Genome Barks Podcast - Veterinary Management of the Stud Dog with Dr. Lin Kauffman

This week on Genome Barks, we welcome Dr. Lin Kauffman, a faculty clinician at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Kauffman discusses veterinary management of the stud dog, including initial physical examination, cryptorchidism, trauma and other things to watch for such as infectious disease.

 

A variety of conditions can affect the stud dog and his ability to produce viable sperm.  It is important for a stud dog owner to understand the importance of cryptorchidism (retained testicle), testicular degeneration, testicular torsion and testicular trauma and what those conditions can do to their stud dog’s breeding potential.  Some of these conditions are temporary and some can have lasting outcomes.  Azoospermia (a lack of sperm) can be noted during a routine breeding soundness examination and can be attributed to a variety of different causes.  Once again there may be some causes that are temporary while other causes may be permanent.  Motility and morphology of sperm can also be assessed during a breeding soundness examination.  Veterinarians can help counsel stud dog owners about potential genetic disease and infectious (venereal) disease testing that is now available for their stud dogs.  It is also important that stud dog owners be aware of the various ways that stud dogs can be utilized in assisted canine reproduction (ex: fresh chilled semen shipment, cryopreservation of semen).

 

Canine prostate disease is a class of diseases that stud dog owners need to be aware of.  There are distinct clinical signs to watch for in their stud dogs and veterinarians have specific tests to determine the difference between benign prostatic hyperplasia, infectious prostatitis, prostatic abscess and prostatic neoplasia (cancer).  Some of these diseases carry specific treatment plans and good outcomes, where others carry a more somber outcome. 

 

Dr. Lin Kauffman received her bachelor of science in veterinary medical technology with minors in biology and chemistry from Wilson College located in Pennsylvania.  She received her DVM from Iowa State University in 2003.  She is a faculty clinician for the Primary Care service at ISU Veterinary Medical Center in addition to being involved in the theriogenology (reproduction) alternative training program at Iowa State University. 

 

She is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA), Society for Theriogenology, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Iowa Veterinary Rapid Response Team (IVRRT) and the Phi Zeta Gamma, Veterinary Honor Society.  She is a faculty advisor to the student-run AAHA chapter.  She has core lectures to the freshman and junior ISU veterinary students over reproduction and has developed and instructs an after-hours canine dental wet laboratory elective for the senior ISU veterinary students.