Analytical and clinical performance of a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay for progesterone and determination of ovulation day in bitches.

We evaluated the performance of a third-generation fluorescence enzyme immunoassay kit (FEIA; Tosoh Bioscience) for progesterone (P4) measurement in canine serum to identify the day of luteinizing hormone (LH) peak and ovulation in bitches. We conducted P4 assays on 54 serum samples using a FEIA and a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA; Siemens). For the FEIA kit, the linearity test, recovery test, inter- and intra-assay CVs, and total error observed (TEo) were calculated. Serum samples from 28 bitches were used to evaluate the association of P4 concentration with the day of LH peak and the day of ovulation based on P4 thresholds (P4 ≥ 2 ng/mL, and doubling at 4-8 ng/mL in the following 48 h), and with pregnancy length. Linearity was 75-97% and 86-94% for high (37.0 ng/mL) and medium (3.8 ng/mL) pool serum samples, respectively. Recovery was 86.4-119%. Intra-assay CVs were 2.6%, 3.3%, and 5.2% for low (0.23 ng/mL), medium (6.24 ng/mL), and high (38.3 ng/mL) pool concentrations. Inter-assay CVs were 2.22% and 2.53% for P4 concentrations of 2.70 ng/mL and 8.2 ng/mL, respectively. TEo was 8.72% and 22.7% for P4 concentrations of 2 and 8 ng/mL, respectively. The mean pregnancy length from the day of LH peak and ovulation were 64.6 ± 1.7 and 63.3 ± 1.1 d, respectively. The third-generation FEIA kit that we tested was highly reliable.

Fertility parameters and reproductive management of Norwegian Forest Cats, Maine Coon, Persian and Bengal cats raised in Italy: a questionnaire-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Fertility and reproductive management were investigated, via questionnaires, in breeding establishments of Norwegian Forest Cats, Maine Coon, Persian and Bengal cats in Italy. METHODS: Six Bengal, five Maine Coon, eight Norwegian Forest Cat and seven Persian breeders responded for a total of 128 queens, 565 heats, 337 litters and 1424 kittens spanning the period 1998-2012. The mean number of queens per cattery was 4.9 ± 2.3, with primiparous queens constituting 20.5%. Of the catteries, 61.5% were indoor, with 50% of them having access to a fenced balcony. Fifteen percent of the catteries were outdoor with cat runs. No light supplementation was used in any of the catteries. RESULTS: Queens showed oestrous cycles throughout the year, although 67% of oestrous cycles occurred from January-June. Puberty occurred, on average, at 12.3 ± 7.4 months. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed routinely in only 30% of catteries. Both pregnancy length (average 64.7 ± 2.4 days, range 59-76 days) and litter size (average 4.2 ± 1.8 kittens, with 11.8% of kittens stillborn) showed some breed-specific differences; in Norwegian Forest Cats larger litter size was associated with shorter pregnancy length. Kitten mortality between birth and weaning was, on average, 14%. Stillborn kittens (P <0.01) and kitten mortality (0.01

Clinical use of fetal measurements to determine the whelping day in German shepherd breed bitches.

The aim of this work was to use a linear regression model previously developed in a pilot study to calculate days before parturition (DbP) using inner chorionic cavity (ICC), biparietal diameter (BPD), crown-rump length (CRL), body diameter (BD) and deep portion of telencephalic vesicle (DPTV) in German shepherd dogs (GSD) with known ovulation day and then to test that model in bitches with unknown ovulation day. In our current study, a model for GSD bitches published in a previous report, proved satisfactory for ICC [DbP=44.76-(4.34×ICC)] and BPD [DbP=38.65-(12.86×BPD)]. We therefore used their model, but developed a new one for CRL, BD and DPTV. For ICC and BPD, we tested accuracy for more than 35days before parturition (ICC) and more than 15days before parturition (BPD). Measurements were taken on at least two fetuses during each ultrasound recording (US) of 22 GSD bitches with known (n=16) and unknown (n=6) ovulation days. The accuracy of the above model was 77-100% for ICC and 83-96% for BPD with a precision of ±1 and ±2days, respectively. Accuracy increased significantly when US was performed more than 35days before parturition for ICC and more than 15days before parturition for BPD. BD and CRL were the most accurate parameters (R2=0.95 and 0.85). In bitches with unknown ovulation day, BD accuracy was 71.4-100% with a precision of ±1day and ±2days, respectively. CRL and DPTV were less accurate (±1day, 60%; ±2days, 80% accuracy).

Postponement of puberty in queens treated with deslorelin.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of deslorelin, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist marketed in Europe for the control of male dog reproduction, for the postponement of puberty in queens. Methods Nine prepubertal queens aged 3-9 months were selected for this study; their general and reproductive health was checked through clinical, haematological, vaginal cytology and hormonal tests. Following treatment with a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant, each cat received a monthly clinical examination and blood was collected for hormonal assay every third month. Cats were monitored for 14.1 ± 5.2 (range 7-23) months. Results All cats were in good body condition and normal health prior to treatment. Their health status remained unchanged throughout the study and no significant variation was observed with regard to serum progesterone or oestradiol. Seven days post-treatment, 1/9 queens showed signs of heat, and one other queen showed complete vaginal keratinisation. No other signs of heat were subsequently observed in any other queen. Five queens were lost during the study after 7, 7, 16, 17 and 18 months of observation (during which time they did not show signs of heat). By the end of the study, no sign of puberty was observed in the four remaining queens at 21-36 months of age. Conclusions and relevance A 4.7 mg deslorelin implant was able to suppress the feline pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to postponement of puberty for up to 21-36 months in the four queens that completed the study. Deslorelin can be considered as a safe method to postpone puberty in queens.

Gestational diabetes mellitus with diabetic ketoacidosis in a Yorkshire terrier bitch.

A 6 yr old pregnant Yorkshire terrier bitch presented 62 days after mating with an acute history of vomiting and coughing. The owners also reported that the dog was polyuric and polydypsic for the last 2 weeks. Complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and urinalysis revealed hyperglycemia, ketonemia, ketonuria, and metabolic acidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis was diagnosed and after emergency treatment, including fluid therapy, prophylactic antibiotics, and regular insulin, the bitch whelped six healthy normal puppies. Two weeks after treatment, the bitch was clinically normal with normal fructosamine levels. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of gestational diabetes mellitus in a small breed dog.

Estrogen-induced myelotoxicity in dogs: A review.

Exogenous estrogens used for therapeutic purposes or endogenous estrogen sources such as functional Sertoli cell or ovarian granulosa cell tumors may cause bone marrow toxicity in dogs. The condition is characterized by hematologic abnormalities including thrombocytopenia, anemia, and leukocytosis or leukopenia. Despite intensive therapy with blood or platelet-rich transfusions, broad-spectrum antibiotics, steroids, and bone marrow stimulants, prognosis is unfavorable. Due to the the risk of stimulating the development of uterine diseases and the potential for inducing aplastic anemia, estrogen use in dogs is best avoided where possible. This paper describes the causes of estrogen-induced myelotoxicity, the clinical presentation of the patients, the diagnosis, and the treatment options in the dog.