Induction of estrus in dogs at diestrus and anestrus

The termination of anestrus and induction of a fertile estrus in the bitch could be indicated in cases of infertility associated with prolonged anestrus or in conditions where synchronisation of estrus, pregnancy and parturition is needed for the purebred kennel dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an advantage of administration of aglepristone + cabergoline over solely cabergoline to induce estrus in dogs at diestrus or anestrus. For this purpose 12 bitches that have been confirmed for not being in proestrus or anestrus were randomly allocated to one of two groups as Group I (n=6) and Group II (n=6). Cabergoline (Dostinex 500 ?g/pill) were administered to Group I (n=6) daily with an oral dose of 5 µg/kg BW, until the observation of signs of proestrus or up to 45 days. In this group blood samples were collected prior to cabergoline administration (C0), on the first week of administration (C0), on the day of proestrus (P0) and at 7th (P7), 11th (P11), 13th (P13) 23th (P23) days following proestrus. Aglepristone (Alizine 30 mg/ml) were injected to the bitches of Group II for 2 consecutive days at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW. Cabergoline administration in the same way like group I, were initiated at the 15th day following the first aglepristone injection. In this Group blood samples were collected before (A0) and one week after (A1) the first aglepristone injection in addition to the blood samples collected likewise in Group I. Serum progesterone levels were detected with ELISA method at the end of the study. The estrus induced bitches in both groups were mated with male dogs. Following matings, pregnancies were confirmed by ultrasonography at 30th ? 35th days. In Group I, 4 out of 4 dogs that their estrus induced were all pregnant. In Group II, out of 5 dogs showing signs of estrus 3 were pregnant, while one did not mate and and the other that mated were not concieved. In both groups pregnant bitches had normal parturitions and healthy pups. In conclusion concerning the pregnancy rates, it was observed that aglepristone + cabergoline admininstration did not demonstrate any advantage over cabergoline administration for estrus induction in the bitches at diestrus or anestrus periods.Key words: aglepristone, cabergoline, bitch, estrus induction, progesteron.