Clinical Canine and Feline Reproduction: Evidence-Based Answers

Clinical Canine and Feline Reproduction: Evidence-Based Answers provides quick, reliable answers to the most common questions in canine and feline reproductive and pediatric practice. Written using an innovative question-and-answer format, each answer is designed for quick reference, with the best references listed for further information as needed. Based on the author’s years of experience answering questions on reproduction and pediatrics, Clinical Canine and Feline Reproduction allows the practicing veterinarian to rapidly find and apply evidence-based answers from the scientific literature to their clinical questions.

Preface.
Acknowledgments.

Section I Canine Techniques.

1. What is the technique for collection of a vaginal cytology specimen?

2. How do I interpret vaginal cytology for breeding management or diagnosis of disease?

3. What equipment do I need to perform vaginoscopy and how do I interpret what I see?

4. What is the technique for vaginography?

5. What techniques are available for pregnancy diagnosis and when are they best used?

6. What is the technique for semen collection from male dogs?

7. What is the technique for semen evaluation in dogs?

8. What is the technique for testicular ultrasound and how do I interpret what I see?

9. What is the technique for prostatic fine-needle aspirate or biopsy?

10. What is the technique for testicular fine-needle aspirate and how do I interpret what I see?

11. What is the technique for testicular biopsy?

12. What is the technique for preparation of chilled semen in dogs?

13. What is the technique for preparation of frozen semen in dogs?

14. What is the technique for vaginal insemination?

15. What is the technique for transcervical insemination?

16. What is the technique for surgical insemination in the bitch?

17. What is the technique for anesthesia for Cesarean section?

18. What is the technique for Cesarean section?

Section II Canine Reproductive Physiology.

19. What is the normal age for puberty onset in bitches and dogs?

20. What are the normal parameters for the estrous (heat) cycle in bitches?

21. What are the normal parameters for semen quality in dogs?

Section III Canine Reproductive Management.

22. What age is best for ovariohysterectomy of female dogs?

23. When is it best to perform ovariohysterectomy of female dogs relative to heat?

24. What age is best for castration of male dogs?

25. Are nonsurgical alternatives available for sterilization or contraception of female or male dogs?

26. What comprises recommended pre-breeding evaluation for bitches?

27. What effect does hypothyroidism have on fertility?

28. What are the pros and cons of treatment with antibiotics during heat in bitches?

29. How do I use progesterone and other measures for breeding management?

30. What drugs are unsafe to use during pregnancy in bitches?

31. Are there dietary supplements proven to improve fertility in bitches?

32. How can we prevent dystocia?

33. What are the normal physiologic and physical changes in bitches pre-partum?

34. How can I terminate pregnancy in bitches?

35. Should bitches be spayed at the time of removal of a mammary mass?

36. Are there dietary supplements proven to improve semen quality in male dogs?

37. Can I locate retained testes without surgery?

38. Is there a medical therapy to cause testes to descend into the scrotum after 8 weeks of age?

Section IV Canine Disease.

39. How do I diagnose and treat dystocia?

40. How do I diagnose and treat eclampsia (hypocalcemia)?

41. What are the causes of prolonged vulvar discharge after whelping in bitches?

42. What is the best treatment for puppy vaginitis? Should the dog be allowed to go through one heat cycle?

43. What is the best treatment for chronic vaginitis in a spayed female dog?

44. How do I test for and treat canine brucellosis?

45. What are the causes of vulvar discharge during pregnancy?

46. What diagnostic tests can be performed to identify the cause of pregnancy loss?

47. How do I diagnose and treat pyometra in bitches?

48. What are the causes of agalactia in bitches and how is it best treated?

49. How do I treat mastitis in a nursing bitch?

50. What are the causes of persistent estrus (heat) in dogs?

51. What are the causes of lack of cycling (persistent anestrus) in dogs?

52. What is the diagnostic approach for infertility of a bitch?

53. How do I treat benign prostatic hypertrophy?

54. How do I treat prostatitis?

55. What is the best treatment for recurrent paraphimosis (extrusion of the penis from the prepuce) in neutered male dogs?

56. What is the diagnostic approach for infertility of a male dog?

Section V Feline Techniques.

57. What is the technique for collection of a vaginal cytology specimen?

58. How do I interpret vaginal cytology?

59. What techniques are available for pregnancy diagnosis and when are they best used?

60. What are the techniques for semen collection from male cats?

61. What is the technique for semen evaluation in cats?

62. What is the technique for vaginal insemination?

63. What is the technique for surgical insemination?

64. What is the technique for anesthesia for Cesarean section?

65. What is the technique for Cesarean section?

Section VI Feline Reproductive Physiology.

66. What is the normal age for puberty onset in queens and toms?

67. What are the normal parameters for the estrous (heat) cycle in queens?

68. What are the normal parameters for semen quality in cats?

Section VII Feline Reproductive Management.

69. What age is best for ovariohysterectomy of female cats?

70. When is it best to perform ovariohysterectomy of female cats relative to heat?

71. What age is best for castration of male cats?

72. Are nonsurgical alternatives for sterilization or contraception available for female or male cats?

73. What comprises recommended pre-breeding evaluation for queens?

74. How do I use progesterones and other measures for breeding management?

75. What drugs are unsafe to use during pregnancy in queens?

76. How can I terminate pregnancy in queens?

77. Should queens be spayed at the time of removal of a mammary mass?

Section VIII Feline Disease.

78. How do I diagnose and treat dystocia?

79. What diagnostic tests can be performed to identify the cause of pregnancy loss?

80. How do I diagnose and treat pyometra in queens?

81. How do I treat mastitis in a nursing queen?

82. What are the causes of persistent estrus (heat) in cats?

83. What are the causes of lack of cycling (persistent anestrus) in cats?

84. What are the causes of estrus after ovariohysterectomy of female cats?

85. What are the causes of persistent male behavior after castration of male cats?

86. What is the diagnostic approach for infertility of a queen?

87. What is the diagnostic approach for infertility of a male cat?

Section IX Pediatric Techniques.

88. What are some of the techniques for venipuncture?

89. What are some of the techniques for collection of a urine sample?

90. What is the technique for placement of an intraosseous catheter?

91. How do I determine safety and efficacy, and calculate correct dosage for drugs used in kittens and puppies?

Section X Pediatric Physical Examination and Management.

92. What are normal physical examination findings at various ages in puppies and kittens?

93. What are normal values on complete blood count, chemistry profile, and urinalysis of puppies and kittens?

94. How are orphan puppies and kittens best fed?

95. What flea and tick control products are safe to use in kittens and puppies?

Section XI Pediatric Disease.

96. What are the causes of failure to thrive in puppies and kittens?

97. What are the common causes of diarrhea in puppies and kittens?

98. What are the clinical manifestations of septicemia and how is it diagnosed and treated?

99. How is neonatal isoerythrolysis diagnosed, treated, and prevented in cats?

100. What are the causes of stillbirths and neonatal mortality in kittens and puppies?

Resources.

Index.


Margaret V. Root Kustritz, DVM, PhD, DACT is a former general practitioner who is currently an Associate Professor of Small Animal Reproduction and serves as Vice-Chair of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and as the Assistant Dean of Education at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.