Stimulation of reproductive cycles in dogs and cats

Dog's reproductive cycle

The physiological reproductive cycle of a dog is divided into four main stages:

Proestrus. The duration of the period is about 7 days. At this stage, the egg cell matures. In addition to the internal restructuring of the body for a possible pregnancy, there are also external signs: the vulva increases its nominal size, and bright mucous discharge appears. The dog's behavior changes, it becomes more nervous, inattentive to commands, and overexcited. During this period, males begin to chase bitches, flirt with them and care for them. But a positive reaction in a female towards a male appears only at the end of the proestrus period.
Estrus. The average duration is 9 days. This period is considered the most favorable for mating a dog and a bitch. The female's discharge becomes lighter in color or with a slight presence of blood. The vulva becomes less swollen. During this period, females are actively interested in males, sniff them and choose their favorite. Having chosen a suitable partner, the female takes a mating position, and mating begins. After six days of this period, if mating has not occurred, the likelihood of becoming pregnant decreases, since the viability of the egg decreases every day.
Diestrus. The average cycle length is 60 days. This period occurs after estrus and is characterized by a decrease in sexual arousal and the bitch’s interest in males. The dog becomes calmer and more balanced. This period is the most active in the luteal phase.
Anestrus. The average duration of this period is 130 days. The female's ovaries are inactive. During the dormant period, the female rests, is not interested in males and is not attracted to them.

Stimulation of reproductive cycles in dogs and cats

To suppress the onset of heat, the dose of megestrol acetate is sharply increased - 2 mg/kg for a week. A milder option is 4 days at 2 mg/kg from the moment signs of estrus appear, and then 12 days at 0.5 mg/kg. Based on megestrol acetate, many drugs have been patented, both in the form of tablets and for injection (Ovarid, Syntex suppress, etc.).

Medroxyprogesterone acetate is primarily used to prevent heat and is not generally recommended for use during other phases of a bitch's cycle. 6 weeks before estrus, 2 ml of its solution (28 mg/kg) is administered subcutaneously; for bitches weighing more than 25 kg, the dose is doubled. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is also prescribed orally 5 days before proestrus, 5-10 mg daily throughout proestrus and estrus, and, if necessary, in the future. Some recommend this drug to suppress heat: with the onset of estrus, 4 days of 10 mg, and then another 12 days of 5 mg (for bitches weighing more than 25 kg, the dose is doubled). Medroxyprogesterone acetate is part of the branded drugs Perlutex (Leo, England) and Promone E (Upjohn). Both drugs are used for long-term (up to 30 months) suppression of heat, but the second has many contraindications and the onset of heat after stopping its administration is unpredictable.

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Cowinan

COMPOSITION AND FORM OF RELEASE

The drug is a sterile white aqueous suspension containing 100 mg of proligestone in 1 ml - a synthetic hormone from the group of 2 generation progestogens. Produced in glass bottles of 20 ml and packaged in cardboard boxes.

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Covinan has a prolonged progestogenic effect on dogs and cats with minimal risk of developing undesirable changes in the endometrium and ovaries. It can be administered both during the aestrous period (the period between estrus) and at the beginning of the pre-estrus stage of the sexual cycle. The steroid hormone prolygestone suppresses the secretion of pituitary gonadotropins, which inhibits the maturation of ovarian follicles, causes progestational changes in the uterine mucosa that prevent fertilization, inhibits the development of estrus, inhibits cell hyperplasia and secretion of the mammary gland of animals. The effect of the drug on the course of dermatological and oncological processes may be associated with its effect on the pituitary gland, estrogen receptors and tissue metabolism. Prolygestone improves appetite and promotes weight gain in animals. The composition of Covinan allows you to prolong the action of prolygestone, creating its depot at the injection site. In addition, the prolonged effect of the drug is associated with the deposition of proligestone in fatty tissue. Prolygestone enters the intestine with bile, and most of it is removed with feces. A small amount of the hormone will be excreted in the urine.

INDICATIONS

Prescribed to dogs and cats to prevent and suppress the development of estrus, prevent and terminate false pregnancy and pseudo-lactation, treat uterine bleeding and dermatitis of hormonal etiology.

DOSES AND METHOD OF APPLICATION

Covinan is best injected subcutaneously into the withers area. For show dogs, the drug is recommended to be injected into the inguinal fold. Before administration, it is recommended to lightly massage the skin at the injection site. Shake the bottle of Covinan well before use. To control estrus in bitches, the drug is administered in the following doses: for an animal weighing less than 5 kg, the dose of Covinan is 1 - 1.5 ml, for an animal weighing from 5 to 10 kg - 1.5 - 2.5 ml, from 10 to 20 kg - 2.5 – 5.5 ml, from 20 to 30 kg – 3.5 – 4.5 ml, from 30 to 45 kg – 4.5 – 5.5 ml, from 45 to 60 kg – 5.5 – 6 0 ml, if the animal weighs more than 60 kg, covinan is administered at the rate of 1 ml for every 10 kg of body weight. When used as a contraceptive in cats, Covinan is administered in the following doses: with an animal weighing less than 3 kg, the dose of the drug is 1 ml, with an animal weighing from 3 to 5 kg - 1 - 1.5 ml, with an animal weighing more than 5 kg - 1.5 – 2.5 ml. To control the development of estrus in animals that have not previously been administered progestogens, the first treatment is carried out in the period between estrus or when the first signs of the pre-estrus stage of the reproductive cycle appear, the second treatment is carried out 3 months after the first, the third - 4 months after the second, then the drug administered to animals at 5-month intervals. To control the development of estrus in animals that have previously been administered progestogens, after two or more previous treatments, Covinan is administered at an interval of 5 months, after a single previous treatment, the drug is administered in the following order: 3 months after the previous treatment, then after 4 months, and subsequently at intervals of 5 months. For the prevention and treatment of false pregnancy and pseudolactation, the drug is administered to bitches once in a dose of 1 - 3 ml in the pre-estrus phase or the balancing phase of the estrous cycle, respectively. To treat dermatitis, the drug is administered to dogs in a dose of 1–2 ml (depending on the weight of the animal), and to cats in a dose of 1 ml. To correct behavior, Covinan is administered to cats and dogs in a single dose of 1–4 ml. For other indications, the drug is administered at a dose used to control estrus, 1 or 2 times with an interval of 1 month. Continuation of the course of use of Covinan depends on the results of a clinical examination of the animal. In some cases (3 – 5%), despite the use of Covinan, animals develop estrus. In this case, an additional dose of the drug is administered at the pre-estrus stage.

At what age do dogs have their first mating?

For the first time, females begin to estrus between 8 and 13 months. There are individuals with earlier signs of puberty and, conversely, with delays of up to 16 months. But the first heat does not mean that the female is ready for intercourse and pregnancy. The final development of tissues and organs in the animal’s body ends after a year. The mental state of the young female also undergoes certain changes; she becomes calm, obedient and more disciplined.

Therefore, mating before one year is extremely undesirable, since it can undermine the physical and psychological health of the bitch. In order for the pregnancy to proceed without pathologies and the birth to be easy, the first mating must be planned at the age of 1.5 to 2 years.

What is the best time to breed?

Veterinarians and breeders recommend carrying out the first mating in spring and autumn. The advantages of spring mating include:

Length of daylight hours. Sunlight helps to better absorb vitamin D and calcium, which are involved in the structure of the skeletal system of developing embryos. And also during the period of long daylight hours, females recover faster after childbirth;
Nutrition. With the beginning of spring, the content of biologically active compounds in meat and fish products increases. But this applies only to natural nutrition: in the spring, a pregnant female receives more vitamins and nutrients;
Protection of newborn puppies from rickets. The summer months are the best natural remedy against rickets. The puppies will spend a long time in the fresh air, walking and strengthening their shape.

Examination and tests

Since the result of mating will be pregnancy, it is necessary to take care of the female’s health in advance. It is advisable to undergo a preliminary examination and get tested at a veterinary clinic.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the size and shape of the bitch. Those. In an emaciated, thin female, the puppies will not receive full nutrients. And if you are overweight, large puppies may be born, which will lead to certain difficulties during childbirth.

The second point is timely deworming. It is best to carry it out two weeks before the intended mating. During the same period, you can treat your dog for external parasites.

Another important point is routine vaccination. If the dog’s next vaccination schedule coincides with the period of future pregnancy, then it is better to shift the schedule a few weeks before the period of estrus. Vaccination should not be ignored, since lack of vaccinations reduces the mother's immunity.

In addition to basic vaccinations, you can include vaccines against infections and diseases of the genital tract in your vaccination schedule. This could be the Chlamycon vaccine, which protects four-legged pets from chlamydia.

List of studies that a female should undergo before mating at the veterinary clinic:

Ultrasound (uterus, ovaries) allows you to timely identify possible tumors, cysts and neoplasms;
Tests for brucellosis. This disease is quite difficult to diagnose, and without appropriate laboratory tests it is almost impossible. Brucella bacteria cause changes in the female's body that lead to miscarriage and the birth of dead puppies;
Smear and general blood test. Laboratory test data show whether there is an inflammatory process in the body of a young female;
X-ray examination. Performed for multiparous females who have had a caesarean section. The study shows whether there are adhesions in the abdominal area. With accelerated tissue regeneration, a kind of “gluing” occurs. These unpleasant consequences can lead to the inability to bear and give birth to puppies, as well as a general decrease in the dog’s standard of living;
Determination of progesterone levels in the blood. A hormone level of up to 7-9 ng/ml signals the female’s full readiness for mating and fertilization. This test is performed on pregnant females before a cesarean section to determine readiness for childbirth.

Stimulation of reproductive cycles in dogs and cats

Bitches and cats administered Covinan during the pre-estrus period may retain the ability to fertilize for 1 week after administration of the drug. Due to significant fluctuations in the age at which animals develop their first estrus, it is recommended to begin using Covinan no earlier than the first signs of the pre-estrus stage of the reproductive cycle. Alternatively, the use of the drug can be postponed until the next aestrous stage of the sexual cycle. If treatment with the drug is carried out at the beginning and end of pregnancy, the course of labor may be complicated by insufficient dilatation of the cervix. In some cases, suppression of estrus development by Covinan can be permanent. Signs of the pre-estrus stage of the sexual cycle disappear a few days after the injection of the drug, if the latter is done as soon as possible after the appearance of the initial signs of this stage of the sexual cycle. After stopping injections of Covinan, normal estrus is restored within 12 months; it is recommended to breed animals from the second estrus.

SIDE EFFECTS

In extremely rare cases, discoloration and hair loss at the injection site, the development of endometritis, weight gain, and the appearance of slight depression or aggressiveness may occur. In a small number of bitches (mostly over the age of 6 years), the use of Covinan, which causes an increase in the size of the uterus and the accumulation of mucous secretions in it, can lead to the development of pyometra.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The use of the drug is contraindicated in animals who have suffered from diseases of the genitourinary system, as well as in cases of prolonged unusual vaginal discharge. During the period of estrus, the use of Covinan is not allowed.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

No special precautions are required. There is no data to suggest the effect of Cowinan on the agility of greyhounds during greyhound racing.

STORAGE CONDITIONS

In a dry, dark place at a temperature of 15 to 25? C. Shelf life: 2 years.

MANUFACTURER

Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health, Netherlands.

My opinion about this drug.

There are such drugs in the world as Covinan and Depo-promon. With the help of these drugs, you can stop your dog from going into heat for as long as six months. And you can also, by continuing to do injections, stop this estrus completely. I have been using these drugs for a long time, and many dogs to this day do not leak thanks to these drugs. One of them is already 12 years old. But the catch is that these drugs should under no circumstances be given if the bitch has inflammatory processes in the uterus. “And what does Covinan and Depopromone have to do with it?” - you say. I concluded for myself that before giving these drugs to a bitch, she must be thoroughly examined, and only after the conclusion is healthy, can these drugs be given. By the way, they also give false pregnancy in sick bitches. But in healthy dogs these drugs work perfectly. There is no heat, the bitch is calm, cheerful and healthy. Males do not gather in packs. My research has shown that whether you don't take these medications or do them, the chances of mammary cancer in dogs are exactly the same. Why am I saying this because many dog lovers consider these drugs to provoke the development of breast cancer, which, in my opinion, is not justified.