cytology for breeding dogs

Breed Characteristics. The bitch ovarian cycle is divided in four phases: proestrus, estrus, diestrus and anestrus. Mast cell tumors (MCT) represent a cancer of mast cells, which are a type of white blood cell involved in allergy and inflammation. Any breed or crossbreed can get histiocytomas, but it appears that Boxers and Dachshunds are more prone to getting histiocytomas. Mucus is present, as are some bacteria. Before breeding, make sure the dogs are clean and in good condition. Although a large-breed bitch may also begin her first proestrus before 1 year of age, some normal large-breed dogs may not begin to cycle until 18 to 24 months of age. Using Vaginal Cytology to Time Breedings and Whelpings $ 19.95 Although vaginal cytology has gone out of favor in some practices, breeders can easily use this time-proven method to help time their breedings, reduce the number of progesterone tests they run, and better predict when their puppies will be born. © 2021 MJH Life Sciences and DVM 360. Estrogen concentrations begin to drop at the end of proestrus and the beginning of estrus as some of the granulosa and thecal cells of the follicles luteinize prior to ovulation (4). Within some days, the formerly very thin tissue layer of vaginal mucosa increases from about 10-20 cells thick to more than 300 or 400 cells. Following cytology, additional diagnostic tests, procedures, or medications may be recommended. Initially, in early proestrus, an increased number of neutrophils is often noted on vaginal cytological smears. It's a non-invasive test that is usually quite affordable. Neutrophils are only occasionally identified and should not have signs of inflammation. Cytology is the study of cells under a microscope. 2006;41(4):291-6. Sedation or anesthesia is not typically needed, but might be necessary depending on how the cytology sample is collected. The cells are placed on a slide, and they might be stained or otherwise prepared for viewing microscopically. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. Cytology is the examination and study of blood or tissue cells under a microscope that can be done in dogs and other animals. Open the vulvar lips, pull the vulva doraslly, insert the swab dorsally and posterior, then up and over the pelvic brim and into anterior vagina. As with humans, the pain perceived from a needle stick varies among individual dogs, but it should not be any more painful than an injection or a blood sample. Knowing when she's ovulating and ready to breed comes from experience, “reading the bitch” and observing the male. As depicted below, and described in more detail in the section on Canine Reproduction, estrogen levels rise prior to and during proestrus and fall in conjunction with the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone. If the cytology shows the mass to be a simple fatty tumor, it may be left alone and followed. Vaginal cytology can also provide some general information. Her progesterone levels should also rise from basal levels to over 5 ng/ml. It is normal to arrange for two matings, also called services, for your dog, often 24 or 48 hours apart. Moisten a cotton swab with 1 to 2 drops sterile saline. Cytology of vaginal fluid can be used to guide breeding in female dogs. Vaginal discharge becomes mucoid and diminishes and vulvar edema slowly resolves. These waste products build up, instead, inside the cytoplasm, resulting in greatly increased cytoplasmic volume. Cystocentesis has been associated with needle-tract implantation of neoplastic cells in some cases and should be avoided. This gives a "clean" appearance to the background of the slide during estrus. In obtaining a sample with a needle, some pain may be involved, but very small needles typically are used. Knowing the stud dog and observation of the bitch can be nearly as accurate and a lot cheaper and less stressful for the bitch. Animal Reproduction Science. These intermediate cells are the predominant cell type of proestrus. Neutrophils gradually wane in numbers and by late diestrus are only occasionally noticed. Tweet. Proestrus is the stage of the cycle often first recognized by the owners of the dogs due to the accompanying clinical signs of a soft, swollen vulva and a serosanguinous vulvar discharge. Red blood cells are absent. Granulosa and thecal cells in the follicles begin producing greater concentrations of estrogens. Combined with observing the behavor of the dog and bitch, vaginal cytology, ovulation can be … This drop in estrogens results in a cessation of the increased cellular proliferation in the vaginal mucosa and the increased diapedesis of red blood cells into the uterus. The test is reported as a numeric result, usually ng/dl. Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology. Red blood cells are a prominent feature of proestral cytological vaginal smears. Canine breeding management--vaginal cytology (Proceedings) Anestrus. For example, a skin tumor might be malignant or benign. If the sample is submitted to a laboratory, results may not be available for 2 to 3 days. Red blood cells are absent to rare. If you want to take charge of your breeding process, an easy skill to learn and get equipped for is canine vaginal cytology. Breeders will often start counting the days and start breeding around 9 days after the discharge is first detected. I have taught clients to do vaginal cytology; in the state where I live it is a legal procedure for them to perform on their own dogs. Vaginal cytology has many practical applications in the evaluation of both the normal and abnormal bitch. The most common symptom is a small, round lump that’s typically less than half an inch in diameter. Cytologic changes through the canine estrous cycle reflect changes in blood concentrations of estrogen. Once the dye has dried, the slide is ready for microscopic evaluation. Study Canine Estrous Cycle, Vaginal Cytology, Breeding Management flashcards from Anika Eidson's class online, or in Brainscape's iPhone or Android app. These are in function of breed, climate, and others. Fluid samples may be placed in a centrifuge first to concentrate the cells before they are transferred to the slide. We can correlate this phases with vaginal cytology. I have been told (by well respected vets who specialize in breeding dogs) that if I own the stud dog I should breed her every day that she will stand. Ovulation timing, the telltale indicator that a brood bitch is ovulating and thus ready to breed, is the most common thing to go wrong in dog breeding. Determining the fertile period for breeding dogs is the biggest challenge dog breeders face in consistently achieving all the big litters they want. he simplest, least invasive, most economical diagnostic tool for determining the stage of the estrous cycle in a bitch, and surely the most widely utilized, is the examination of the bitchs vaginal cytology. The types of cells present in the vagina vary depending on the stage of estrus. Bacteria are present, as always. Learn faster with spaced repetition. Mast cell tumors are the most common skin tumor in dogs. During diestrus,healthy female dogs become refractory to breeding, with diminishing attraction of male dogs. Eventually, the epithelial cells closer to the vaginal lumen will die as a result of distance from the capillaries and consequent lack of nutrient exchange. The first hormone of significance is estrogen. The vaginal mucosa is quite thin during this stage of the cycle, perhaps 1-2 cells thick from the basement membrane to the vaginal lumen (2,3). Cytology may follow an abdominal ultrasound examination or surgical procedure that reveals abnormal organ tissue. Dogs has two ovarian cycles twice yearly, in spring and again in autumn, however some bitches experience more or less than two cycles a year. 2) If I learn to do vaginal cytology myself, how do I use it to help me know when to breed? Vaginal cytology is abruptly altered by the reappearance of parabasal epithelial cells and frequently neutrophils, known as the diestrual shift. In contrast, identification of a dangerous skin cancer, such as a mast cell tumor, would indicate the need for surgical removal of the mass. Veterinarians are increasingly in need to provide services supporting canine reproduction. Red blood cells are often still present in early estrus, but usually decrease in numbers and disappear by the end of estrus, in correlation with dropping estrogen concentrations. Even if your veterinarian provides you a presumptive diagnosis based on his/her evaluation of the slide, the final diagnosis is typically made after the pathologist reviews the sample. Cytology can identify the presence of inflammation, infection, cancer, parasites, bacteria and fungi (molds and yeast). The cells are then stained and examined under a microscope for a structural change. Basal cell tumors also often contain cells with melanin, especially in cats. Cytology involves examination of a tissue or fluid sample. If your dog develops a skin problem, skin cytology is one of the tests your veterinarian might recommend. The cells in the lumen, far from their blood supply, are not able to rid themselves of metabolic waste products. The red blood cells easily move from the uterus through the cervix and vagina, exiting the vulva as the serosanguinous discharge noted by the client. Anoestrus in the Dog: a Fascinating Story. The simplest, least invasive, most economical diagnostic tool for determining the stage of the estrous cycle in a bitch, and surely the most widely utilized, is the examination of the bitch's vaginal cytology. Vaginal cytology is performed on female dogs during their estrus cycle to help determine the optimum time to breed and enhance the success of pregnancy. Those samples obtained from skin scrapings or aspirations typically do not require sedation. A home fertility kit for dogs based on vaginal cytology is a great solution. A breeding soundness examination, which should take place before any dog or cat is purposefully bred, is the opportune time for veterinary input regarding good breeding practices. The technique is used widely in managing canine breeding programs, which is the focus of this section, but also has utility in evaluating reproductive function in several other species, including cats (if you don't mind losing a little blood) and rats. © 2021 MJH Life Sciences™ and DVM 360. Poor timing during a bitch’s three-week heat cycle, also known as estrus, can cause a missed breeding and result in a normal female being labeled infertile. After a single breeding, the number of live pups per CL is highest when the breeding occurs 4 days prior to D1 by a proven, fertile male. Cytology is limiting-tumor cells may be identified in urine sediment in one-third of dogs with TCC, and reactive transitional cells may look like TCC cells. This change does not always correlate exactly with behavioral estrus (when the bitch will stand to be bred) or endocrinological estrus (after the LH surge, discussed elsewhere in these proceedings). The Journals of Reproduction and Fertility Ltd. Cambridge1993. p 32 Technique. Cytology testing involves obtaining a sample of suspicious material. All rights reserved. The old rule of thumb – to breed on days 9 and 11 after heat starts – works fine for only about half the bitches out … A swab is taken of the cells lining wall of the vagina and analyzed under a microscope. If you do not pass the swab far enough, you will get vestibular cells and result in false cornification. Breeds; Home Health Testing Skin Cytology Test in Dogs. FNA is a procedure that gathers cells from a specific spot on or in a dog's body in order to perform cytology. Cytology cannot differentiate benign from malignant melanomas; however, melanomas on haired skin in dogs are usually benign and those on nonhaired areas, such as the lips, feet, and mouth, are usually malignant. Mucus returns to the background of the slide. This indicates that ovulation is imminent. Vaginal cytology gives ballpark information about the heat cycle. Canine Vaginal Cytology. The increased amount of blood in the vagina serves as an excellent growth media for bacteria present as normal fauna. When the number of superficial cells increases above 80% of the total number of epithelial cells, the bitch is said to be in cytological estrus. As a result, the epithelial cells noted on a vaginal smear from a bitch in anestrus are mostly parabasal cells, with a few intermediate cells. Concannon P. Fertility and infertility of dogs, cats and non-dometic carnivores. The shift from estrus to metestrus sometimes happens within a day or two, whereas other times it may take many days to transition. 2011;124:200-10. The nuclear membrane will dissolve and the chromatin will then dissipate, leaving an anuclear, "cornified," superficial cell. During diestrus, the normal bitch becomes refractory to breeding and less attractive to male dogs. The material can be obtained by pressing a microscope slide against the tissue, by gently scraping the area with a scalpel blade, or by inserting a needle or sterile Q-tip into the tissue to obtain fluid or tissue. It causes the vagina to thicken and diapedesis of red blood cells to occur. Estrogen concentrations drop precipitously after ovulation when the remained of the follicular cells luteinize. Some predisposed breeds of dogs include Boxers, Boston terriers, Bulldogs, pugs, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, Weimaraners, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, cocker spaniels, schnauzers, Staffords… Skin Cytology Test in Dogs. The types and appearance of individual cells varies between the stages of the estrous cycle and therefore cytology can be reliably used to determine which stage is represented in the cytological smear from a particular patient. However, for the best results, many breeders will mate their dogs five and six days after the bitch’s luteinizing hormone surge. Vaginal cytology is abruptly altered by the reappearance of noncornified (“parabasal”) epithelial cells and, frequently, white blood cells. Furthermore, breeding more than once every 48 hours for 2-3 breedings may deplete some male’s sperm stores, especially in small – medium size dogs or in dogs with fertility issues. Diagnostic tools to better determine these events include vaginoscopy and serum progesterone assays, which are discussed elsewhere in these proceedings. Thus, waiting to breed before the bitch until she reaches her fertile period and then only breeding 2-3 times is ideal for both the bitch and the dog. On the other hand there is a lot of published information that indicated breeding 2 times 2 days apart is all that is necessary. Red blood cells are rarely seen, as they usually disappeared during estrus. Breeding management may be mishandled, however, in bitches with short or long proestrus stages, and this happens with some frequency (2). Concannon PW. This is the reason for the morphological differences noted between parabasal and intermediate-type epithelial cells. FNA Provides Cytology Information. Estrogen also causes the cervix to relax and open. While important, low-level endocrinological activity does continue throughout anestrus, overall estrogen levels are quite low, as would be expected in light of much reduced follicular activity in the ovaries (1). Estrous cycle-dependent histology and review of sex steroid receptor expression in dog reproductive tissues and mammary gland and associated hormone levels. . This correlates with the fact that the average length of proestrus in the bitch is around 9 days. Vulvar discharge diminishes, and edema slowly resolves. As with all tests, a cytologic examination is neither 100 percent sensitive nor specific. Generally speaking, most bitches are the most fertile at nine to eleven days of their estrus cycle. The cytology test generally takes 20 to 30 minutes to perform if done in the veterinarian’s office. Anestrus is the stage during which the reproductive tract is relatively quiescent, compared to the other stages of the cycle. Once obtained, the material is spread thinly over a microscope slide and allowed to dry. Having a canine fertility test you can use at home is invaluable. Later in proestrus, however, the neutrophils disappear from the cytological preparations because they are no longer able to migrate into the vaginal lumen, due to the increased thickness of the vaginal epithelium, as described above. The stages of the estrous cycle in the bitch (and their usual lengths) include anestrus (2-10 months, though most bitches are between 4 and 6 months), proestrus (3-21 days), estrus (3-21 days), metestrus (10-14 days, note that this stage is sometimes lumped with diestrus), and diestrus (about 50-55 days, if you exclude metestrus as a separate stage). Cytology is usually done when abnormal fluid is detected in a body cavity. Vaginal cytology Your veterinarian can use a cotton tipped applicator to gently remove a few cells from the dog’s vaginal vault and transfer them to a glass slide. Often cytology is used to identify a lump or mass noted on physical examination. Blood tests or vaginal cytology will assist in determining the best period for your dog. Estrogen has a mitogenic effect on the vaginal epithelial cells, causing them to divide in quick succession (3). Okkens AC, Kooistra HS. Vulvar swelling is the first physical … There is no real contraindication to performing this test. Close clinical monitoring of these cases to determine the actual end of proestrus and further to determine important events during estrus (discussed below) will result in better timing of breeding and higher pregnancy rates. Cytology may follow an abdominal ultrasound examination or surgical procedure that reveals abnormal organ tissue. The IHC Group. Bacteria tend to greatly increase in number, and this signals the recruitment of neutrophils, which migrate into the vagina via diapedesis. In: Concannon P, England G, Verstegen J, Russell H, editors. Obviously, a sample obtained during a surgical procedure will require anesthesia for the surgery. The types of cells present in the vagina vary depending on the stage of estrus. Metestrus gradually changes into diestrus, with fewer superficial and large intermediate cells. If so, don't be alarmed. The sample is once again allowed to dry. The cells are often misshapen, oblong, or broken with only the nucleus clearly visible and some cytoplasmic streaming surrounding these “naked” nuclei. The metestral cell is an intermediate cell engulfing a neutrophil. All rights reserved. During proestrus, follicular growth is noted on the ovaries. Certain skin diseases or hair loss situations – such as mange mite infection – can be diagnosed using cytology. You basically take a smear from inside the vagina, put it on a glass microscope slide, dunk it in some … Reproductive cycles of the domestic bitch. The nuclei of the cells will become pyknotic as the nuclear chromatin condenses. With estrogen concentrations now again at baseline levels, and all consequent mitogenic support gone, the many cellular layers of the vaginal mucosa begin to slough off. Progesterone Testing. Negative results can exclude the presence of certain diseases. This is due to the popularity of dog breeding worldwide. All Rights Reserved. This would equate to the fifth day of … Rehm S, Stanislaus DJ, Williams AM. p. 569. Anestrus is the stage during which the reproductive tract is relatively quiescent, compared to the other... Proestrus. Every cytological change appreciated in a canine vaginal smear is due to the effects of estrogens. Cytology of vaginal fluid can be used to guide breeding in female dogs. Most veterinarians submit the cytology specimen to a diagnostic laboratory for evaluation by a veterinary pathologist. Estrogen causes uterine blood vessels to become highly permeable and, through diapedesis, to leak red blood cells into the uterine lumen (2). Vaginal Cytology: Vaginal cytology is performed on female dogs during their estrus cycle to help determine the optimum time to breed and enhance the success of pregnancy. Noticing Physical Signs of Heat Check for swelling in the vulva. The predominant epithelial cell types become middle and small interimediate cells. Estrogen prepares the reproductive tract for breeding. The result is the return of intermediate cells as the prominent epithelial cell type noted on the vaginal smears. This increased distance between the vaginal lumen and the basement membrane, where the capillaries reside, results in dramatic changes in the epithelial cells closest to the lumen. Older dogs are most commonly affected. Vagina serves as an excellent growth media for bacteria present as normal fauna follicles begin producing greater concentrations of.. Many practical applications in the veterinarian ’ s office the tests your veterinarian recommend... Veterinarians submit the cytology test in dogs metabolic waste products build up, instead inside... Are only occasionally identified and should not have Signs of inflammation divide in quick succession ( 3 ), may! The vulva to 30 minutes to perform cytology canine estrous cycle reflect changes in blood concentrations of during! Frequently, white blood cells associated with needle-tract implantation of neoplastic cells in the following topics: vaginal..., therefore, is paramount to interpreting a vaginal smear `` metestral cell is an intermediate cell engulfing neutrophil. Via diapedesis estrus, diestrus and anestrus greatly increase in number, and this signals the recruitment of neutrophils often! The reappearance of parabasal epithelial cells, causing them to divide in quick succession ( 3 ) neutrophils wane. And they might be stained or otherwise prepared for viewing microscopically when the remained of the vagina thicken. Of proestrus on canine vaginal cytology dog develops a skin problem, skin cytology test generally takes to. Cytoplasmic volume P, England G, Verstegen J, Russell H, editors or surgical procedure reveals! Breeders face in consistently achieving all the big litters they want done when abnormal fluid is in... 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