Canine and Feline Infertility

What are important questions to ask during a clinical history of an infertility case?

• define issue/problem

• understand the previous breeding history

• deterine the general health of animal

• determine the general management of animal

• any previous litters?

what should you observe for a clinical exam?

thorough exam of repro tract (and BCS!!!)

• inspect vulva

• palpate mammary glands

• vestibule and vagina

• palpate uterus

Diagnostic approach to infertility? (diagnostic tests used)

• urinalysis

• blood tests

  • hematology/biochem

  • plasma hormones

  • endocrine

  • infectious disease testing

• imaging

  • US

  • endoscopy

• vaginal cytology

• semen collection and analysis

• referral

what are some of the categories (causes) of infertility?

• mating management

• failure to show estrus

• abnormal estrus cycle

• abnormal mating

• normal mating but infertile

• pregnancy failure

• male infertility

What are the primary causes for a failure to show/exhibit estrus? how would this manifest in testing?

primary:

• delayed puberty- detection of elevated plasma progesterone concentrations

  • nothing before 24 months

  • poor management

  • poor observation by owner

  • abnormal physiology or pathology

What are the secondary causes for a failure to show/exhibit estrus? how would this manifest in testing?

Secondary:

• physiological variation

  • variation in start of puberty

  • inadequate diet/poor bcs

  • chronic disease

• inadequate observation- silent season

• abnormal sexual differentiation

  • chromosomal abnormalities

  • hermaphroditism

• ovarian agenesis/aplasia- increased FSH and LH, low estrogen

  • absence of ovaries

  • rare condition

• already spayed

How would you treat a failure to show/exhibit estrus?

gonadotrophin (PMSG intervet/chorulon)

• 20 IU/kg SID 10 days

• 500 IU/dog hCG SID on day 10 for 10 days

administration of prolactin inhibitor (cabergoline)

• 5 mcg/kg once daily until 2 days after onset of pro-estrus

• 5 mcg/kg every other day for 10 days

• can cause vomiting and coat color change

equine chronic gonadotrophin (eCG)

• 80IU eCG and 40 IU hCG/ml

• single 5ml injection

Note: fertility of induced estrus is variable

why would the inter-estrus length be abnormally long? treatment?

abnormally long interval (>12 months)

• breed (basenji, dingo, wolf-hybrid)

• functional ovarian cyst

• poor condition

• hypothyroid/hyperadrenocorticism

  • rare cause

Treatment: induce estrus

• cabergoline, usually takes 30 days to respond

why would the inter-estrus length be abnormally short?

Note: should be a min of 4m btwn estrus cycles

• Breed: labs, american cocker spaniels, rottweilers

• failure of ovulation (GSDs!!!)

• other dogs in estrus

• split estrus (2-12 weeks)

  • common at time of puberty in dogs (<4y)

  • signs of pro-estrus

  • no ovulation

  • returns to estrus with full ovulation 2-4 weeks later

Why would the mating be abnormal?

bitch doesnt allow mating:

• dominant female

• congenital vaginal septum/stricture

• vaginal hyperplasia

male unable to achieve intromission/ejaculate:

• submissive/frightened male

• pain (spine, hindlimbs, prostate)

• poor libido (GnRH)

Why would a bitch fail to conceive?

• uterine tube aplasia

• abnormal reproductive tract

• no sperm in ejaculate (azoospermia)

• too few sperm in ejaculate (oligozoospermia)

• abnormal motility/morphology

confirm with sample!

Why would a bitch conceive and then not maintain the pregnancy?

canine herpes virus

• infectious vaginal fluids or oronasal secretions

• common cause of neonatal death

canine brucellosis (zoonotic!)

• brucella canis

• direct exposure to body fluids- semen, aborted fetus/placenta, milk

hypoluteoidism

subclinical uterine infection

premature parturition- loss of pregnancy when no cause can be identified

What is cystic endometrial hyperpalasia?

the uterine wall becomes hyperplastic and cystic due to alternating estrogen & progesterone influence

• prone to pyometra

• often infertile

• ultrasound shows wall change

what is ovarian remnant syndrome?

persistence of ovarian activity

• fragment or entire ovary left in situ

• ectopic tissue- uncommon

• estrogenic drugs

• owner’s estrogenic medication

signs of pro-estrus and estrus

• can appear 3 months- 7 years post sx

What are signs of an ovarian cyst? what type of cysts are common?

signs: prolonged anestrus, estrus, infertility, pain

ovarian cysts:

• follicular (3-62%)

• luteal (<10%)

What tumors are most commonly present in the ovaries?

note: ovarian neoplasia uncommon in dogs/cats

• granulosa cell tumor, epithelial tumors, sometimes metastasize locally

OVH to treat (duh)

What are important things to consider in feline queen infertility?

infectious causes

• feline panleukopenia

• FIV, FeLV

• toxoplasma (zoonotic)

• chlamydphila felis

Endometritis- inflammation of uterus

• discharge/licking

here is whatever tf this is

What are indications for terminating a pregnancy?

unwatned/accidental, size, too young/too old, comorbidities

Note: you wont always have a known pregnancy date, so use clinical signs to determine if pregnant prior to termination!!!

how is a pregnancy terminated surgically and medically?

surgery- only if not breeding and can be done at appropriate time

medical:

• antibrogestogens- aglepristone (alizin)

  • two 10 mg/kg injections SC 24 hrs apart

  • larger dogs- multiple sites

  • dont abminister after 45th day!!!

what are side effects of aglepristone?

• injection site pain, inflammation, edema, thickening

• anorexia, depression, excitation, diarrhea, modified blood parameters

• uterine infection

• estrus interval shortened

• late termination (after 20 days)- fetal expulsion

what are common causes of male infertility?

poor breeding behavior, poor libido, musculoskeletal problems, azoospermia, poor semen quality, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

why would a dog be azoospermic? how do you test for this?

absence of sperm

• testicular trauma/injury

• cryptorchidism

• setoli cell tumor- unilateral

• hypothyroidism

• hyperadrenocorticism

doesnt ejaculate sperm-rich fraction

• stress

• lack of libido

• immaturity

analyze sample for ALP

What are causes of poor semen quality?

sperm present but abnormal number, motility, or morphology

• retrograde ejaculation (check cystocentesis)

• systemic disease

• prostatic disease

• testicular disease

  • brucellosis

  • neoplasia

why would you observe poor infertility in male cats?

• poor breeding behavior

• poor libido

• musculoskeletal problems

• poor semen quality

• in the tom cat also consider

  • dental disease

  • phimosis/persisten frenulum