Effect of short-term restricted food intake on canine pseudopregnancy.
A non-pharmaceutical, dietary option may be useful to manage clinical pseudopregnancy (PSP). To describe the effect of short-term food restriction on canine PSP, 16 privately owned, overtly pseudopregnant bitches were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: Limit-fed (increasing amounts of a restricted maintenance: 50%, 40%, 30% restriction for 2, 3 and 2 days respectively) during 7 days (n = 8) or Maintenance-fed of the same food and period (n = 8). The bitches were physically examined and blood samples were taken for prolactin and progesterone determinations on days 2, 5 and 8. By day 8, none of the bitches had completely regressed the condition although all (8/8) the animals of the Limit-fed and two (25%) of the Maintenance-fed group improved in condition decreasing mammary size and secretion (p < 0.05). No day or group effects were observed for serum prolactin and progesterone concentrations (>0.05). It is concluded that although an 8-day food restriction did not cure PSP, it seemed to hasten PSP signs involution in these bitches. No endocrine change was related to these clinical findings.
Hermo
G
G
Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Gerez
P G
PG
Dragonetti
A M
AM
Gobello
C
C
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D007774:Lactation; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D011374:Progesterone; D011388:Prolactin