very attractive to male dogs, but bitch will flirt but won’t stand for male
swollen vulva
blood stained vulval discharge
lasts 9 days on average – range 3-21 days
hormones – oestrogen increasing
oestrus
fertile
will stand with males
swollen vulva
blood stained vulval discharge stopped
lasts 9 days on average – range 3-21 days
hormones – oestrogen peaks, ovulation occurs then oestrogen drops quickly, progesterone production starts and increases
metoestrous
enlargement of the mammary glands
no other signs unless phantom pregnancy
typically lasts 60 days – range 45-90 days
hormones – progesterone peaks approx 20 days after ovulation then starts to fall, prolactin begins to increase rapidly and peaks at 40-60 days after ovulation then declines if no pregnancy
anoestrus
no signs
typically 120 days – range 60-200 days
hormones – at basal levels
come into season every 7 months – range 4-24 months
ovulation – 48-96 hours after onset of oestrus
age at first season – 6-12 months – range 4-24 months, first season can be long and split
Bassenjis – one season a year
hormones
oestrogen – hormone of seasons
progesterone – hormone of pregnancy
prolactin – hormone of maternal behaviour and milk production
Phantom pregnancy
technically all bitches have a phantom pregnancy after season
physical and/or behavioural signs
physical
mammary enlargement
lactation
weight gain
anorexia
abdominal enlargement
vomiting
diarrhoea
polyuria – urinating a lot
polydisplasia – drinking a lot
polyphasia – eating a lot
behavioural
nesting
carrying/hoarding/mothering inanimate objects
digging/destructive
licking
aggression – RG
anxiety/agitation/increased reactivity
lethargy
occurs 6-12 weeks after oestrus – range 3-14 weeks
first phantom pregnancy makes future phantom pregnancies more likely
predisposed
afghans
boxers
dashund
Dalmatian
basset hounds
pointers
diagnosis
history and clinical signs
blood test (unreliable)
rule out pregnancy and pyometra
treatment
conservative
buster collar stop licking mammaries
take away faux puppies
restricting dietary intake
risks
loss of condition
mastitis
mammary tumors?
aggression
cabergoline
side effects
anorexia
vommitting
drowsiness
hypotension – low blood pressure
abortion (humans too)
prevention
spay – get rid of ovaries
convention practice –
spay before first season
risk of mammary tumours – 1% – now proven incorrect – spay before 2.5 to reduce risk
risk of urinary incontinence within 3 years – spayed bitches twice as likely
or 3 months after end of season
risk of mammary tumours – 8% – now proven incorrect – spay before 2.5 to reduce risk
spay mid way between 2 seasons – phantom pregnancy can start as late as 14 week, so potential for spaying during phantom pregnancy – can cause lifelong complications if left untreated – we’ve removed the natural way of switching prolactin off
