How do you perform vaginal cytology in dogs?

The preferred method to obtain a good vaginal cytology, is the application of a cotton swab in the cranial vagina of a bitch . The lip of the vulva are gently separated with the fingers and a cotton swab is passed into the dorsal aspect of the vulva.

What are parabasal cells?

Parabasal cells are the smallest epithelial cells seen on a typical vaginal smear. They are round or nearly round and have a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio. Parabasal cells are prevalent on smears taken during diestrus and anestrus, and not uncommon during early proestrus.

When can you breed a dog based on vaginal cytology?

Breeders will often start counting the days and start breeding around 9 days after the discharge is first detected. This correlates with the fact that the average length of proestrus in the bitch is around 9 days.

How do you give a dog a vaginal swab?

Even in small dogs, the swab should be inserted several inches past the vulva; in large breed dogs (e.g. German Shepard bitch), a majority of the 6-inch swab can be inserted. Bitches in proestrus or estrus rarely object to this procedure, although some restraint may be required to prevent “squirming”.

Why vaginal cytology is performed?

Vaginal cytology, often in tandem with hormone analysis, may provide valuable information about the stage of the ovarian cycle. In addition, vaginal cytology has proven useful to detect inflammatory and neoplastic conditions in the female reproductive tract.

What do Cornified cells look like?

Six types of cells typify vaginal cytology: parabasal cells (A), which look like small, O-shaped oat cereal pieces; small intermediate and large intermediate cells (B), which look like fried eggs; superfi- cial (“cornified”) (C) cells, which look like corn flakes; neutrophils; and red blood cells.

What causes parabasal cells?

Parabasals are an uncommon finding on Pap smears of women with estrogen production or replacement hormone. These cells are often seen in patients who lack estrogen, including those who are premenstrual, post partum, taking estrogen-restricting hormones, or postmenopausal.

How many times should you AI a dog?

The estrus period starts four days before ovulation and sticks around until three days after ovulation. That gives a total of 7 days of possible breeding. If you do AI every other day, you are looking at 3-4 inseminations at a time.

What is the best progesterone level to breed a dog?

Breeding with fresh semen, by either natural breeding or vaginal AI with fresh semen, can be done on the day of ovulation, when the progesterone level reaches 5 ng/ml. Although the eggs are not mature yet, most fresh semen is viable enough to survive in the bitch’s reproductive tract until the eggs are ready.

What is the importance of vaginal cytological exam in breeding dogs?

Since cytologic changes reflect the underlying endocrine events of the cycle, they are almost always a better predictor of the “fertile time” and gestation length than are behavioral or physical signs. Cytologic changes through the canine estrous cycle reflect changes in blood concentrations of estrogen.

What is a cytology test for dogs?

Cytology is the examination and study of blood or tissue cells under a microscope that can be done in dogs and other animals. Cytology can be used to detect inflammation, infection, bacteria, fungi, parasites and cancer. Cytology involves examination of a tissue or fluid sample.