Preparation4 minSources checked: 22.10.2026

Semen evaluation helps assess a male Pomeranian's reproductive potential and choose the next step. It examines a particular sample. A good report cannot promise pregnancy, while a poor result does not always mean permanent infertility: collection, health and reassessment matter.

Bruno at a consultation in a veterinary laboratory with a microscope

An ejaculate contains more than sperm

The canine ejaculate has three fractions. Most sperm are in the second, while the first and third mainly contain prostatic fluid. The amount of liquid therefore cannot be treated as the number of sperm cells.

Comparing which male fills a larger tube does not assess fertility. The fractions collected and intended use matter. Clinics process material for examination, chilling or freezing with appropriate protocols. Home collection in an arbitrary container followed by transport may produce a difficult-to-interpret result.

[2] UC Davis — Canine Semen Collection and Evaluation

Concentration and total count are different

Concentration describes sperm per unit of volume. Total count incorporates the volume being assessed. Distinguish these when comparing reports: a concentrated small sample does not necessarily contain more cells overall.

For an illustrative calculation, 1 mL containing 100 million cells per millilitre and 2 mL containing 50 million each both contain 100 million. These numbers demonstrate arithmetic, not a Pomeranian reference value. The veterinarian considers the dog's size and intended use; a universal volume for every Spitz is misleading.

[1] Kolster — Evaluation of Canine Sperm and Management of Semen Disorders, 2018 · [3] Randall — Canine semen evaluation protocols and pitfalls, 2020

Movement is not the same as forward progression

Total motility describes moving cells; progressive motility concerns cells travelling in a direction. A sperm cell may move its tail without making useful forward progress. The two percentages are therefore not interchangeable.

If one report gives total motility and another progressive motility, the smaller figure does not by itself prove deterioration. Compare equivalent parameters under comparable conditions. Percentages also need the total count: the same proportion in different samples can represent very different numbers of sperm.

[2] UC Davis — Canine Semen Collection and Evaluation

Morphology examines cell structure

Microscopy assesses sperm shape and the proportion with normal structure. Morphology belongs alongside count and viability in a complete evaluation. It examines cells rather than simply judging whether the fluid looks thick.

Ask which abnormalities were found and how they affect the proposed use. One attractive number cannot automatically compensate for all the others. A routine semen evaluation is not a genetic certificate for future puppies either; inherited conditions and the health of the pair require different assessments.

[1] Kolster — Evaluation of Canine Sperm and Management of Semen Disorders, 2018 · [6] University of Florida — Breeding Soundness Evaluation

The sample can change after collection

Temperature and laboratory technique affect assessment quality. Professional protocols address equipment preparation and examination conditions. The report therefore reflects both the male's biology and the way his sample was handled.

Establish whether the material was fresh, chilled or thawed. These are different states: a fresh sample report does not automatically describe what will remain suitable after storage. Comparisons are useful when the processing stage and meaning of each parameter are clear, rather than relying only on percentages printed in two rows.

[3] Randall — Canine semen evaluation protocols and pitfalls, 2020

When no sperm are found

An absence of cells requires investigation. Seminal alkaline phosphatase activity is one diagnostic tool that helps assess completeness of ejaculation. Further investigation may address the testes, prostate or possible retrograde ejaculation.

“No sperm in this tube” describes an observation, not its mechanism. It is not a reason to choose hormones immediately or declare the dog permanently infertile. The veterinarian checks collection and likely causes, then selects the next step. Repeating the analysis should answer a specific question rather than merely seek a more reassuring report.

[4] Measurement of alkaline phosphatase in canine seminal plasma, 2012 · [7] An Update on Male Canine Infertility, 2023

Recovery cannot be judged the following day

Sperm production in dogs takes roughly two months, with subsequent maturation and transport through the epididymis. Effects of illness and responses to treatment can therefore be delayed. These are general canine findings, not a separate Pomeranian timetable.

Choose the reassessment interval according to the suspected cause. Repeating tomorrow may sometimes help check collection, but cannot demonstrate an entirely new production cycle. Report illness, fever and treatment during preceding months. Do not credit a supplement with success solely because one parameter happened to improve on a single later examination.

[5] Canid Reproductive Biology: Norm and Unique Aspects, 2021