Investigation of the efficacy of vitex agnus castus in the treatment of pseudopregnancy cases and termination of lactation in bitch

In this thesis study, it was aimed to terminate milk secretion by using Vitex agnus castus in bitches showing false pregnancy symptoms and lactation should be terminated. The material of this study was composed of patients that were brought to Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with a complaint of pseudopregnancy that require termination of lactation. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups; the study group (n=12) received VAC, 1 tb/5kg/24h for dogs weighting <15kg, 1 tb/15kg/24h for dogs weighting >15kg (ProlactiNO, VetExpert, Turkiye); The control group (n=12) received cabergoline (KAB), which is a dopamine agonist, 5µg/kg/24h (Dostinex, Pfizer, USA). The first drug administration was considered day 0 and clinical examinations of every og was carried out at the 4th, 7th and 10th days. Mammary secretions were detected in both VAC and KAB groups. Patients that shown behaviour changed in 41.7% of the VAC group and 33.3% in the KAB group. Treatment success rates were 66.7% in the KAB group and 16.7% in the VAC group. On the other hand in patients with non-terminated lactations, the secretions were decreased by 68.7% in the VAC group and 80% in the KAB group. Behavioral changes were completely normalized between the 2nd and 7th days for 50% of the KAB group and between the 3rd and 8th days for 80% of the VAC group. Drug administrations changed the hematological and biochemical parameters but all parameters stayed within the reference values. The side effect ratio of drug applications of KAB group was 2.5% which was vomiting; no side effects were seen in any drug administration of the VAC groups. The only statistically significant finding between the comparison of PRL levels of VAC and KAB groups were at the 4th day marked by the increase in the KAB group (P<0.01); no statictical significance was found at day 0, 7th or 10th days. As a result, during the 10-day trial period, VAC was less successful in suppressing the behavioral changes and -especially- reducing lactation compared to cabergoline. However the partial success of VAC in decreasing the mammary secretions suggest that the treatment may be successful if the duration of drug application is prolonged. We aim to study the clinical and hormonal effects of the drug using these results as a waystone.