Clinical approach to infertility in the cycling bitch

The majority of "infertile" bitches presented to the practitioner are victims of mismanagement. Careful evaluation of reproductive history, physical examination, and vaginal cytologic evaluation permit conception in these patients. Measurement of serum progesterone levels can help establish occurrence and timing of ovulation. Diagnosing true reproductive problems may require a minimum data base, guarded cultures, vaginoscopy, vaginography, ultrasound, and ultimately laparotomy for uterine biopsy and culture. The majority of these diagnostic procedures are readily available for the interested practitioner.