Difference between revisions of "Pseudopregnancy"
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Pseudopregnancy (phantom pregnancy; false pregnancy; pseudocyesis) is a relatively common phenomenon in small dogs characterized by pregnancy behaviour, physical changes associated with pregnancy, but the absence of foetuses. | Pseudopregnancy (phantom pregnancy; false pregnancy; pseudocyesis) is a relatively common phenomenon in small dogs characterized by pregnancy behaviour, physical changes associated with pregnancy, but the absence of foetuses. | ||
| − | Pseudo pregnancy is a normal physiological process that occurs in female dogs, not usually associated with reproductive organ disorders. It is seen 45-60 days after a normal estrous (heat) period, as progesterone levels, which rise after ovulation, begin to fall<ref>Gobello C ''et al'' (2001) Study of the change of prolactin and progesterone during dopaminergic agonist treatments in pseudopregnant bitches. ''Anim Reprod Sci'' '''66(3-4)''':257-267</ref>. Decreasing progesterone leads to an increase of prolactin, responsible for most of the behaviors seen during a pseudopregnancy episode<ref>Gobello C ''et al'' (2001) Dioestrous ovariectomy: a model to study the role of progesterone in the onset of canine pseudopregnancy. ''J Reprod Fertil Suppl'' '''57''':55-60</ref>. | + | Pseudo pregnancy is a normal physiological process that occurs in female dogs, not usually associated with reproductive organ disorders. It is seen 45 - 60 days after a normal estrous (heat) period, as progesterone levels, which rise after ovulation, begin to fall<ref>Gobello C ''et al'' (2001) Study of the change of prolactin and progesterone during dopaminergic agonist treatments in pseudopregnant bitches. ''Anim Reprod Sci'' '''66(3-4)''':257-267</ref>. Decreasing progesterone leads to an increase of prolactin, responsible for most of the behaviors seen during a pseudopregnancy episode<ref>Gobello C ''et al'' (2001) Dioestrous ovariectomy: a model to study the role of progesterone in the onset of canine pseudopregnancy. ''J Reprod Fertil Suppl'' '''57''':55-60</ref>. |
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| + | Histologically, during late metoestrous, endometrial epithelial surface cells frequently accumulate fat and thereby adopt a foamy morphology, giving the endometrial lining a characteristic foamy appearance during pseudopregnancy<ref>Bartel C ''et al'' (2013) Characterization of Foamy Epithelial Surface Cells in the Canine Endometrium. ''Anat Histol Embryol'' [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23617756 Apr 26]</ref>. | ||
Clinical signs include mothering of toys, nesting, or even aggression. Mammary development and milk production are common. | Clinical signs include mothering of toys, nesting, or even aggression. Mammary development and milk production are common. | ||
Latest revision as of 06:01, 29 April 2013
Pseudopregnancy (phantom pregnancy; false pregnancy; pseudocyesis) is a relatively common phenomenon in small dogs characterized by pregnancy behaviour, physical changes associated with pregnancy, but the absence of foetuses.
Pseudo pregnancy is a normal physiological process that occurs in female dogs, not usually associated with reproductive organ disorders. It is seen 45 - 60 days after a normal estrous (heat) period, as progesterone levels, which rise after ovulation, begin to fall[1]. Decreasing progesterone leads to an increase of prolactin, responsible for most of the behaviors seen during a pseudopregnancy episode[2].
Histologically, during late metoestrous, endometrial epithelial surface cells frequently accumulate fat and thereby adopt a foamy morphology, giving the endometrial lining a characteristic foamy appearance during pseudopregnancy[3].
Clinical signs include mothering of toys, nesting, or even aggression. Mammary development and milk production are common.
Mastitis and vaginal hyperplasia are sometimes observed as a complication. Pseudopregnancy can also be acutely induced by spaying a dog near the end of estrus.
Diagnosis is based on the presence of typical clinical signs in metaoestrous non-pregnant bitches[4].
Treatment usually involves hysterectomy or allowing time for symptoms to abate by normal hormonal resolution.
Proligestone, bromocriptine[5] or cabergoline may be indicated if excessive prolactin production is evident (>4 ng/mL)[6].
References
- ↑ Gobello C et al (2001) Study of the change of prolactin and progesterone during dopaminergic agonist treatments in pseudopregnant bitches. Anim Reprod Sci 66(3-4):257-267
- ↑ Gobello C et al (2001) Dioestrous ovariectomy: a model to study the role of progesterone in the onset of canine pseudopregnancy. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 57:55-60
- ↑ Bartel C et al (2013) Characterization of Foamy Epithelial Surface Cells in the Canine Endometrium. Anat Histol Embryol Apr 26
- ↑ Gobello C et al (2001) A review of canine pseudocyesis. Reprod Domest Anim 36(6):283-288
- ↑ Grünau B et al (1996) The treatment of pseudopregnancy in the bitch with prolactin inhibitors metergoline and bromocriptine. Tierarztl Prax 24(2):149-155
- ↑ Tsutsui T et al (2007) Plasma progesterone and prolactin concentrations in overtly pseudopregnant bitches: a clinical study. Theriogenology 67(5):1032-1038
