QUESTIONS

1. During which months are queens (except those kept exclusively indoors) not receptive to toms (in the UK)?
2. Queens are described as "seasonally polyoestrus"; what does this mean?
3. Bitches are monoestrus; what does this mean?
4. The bitch is a spontaneous ovulator; what does this mean?
5. The queen is an induced ovulator; what does this mean?
6. How long is proestrus in the bitch?
7. How long is oestrus in the bitch?
8. In what way is the vulval discharge produced in proestrus different to that seen in oestrus?
9. What hormones are involved in proestrus, and what are their functions?
10. If a bitch is not mated, or a mating is infertile; why is pseudocyesis (false pregnancy) common?
11. What is meant by "anoestrus"?
12. What is meant by "interoestrus"?
13. What is the term that describes the absence of cyclical activity during lactation?
14. A client telephones the surgery requesting advice regarding his Labrador bitch. She is 6 months old, and the client would like to breed from her in the future, but not during her first season. List all the useful information you would offer.