Clinical protocol for pregnancy termination in bitches using prostaglandin F2 alpha

Sixty-seven pregnant bitches were given atropine sulphate (0.025 mg kg-1), prifinium bromide (0.1 ml kg-1) and metopimazine (0.5 mg kg-1) and 15 min later 2.5 micrograms cloprostenol kg-1 s.c., three times at 48 h intervals (day 1, day 3, day 5). After one treatment, 53 of the 67 bitches had aborted, and after a second treatment, 62 of the 67 bitches had aborted. In 18 bitches, progesteronemia kinetics were followed-up: the first injection of cloprostenol resulted in a significant (P < 0.01) fall in progesteronemia. In 12 of the 18 bitches that had aborted following the first protocol, this rapid fall in progesterone was noteworthy as it decreased progesterone concentration on average from 17.07 +/- 8.20 ng ml-1 on day 1 to 1.31 +/- 0.34 ng ml-1 on day 3. The premedication administered 15 min before the injection of prostaglandins, prevented the appearance of side effects in 39 of the 67 bitches (58.2%).