, but highly variable (<2 to >20 mL).
• Motility: Must be > 70% progressively motile using warmed equipment.
• Motility: Must be > 70% progressively motile using warmed equipment.
• Morphology: Must be ≥ 80% morphologically normal.
• Morphology: Must be ≥ 80% morphologically normal.
• Total Sperm Number: Correlated with weight; a dog should produce ~10 x 10^6
• Total Sperm Number: Correlated with weight; a dog should produce ~10 x 10^6
sperm per pound of body weight.
sperm per pound of body weight.
• Cytology: Presence of WBCs or RBCs suggests tract inflammation, most commonly prostatitis.
• Cytology: Presence of WBCs or RBCs suggests tract inflammation, most commonly prostatitis.
Classification of Results
Classification of Results
• Satisfactory: All findings are within normal limits and the dog is seronegative for B. canis.
• Satisfactory: All findings are within normal limits and the dog is seronegative for B. canis.
• Questionable: Conditions that may resolve over time, such as BPH or a temporary fever.
• Questionable: Conditions that may resolve over time, such as BPH or a temporary fever.
• Unsatisfactory: Assigned for untreatable conditions or inherited disorders.
• Unsatisfactory: Assigned for untreatable conditions or inherited disorders.
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