Authors : G. Ajitkumar, R. Praseeda, K. Rajankutty and P.C. Alex
Abstract: Twenty four bitches in anoestrus for >6 months from the last heat with a serum progesterone level >1 ng mL-1 were divided into two groups and subjected to oestrus induction trials using anti-prolactin drug cabergoline at 5 and 1 μg kg-1 body weight respectively, once daily orally for 20 consecutive days. The mean serum progesterone level among them during anoestrus was found to be 0.56±0.01 ng mL-1. Out of 12 animals treated in each group, 10 (83.34%) in group I and 9 (75%) in group II responded by evincing proestrual bleeding. The mean (±SEM) time taken from initiation of treatment to onset of proestrual bleeding in Groups I and II was 13.50±0.50 (p<0.01) and 21.89±0.86 days, respectively. About 25% of animals treated with high dose cabergoline exhibited side effects as against none with low dose. The mean (±SEM) duration of proestrus and oestrus in the treatment groups was 8.70±0.30 (p<0.05) and 9.56±0.38 days and 8.20±0.29 and 8.33±0.24 days, respectively. The conception rate in relation to the number of animals responding to oestrus induction in the treatment groups was 90 and 88.89%, respectively. The mean (±SEM) gestation length calculated from the last breeding date and litter size in the treatment groups were 62±0.41 and 62.88±0.49, 6.44±0.29 and 6.13±0.23, respectively.
G. Ajitkumar, R. Praseeda, K. Rajankutty and P.C. Alex, 2010. Comparative Efficacy of High vs. Low Dose Cabergoline Treatment Regimen in Inducing Fertile Oestrus in Anoestrous Dogs. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 1735-1738.