ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Animal Reproduction - Theriogenology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1645496
This article is part of the Research TopicBacteria and Canine Reproduction: Healthy Microbial Flora, Opportunistic Pathogens, True PathogensView all articles
German veterinarians asked: A cross-sectional study on microbiological examination and antimicrobial use in canine reproductive medicine
Provisionally accepted
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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Despite the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance, many dog breeders still request antimicrobial treatment prior to mating, often based on vaginal bacterial culture examinations. However, several previous studies failed to identify differences in the vaginal microbiota between healthy dogs and those with reproductive tract disorders; thus, treating healthy bitches with antimicrobials regardless of the bacterial findings is contraindicated. To investigate current practices of German small animal veterinarians regarding microbiological sampling and antimicrobial treatment in canine reproductive medicine, we conducted an online survey using LimeSurvey®. The questionnaire included questions (single/multiple choice) about procedures of microbiological swab sampling and handling in general and in canine reproductive medicine specifically, as well as on antimicrobial use in the respective field. The objective was to identify educational and research needs regarding vaginal bacterial culture interpretation and antimicrobial treatment in canine breeding. We found that treating clinically healthy breeding bitches remains common practice among both breeders and veterinarians. Our findings highlight the importance of continuous education and improved communication to reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use in canine reproduction. Furthermore, research on the reproductive microbiome in relation to fertility is essential for evidence-based treatment decisions.
Keywords: Canine reproduction, vaginal bacterial culture, Antimicrobial use, antimicrobial resistance, Breeding Management
Received: 11 Jun 2025; Accepted: 16 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Rojahn, Leps and Goericke-Pesch. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Sandra Goericke-Pesch, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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