Advances and Applications for Improvement of Reproductive Function and Fertility in Dogs

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Reproduction".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 855

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Veterinary Reproduction, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1, Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi 180-8602, Japan
Interests: dog and cat (wild felid); frozen semen; artificial insemination (assisted reproductive technologies)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The reproductive physiological characteristics of female dogs are unique. As they are monoestrous animals, they have a long estrous cycle, so if they become infertile once, the possibility of next pregnancy is significantly delayed. In addition, the period from the start of estrus to ovulation is long, and dog ova are ovulated in an immature state and mature in the oviduct. The optimal mating period is 48 hours after the ova have matured, but due to the characteristics of dog sperm, the fertile period is very long, namely 7 days. Due to this, infertility is rare, but if mating is not carried out at the appropriate time, the number of offspring may be low. On the other hand, artificial insemination is widely used because semen can be easily collected from male dogs; however, artificial insemination using frozen semen is still problematic in dogs compared to other mammals because dog sperm has a relatively low freeze resistance and a short lifespan. There is still much room for research on this topic.

Various examinations and assisted reproductive techniques are sometimes applied to improve the reproductive function and fertility rate in dogs. Taking into account the above-mentioned reproductive physiological characteristics of dogs, examinations and techniques specific to dogs that are different from other mammals may be performed. This area of ​​research is of particular interest and is considered useful to many dog ​​breeders.

This Special Issue aims to publish any study that may be of clinical use in improving reproductive function and fertility in dogs.

Prof. Dr. Tatsuya Hori
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • female dog
  • male dog
  • assisted reproductive technologies
  • frozen semen
  • artificial insemination
  • optimal mating period
  • sperm quality

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

20 pages, 2543 KB  
Review
Ultrastructural Aspects of Oocyte Maturation in Dogs, with Comparative Insights from Cats: Current Evidence and Research Perspectives
by Lalith sai Jammula, Malgorzata Ochota and Michal J. Kulus
Animals 2026, 16(5), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16050798 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 479
Abstract
Reproductive success in dogs and cats remains limited despite advances in assisted reproductive technologies, highlighting the need for a clearer understanding of the ultrastructural processes governing oocyte maturation. This review critically examines current knowledge on the ultrastructural and cytoplasmic mechanisms underlying oocyte maturation [...] Read more.
Reproductive success in dogs and cats remains limited despite advances in assisted reproductive technologies, highlighting the need for a clearer understanding of the ultrastructural processes governing oocyte maturation. This review critically examines current knowledge on the ultrastructural and cytoplasmic mechanisms underlying oocyte maturation in dogs, with particular emphasis on cytoskeletal dynamics, organelle redistribution, mitochondrial activity, and lipid metabolism. Comparative insights from other mammalian species, especially the cat, are integrated to highlight fundamental differences in the timing and regulation of oocyte competence. The evidence suggests that inadequate cytoplasmic maturation, not meiotic progression, is the principal bottleneck affecting fertilization and early embryonic development in dogs. We conclude that future improvements in canine fertility and reproductive technologies will require a shift from predominantly hormonal and nuclear-focused approaches toward strategies targeting oocyte cytoplasmic quality and ultrastructural maturation. Full article
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