Innovations in Small Animal Reproduction and Fertility Management

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 1320

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Guest Editor
Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: companion animal reproduction and neonatology; pediatrics; infertility; semen freezing; oxidative stress and cognitive dysfunction
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reproductive efficiency in small animals is a cornerstone of both day-to-day clinical veterinary practice and the wider areas of animal health, welfare, and responsible breeding. Optimal reproductive management not only ensures the welfare of individual animals but also contributes to sustainable population control and the advancement of veterinary medicine as a whole.

In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in understanding reproductive biology, developing assisted reproduction technologies, and refining fertility management strategies in companion animals. These advances have led to more accurate diagnostic tools, more effective therapeutic options, and innovative approaches to preserving and improving fertility.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the latest innovations in small animal reproduction. Key topics include hormonal regulation of reproductive cycles, advances in the preservation of gametes and embryos, the use of advanced imaging techniques to assess reproduction, and insights into the genetic and epigenetic factors that influence fertility. In addition, the integration of new molecular diagnostic tools opens up new avenues for the early detection and targeted treatment of reproductive disorders.

Equally important are developments in the field of fertility preservation and contraceptive technologies, as well as the increasing use of minimally invasive reproductive interventions. These approaches not only contribute to the improvement of breeding programs but are also in line with the ethical imperative to ensure animal welfare.

By bringing together original research articles and comprehensive reviews, this Special Issue aims to provide an up-to-date and integrative perspective on the mechanisms, technologies, and clinical applications underlying reproductive success in small animals. At the same time, it aims to highlight existing challenges and outline opportunities for future advances that will continue to shape this dynamic field.

Dr. Maja Zakošek Pipan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • small animal reproduction
  • fertility management
  • assisted reproductive technologies
  • gamete preservation
  • hormonal regulation
  • genetic and epigenetic factors
  • molecular diagnostics
  • contraceptive strategies
  • reproductive imaging
  • breeding programs

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 749 KB  
Article
Behavioral Outcomes Associated with Hormonal Sterilization in a Questionnaire-Based Study of Cats
by Mihaela Velkovska, Maja Zakošek Pipan, Irena Bolko and Darja Pavlin
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(5), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13050428 - 28 Apr 2026
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Treatment of cats with pharmacological reproductive control is becoming increasingly common, with deslorelin implants as the primary non-surgical method. However, few studies have systematically documented behavioral changes after implantation. This study evaluated 28 behaviors, grouped into eight categories, in 82 cats at one [...] Read more.
Treatment of cats with pharmacological reproductive control is becoming increasingly common, with deslorelin implants as the primary non-surgical method. However, few studies have systematically documented behavioral changes after implantation. This study evaluated 28 behaviors, grouped into eight categories, in 82 cats at one and three months post-deslorelin implantation. At the group level, behavioral changes over time showed a consistent pattern, with decreases in reproductive behaviors, inappropriate elimination, and activity and increases in positive social behaviors and feeding and drinking from one to three months post-implantation. Given the large number of statistical comparisons performed, these findings should be interpreted with caution in the context of multiple testing. Sex-related differences were limited, with females showing a greater increase in feeding and drinking than males at one month. Age-related effects were also observed, with cats younger than one year being more active than those older than three years at one month. Coat type was associated with behavioral variation at three months, with shorthaired cats showing higher levels of reproductive behavior and inappropriate elimination compared with longhaired cats; however, these effects should be interpreted cautiously given multiple testing considerations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Small Animal Reproduction and Fertility Management)
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13 pages, 2658 KB  
Article
Chronic Psoroptes ovis Infestation Induces Testicular Degeneration and Submandibular Gland Hypertrophy in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
by María Fernanda González-Chávez, Guadalupe Arjona-Jiménez, Pablo Alejandro Bochicchio, Claudia Hallal-Calleros and Iván Flores-Pérez
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(4), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13040392 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 545
Abstract
Background: Psoroptic mange caused by Psoroptes ovis is the most common dermatological disease in rabbits; despite being an ectoparasite, in male rabbits P. ovis alters characteristic hormone-dependent behaviors like chinning and sexual behavior, also inducing a decrease in serum testosterone. Our goal was [...] Read more.
Background: Psoroptic mange caused by Psoroptes ovis is the most common dermatological disease in rabbits; despite being an ectoparasite, in male rabbits P. ovis alters characteristic hormone-dependent behaviors like chinning and sexual behavior, also inducing a decrease in serum testosterone. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of P. ovis infestation on the histomorphology of testicular and submandibular (chinning) gland tissues of infected rabbits. Methods: Glands were obtained from experimentally infested and healthy rabbits, processed for inclusion in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Results: Testicular degeneration and submandibular gland hypertrophy were observed. In the testes of infested rabbits, lumen area and perimeter, seminiferous tubule area, tubule perimeter and diameter, increased. Conversely, germinal epithelium thickness and Johnsen scores of spermatogenic scale decreased, indicating impaired spermatogenesis. In the submandibular gland, lumen area and perimeter, and the total duct area and perimeter were increased. In addition, the area and perimeter of the acini also increased, while the number of acini decreased, consistent with glandular hypertrophy. Conclusions: The acarosis markedly alters the morphometric characteristics of both tissues, highlighting that psoroptic mange exerts a systemic effect on reproduction of the host altering non-dermal tissues with key roles in male reproductive function and chemical communication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Small Animal Reproduction and Fertility Management)
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