Post heat milk: Engorged mammary gland in female dogs | Daily News

Post heat milk: Engorged mammary gland in female dogs

Female dogs have estrus cycle two times a year. The cycle can be divided into 5 main stages which show key behavior changes in the animal. The 5 stages are proestrus, estrus, metestrus, diestrus and anestrus.

Proestrus - Poestrus lasts approximately 9 days with a range of 3 to 17 days. It has been reported that several weeks prior to the onset of proestrus there may be an improvement in appetite and appearance and somewhat more tolerant behavior towards males.

Estrus - Estrus lasts approximately 9 days with signs of willingness to accept the male characterized by standing with the rear legs firmly placed and the tail lifted over her back or held to the side; known as flagging.

Metestrus - Metestrus lasts approximately 4 to 6 days. This is the period during the cycle when the corpus luteum (CL) is forming.

Diestrus - Diestrus (Metestrus II) lasts approximately 60 days. The unique characteristic of the female dog is that the CL is functional for approximately the same length of time in the non-pregnant and the pregnant animal.

Anestrus- This is the period of least reproductive activity.

Cause

Just after 9 days of estrus the female dog passes 60-64 days of metestrus and diestrus period which is bearing corpus luteum and at the end of the period the corpus luteum will regress. At the later part of the period decline of plasma progesterone, high plasma prolactin concentrations, can increase tissue sensitivity to prolactin. The condition is called as pseudo/false pregnancy.

Breeds affected 

Clinical pseudopregnancy can be high in certain breeds such as Afghan Hounds, Beagles, Boxers, and Dachshunds.

Signs

Most fenale dogs show milk, engorged mammary, nesting behavior, nursing behavior and keeping objects as her puppies. In this condition bitches are not pregnant.

 Diagnosis 

Vets in Sri Lanka can diagnose this condition with the clinical history. Blood picture of progresterone level may help.

Treatment

In most cases there is no treatment. It resolves automatically when the animal gets the next heat cycle. But the mammary glands can get infected and sometimes the owners will be upset with the nesting and nursing behavior of the animal. Hormone therapy and relevant supportive treatment will resolve the problem.

If the owner doesn’t want the condition to reoccur the permanent solution is to discuss with your vet and remove the ovaries and the womb by surgery.


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