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The reproductive endocrinology of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, was characterized to facilitate the development of artificial insemination using cryopreserved spermatozoa. Specific objectives were: (i) to determine the excretory dynamics of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovarian steroid metabolites during the estrous cycle; (ii) to evaluate the effect of an exogenously administered synthetic progesterone analog (altrenogest) on reproductive hormone excretion; (iii) to correlate follicular growth and ovulation (as determined by transabdominal ultrasound) to urinary LH and ovarian steroid metabolites; (iv) examine the in vivo fertilisation capacity of cryopreserved semen, and (v) to develop an intrauterine insemination technique. Based on urinary endocrine monitoring of natural estrous cycles (2 consecutive cycles) and nine post altrenogest cycles in ten females, estrous cycles were found to be 36 days long and comprised of an 8 day and 19 day follicular and luteal phase, respectively. Peak estrogen conjugates (EC; 5.4 6 3.8 ng/mg creatinine (Cr)) occurred 8 h prior to the LH surge (70.9 6 115.7 ng/mg Cr). The time of ovulation, as determined by ultrasonography, occurred 32.1 6 8.9 h and 24.3 6 7.0 h after the onset of the LH surge and LH peak, respectively. Mean preovulatory follicular diameter and circumference were 2.1 6 0.5 cm and 6.5 6 1.5 cm, respectively. Of the 27 estrous synchronisation attempts, 13 resulted in an ovulatory cycle, with ovulation occurring 21 days post-altrenogest treatment. Intrauterine (4 of 5) and intracornual (1 of 3) inseminations conducted across eight estrous cycles resulted in five pregnancies (63%), one pregnancy resulted from the use of liquid stored semen, whereas four were achieved using cryopreserved semen. These data provide new information on female bottlenose dolphin reproductive physiology, and demonstrate that the combination of endocrine monitoring and serial ultrasonography contributed to successful AI using liquid-stored and cryopreserved semen.

Summary Twenty‐four horses with ultrasonographic evidence of tendonitis of the deep digital flexor tendon in the metacarpal/metatarsal region were seen over a 7 year period. Most horses had mild to moderate lameness and distension of the digital flexor tendon sheath in the affected limb. Intrasynovial analgesia of the digital flexor tendon sheath consistently improved the degree of lameness. Ultrasonography most commonly revealed small, distinct, often circular, focal hypoechoic areas within the deep digital flexor tendon which usually extended less than 1 cm proximodistally. The degree of lameness and swelling generally improved with box rest and controlled exercise, however, exacerbation of the clinical signs and ultrasonographic lesions was common when affected horses were returned to work or allowed free exercise at pasture. Of 24 cases, only 7 horses made a full recovery and returned to their intended athletic activity.

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