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Semen parameters and testicular dimensions in small breed dogs below ten‐kilogram bodyweight
Author(s) -
Zeller Romy,
MeyerLindenberg Andrea,
Walter Beate,
Leykam Christian,
Flock Ulrike,
Reese Sven,
Otzdorff Christiane
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.13504
Subject(s) - breed , semen , testicle , sperm , testicular volume , biology , body weight , significant difference , zoology , medicine , andrology , endocrinology , hormone , secondary sex characteristic
Because of few available data on semen parameters in small breed dogs, the study aimed to analyse semen and measure testes of dogs ≤10.0 kg bodyweight. Semen was collected from 41 fertile stud dogs, which were divided based on bodyweight: group 1 ≤ 5.0 kg and group 2 between 5.1 and 10.0 kg. Median values for ejaculate volume (group 1: x ~ 1.2 ml; group 2: x ~ 2.2 ml), total sperm output (group 1: x ~ 110.7 × 10 6 ; group 2: x ~ 215.1 × 10 6 ) and testicular volume (group 1: left testicle x ~ 2.8 ml, right testicle x ~ 2.7 ml; group 2: left testicle x ~ 5.5 ml, right testicle x ~ 5.0 ml) were lower in group 1 compared to dogs of group 2 ( p = .001; p = .001; both testes: p < .001). There was no difference in sperm concentration ( p = .985). Based on these results, introduction of an additional weight group to the commonly used reference values is recommended, since values for ejaculate volume, total sperm output and testicular dimensions for dogs ≤5.0 kg bodyweight differed significantly from values of dogs with a bodyweight from 5.1 to 10.0 kg.