MONITORING ESTROUS CYCLE 7

the most common cause of FAILURE TO CONCIEVE in the BITCH is

poor breeding management (lack of viable semen in the bitch’s reproductive tract at a time that will support conception)

estrous cycle of bitch

1. proestrus

2. estrus

3. diestrus

4. anestrus

the part where the vulva swells and bloody vaginal discharge occurs

proestrus

the bitch is NEITHER fertile NOR whe accept the male during this time

proestrus

proestrus approx. days

7-12 days

estrus approx days

5-7 days

during this stage, there is usually STRAW-COLORED DISCHARGE (sometimes with blood)

ESTRUS

during this time, the bitch is NOT FERTILE and is NOT INTERESTED IN THE MALE

diestrus / ANESTRUS

the estrus cycle of bitch should be monitored on the

• physical

• clinical

• behavioral

target organ for reproductive hormone reflects changes in their levels as the ESTROUS CYCLE progresses

vaginal mucosa

the vaginal mucosa becomes markedly EDEMATOUS as estrogen levels increase

proestrus

the mucosa is FLAT and VARIEGATED

diestrus

clinical tests to monitor estrous cycle of the bitch are based on

1. vaginal cytology

2. hormonal dosages

the vaginal epithelium proliferates which leads to the changes of EPITHELIAL CELLS from ROUND FAINTLY STAINING EPITHELIAL CELLS to intermediate and parabasal cells which stain more intensely and are more angular on the edges

proestrus

the vaginal cytology is PREDOMINATED by CORNIFIED CELLS, largely darkly staining angular epithelial cells without an identifiable nucleus

estrous

NON CORNIFIED cells are the MOST PREDOMINANT CELL TYPE PRESENT

anestrus

hormone assay most commonly used for assessment of ovulation date in bitches

progesterone

progesterone can be measured using

1. in house assays

2. commercial assays

The frequency of urination of the bitch increases as she progresses through proestrus and at this stage even promoting attraction of males by releasing the

pheromones

a hormone secreted by maturing follicles and cause thickening of vaginal lining, moving the cells from her  blood supply, with subsequent degeneration and atrophy.

estrogen

always a reflex of estrogen activity on the female. 

vaginal cytology

The preferred method to obtain a good vaginal cytology

application of a cotton swab in the cranial vagina of a bitch. 

The lip of the vulva is gently separated with the fingers and a cotton swab is passed into the ___ aspect of the vulva. 

dorsal

small, round, slightly oval, large vesiculated nucleus and small cytoplasm. Good staining.

parabasal cells

slightly larger than parabasal cells to twice that size. Smooth, oval to rounded irregular borders, nucleus smaller than in parabasal cells. More cytoplasm than parabasal cells. 

intermediate cells

are dead cells. The largest in vaginal cytology with a sharp, flat, angular cytoplasmic borders and small pyknotic, fading nuclei or without nuclei.

superficial cells

irregular vaginal cells, smaller than superficial. These are the cells that have also been called “fully cornified.”

anuclear squames

Large intermediate vaginal cells that appear to have one or more neutrophils in their cytoplasm. Is typical of bitch diestrus.

metestrus cells

parabasal and intermediate cells with obvious cytoplasmic vacuoles. Maybe associated with diestrus and anestrus. 

foam cells

inflammatory cells that can be normal or abnormal in vaginal cytology in function of the estrus period. 

neutrophils

Blood can be normal in the bitch but always is abnormal in the queen

red blood cells

Period of high follicular activity. The females attract the males but is not receptive to the copula, the vagina has bloody discharge and is edematous.

proestrus

In this phase, the bitch allows the mating.

estrus

The phase with predominance of progesterone secretion with or without pregnancy

diestrus

This is the period of sexual arrest.

anestrus

stage: early proestrus, diestrus, anestrus

parabasal cells

stage: proestrus, diestrus, anestrus

intermediate cells

stage: estrus

anuclear squames

stage: diestrus

metestrus

stage: diestrus and anestrus

foam cells

stage: early proestrus, diestrus

neutrophils

stage: mainly proestrus

red blood cells