Infertility in the Female Dog

51 Infertility in the Female Dog



Klaas Post



1. What are the causes of infertility in the female?

If the female is thought to be infertile, make sure that the female is the problem and not the male. It is necessary to obtain a good history about the male and query whether more than one male has been used to get this “infertile” female pregnant or do a semen evaluation. Consider that the female may have been spayed if she was obtained as an adult.


2. How important is the timing of breeding?

Very important. In 50% to 75% of breedings of so-called infertile females, the optimum time of breeding was not adhered to even though it has been shown that sperm remains viable for up to 8 to 10 days in the normal female reproductive tract. Although the sperm may be viable for 8 to 10 days, it may have a limited period to fertilize the egg.


3. When is the optimum time for breeding?

The optimum time for breeding is about 4 to 5 days after the luteinizing hormone (LH) peak or 2 to 3 days after ovulation.


4. What do I look for in the noncycling female?

It is important to note and differentiate between a bitch that has never cycled and the bitch that cycled for a period but now fails to cycle.


5. What are the causes of infertility in the bitch that never cycled?

It is important to understand that some breeds (larger) may not start cycling until 2 years of age. If a bitch has never cycled, the animal may have a chromosomal abnormality. Karyotyping should be performed if there is a suspicion. Has the animal been spayed? Some bitches may have silent heats in which the external signs of cycling are not present. These animals do ovulate, and when artificial insemination (AI) is performed at the optimum breeding time, the bitch may get pregnant. Could the bitch have an underlying disease such as hypothyroidism or have congenital pituitary abnormalities (e.g., pituitary dwarfism in the German Shepherd)? Other abnormalities such as aplasia of the ovaries may cause a failure to respond to follicle stimulating hormone or LH.


6. What causes bitches that have previously cycled to stop?

There is always the possibility that age is a factor in cessation of cycles, although it is thought that bitches cycle until they die. In some cases, premature ovarian failure cannot be ruled out. Any long-standing debilitating condition could potentially stop cyclicity in the bitch. Other disorders such as Brucella canis infection, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, cancer (both ovarian and nonovarian), some viral infections, toxoplasmosis, and immune-mediated disease of the ovaries could stop the estrous cycle.


The medication history, including drugs given both in the past and currently received, must be reviewed. Hormones (progestins and androgens) that were given to postpone or suppress the heat cycle could play a significant role. Other drugs (e.g., anticancer, corticosteroids) may have a serious effect on ovarian function. Drugs that are given for behavior modification may have an effect on cyclicity as well. A bitch that develops an ovarian cyst (progesterone-producing) will stop cycling. These animals will have a consistently elevated serum progesterone concentration.

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Jul 31, 2016 | Posted by in INTERNAL MEDICINE | Comments Off on Infertility in the Female Dog

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