Reproductive Medicine and Theriogenology Flashcards

An 8-year-old intact female dog presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and a vaginal discharge 6 weeks after estrus. Abdominal ultrasound shows a fluid-filled uterus. Which is the most appropriate treatment?

Answer: Ovariohysterectomy

Ovariohysterectomy is the definitive and safest treatment for pyometra in a non-breeding female dog, eliminating the infected uterus and source of systemic illness.

Which condition in sows is characterized by postpartum inflammation leading to the triad of mastitis, metritis, and agalactia?

Answer: Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia (MMA) syndrome

MMA syndrome (also called postpartum dysgalactia syndrome) affects sows shortly after farrowing and causes systemic illness, uterine inflammation, and failure of milk let-down.

Brucella canis infection in dogs is most commonly transmitted via which route?

Answer: Vaginal discharges, aborted materials, and semen

Brucella canis is primarily transmitted through contact with vaginal discharges, aborted fetuses, and infected semen, making breeding and whelping high-risk events.

In mares, at approximately which day of gestation can an embryonic heartbeat first be detected by ultrasonography, confirming viable pregnancy?

Answer: Day 22–25

Cardiac activity in equine embryos is first detectable ultrasonographically around days 22–25 of gestation, confirming embryo viability.

Which pregnancy diagnosis test in cattle detects pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) in blood serum as early as 28 days post-breeding?

Answer: BioPRYN serum ELISA

The BioPRYN test uses ELISA to detect bovine pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (bPAGs) produced by the placenta, allowing accurate early pregnancy diagnosis from blood.

What is the recommended management for a cow with a retained fetal membrane (RFM) that is still present 24 hours postpartum?

Answer: Systemic antibiotics and allow natural expulsion

Current recommendations advise against manual removal of retained fetal membranes in cattle due to risk of hemorrhage and endometritis; systemic antibiotics and monitoring for metritis are preferred.

A mare at day 16 of gestation is found to have twin embryonic vesicles on ultrasound. What is the most appropriate next step?

Answer: Perform manual crushing of one vesicle per rectum

Manual transvaginal or transrectal crushing of one embryonic vesicle at days 14–17 is the standard procedure to reduce equine twins, as twin pregnancies rarely result in live foals.