title: Tocodynamometry detects preterm labor in the bitch before luteolysis.
abstract: Preterm labor (PTL), myometrial activity, and accompanying cervical changes can lead to the loss of pregnancy via resorption or abortion before term gestation. Idiopathic PTL has no metabolic, infectious, congenital, traumatic, or toxic cause identified; however, hypoluteoidism has been hypothesized to cause PTL in the bitch, based on progesterone measurements at the time of clinical pregnancy loss. This study documents the use of tocodynamometry to detect PTL in 5 bitches; progesterone measurements in these bitches were normal for pregnancy at the time PTL was diagnosed.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis CA USA. Electronic address: apdavidson@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Autumn P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D003341:Luteolysis; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D018590:Uterine Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone
keywords: pregnancy; preterm labor; tocodynamometry; uterine irritability