A study of two protocols combining aglepristone and cloprostenol to treat open cervix pyometra in the bitch.

To compare the efficacy and safety of two protocols using a combination of aglepristone and cloprostenol for the treatment of open cervix pyometra in the bitch and to describe the progesterone (P4) serum profiles before and during treatments, 15 bitches were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: I (n = 8): aglepristone was administered at 10mg/kg, s.c., on Days 1, 3, 8, and 15 (if not cured), combined with cloprostenol at the dose of 1 microg/kg, s.c., on Days 3 and 8, and II (n = 7): received the same treatment with aglepristone as Treatment I but cloprostenol on Days 3, 5, 8 10, 12, and 15 (if not cured). Before the beginning of the treatments and then on Days 8, 15, and 29 all bitches were evaluated for clinical signs, side effects, hemogram, serum P4 concentrations, and uterus diameters. Bitches in both treatment groups, with (n = 6) or without (n = 9; > or =1.2 ng/ml) initial basal P4 serum concentrations, achieved treatment success without side effects and no significant differences, either on Day 15 (6/8 for Treatment I and 4/7 for Treatment II) or on Day 29 (2/8 for Treatment I and 3/7 for Treatment II). In both treatments groups, clinical signs, blood parameters, and uterine diameters improved to normal values throughout the experiments. A significant interaction between day and treatment was found for percentage change in P4 when all bitches were considered together. Redevelopment of pyometra in the next estrous cycle occurred in 20% of the bitches. One nonrecurrent bitch was mated and whelped a normal litter. It is concluded that these two combined protocols proved to be efficient and safe in reversing clinical signs of open cervix pyometra independently of initial P4 concentrations and that the number of cloprostenol administrations seemed to have an effect on P4 serum changes throughout treatments.

Use of prostaglandins and bromocriptine mesylate for pregnancy termination in bitches.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of 2 protocols using bromocriptine mesylate and prostaglandins to terminate unwanted pregnancy in bitches. DESIGN: Prospective randomized single-blind controlled study. ANIMALS: 34 crossbred and purebred bitches referred for possible pregnancy termination. Seven additional pregnant bitches were used as controls. PROCEDURE: Pregnancy was assessed by ultrasonographic examination from day 25 after mating in all bitches. Of the 34 bitches, 25 were pregnant and were randomly allocated to a treatment group. Group-1 dogs (n = 12) received a combination of increasing amounts of bromocriptine mesylate (15 to 30 microg/kg [6.8 to 13.6 microg/lb], p.o., q 12 h) and dinoprost tromethamine (0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg [0.045 to 0.09 mg/lb], s.c., q 24 h). Group-2 dogs (n =13) received a combination of increasing amounts of bromocriptine mesylate (the same schedule as group-1 dogs) and cloprostenol sodium (1 microg/kg [0.45 microg/lb], s.c., q 48 h). Both groups were treated until pregnancy termination. Results-Treatment success was 100% in both groups. Days of treatment required for pregnancy termination did not significantly differ between groups (5.0 +/- 0.6 vs 3.7 +/- 0.6 days, group-1 and group-2 dogs, respectively) although adverse effects only developed in group-1 dogs. At the end of the protocols, pseudopregnancy was observed in 3 of 12 and 6 of 13 group-1 and group-2 dogs, respectively. Pregnancy termination was followed by a mucoid sanguineous vulvar discharge for 3 to 10 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this study indicate that protocols that combine the use of bromocriptine mesylate and prostaglandins for the termination of unwanted pregnancy in bitches are efficient and safe. The use of bromocriptine mesylate and cloprostenol had the best results and could be easily used on an outpatient basis.