Sexual

This page was last updated on: May 12, 2002

Oxytocin

Veterinary Drug Handbook 'Third Edition'

by: Donald C. Plumb

Chemistry - A nonapeptide hypothalamic hormone stored in the posterior pituitary (in mamals), oxytocin occurs as a white powder that is soluble in water. The commercially avilable preparations are highly purified and have virtually no antidiuretic or vasopressor its vasopressor activity in chickens and is expressed in USP Posterior Pituitary Units. One unit is equivalent of approximately 2.0 - 2.2 microgrms of pure hormone.

Commerical preparations of oxytocin injection have their pH adjusted with acetic acid to 2.5 - 4.5 and multi-dose vials generally contain chlorbutanol 0.5% as a preservative.

Pharmacology - By increasing the sodium permeability of uterine myofibrils, oxytocin stimulates uterine contraction. The threshold for oxytocin-induced uterine conraction is reduced with pregnancy duration, in the presence of high estrogen levels and in
patients already in labor.

Oxytocin can facilitate milk ejection, but does not have any galactopoietic properties. While oxytocin only has minimal antidiuretic properties, water intoxication can occur if it is administered at too rapid a rate and/or if excessively large volumes of electrlyte-free intravenous fluids are administered.

Uses/Indications - In veterinary medicine, oxytocin has been used for induction or enhancement of uterine contractions at parturition, treatment of postpartum retained placenta and metritis, uterine involution after manual correction of prolapsed uterus in dogs, and in treating agalactia.

Overdosage - Effects of overdosage on the uterus depend on the stage of the uterus and the position of the fetus(es). Hypertonic or tetanic contractions can occur leading to tumultuous labor, uterine rupture, fetal injury or death.

Water intoxication can occur if large does are infused for a long period of time, especially if large volumes of electroyte-free intravenous fluids are concomitantly being administered. Early symptoms can include listlessness or depression. More severe intoxication symptoms can include coma, seizures and eventually death. Treatment for mild water intoxication is stopping oxytocin therapy and restricting water access until resolved. Server intoxication may require the use of osmotic diuretics (Mannitol, Urea,
Dextrose) with or without furosemide.

Doses - Cats:

To promote uteine involution after uterine prolapse manual reduction:

a) 5 Units IM once (Morgan 1988)

To treat primary uterine inertia:

a) 2.5 - 5 Units or by IV infusion (Morgan 1988)

b) 5 Units IM repeated in 15 to 20 minutes intervals (Lein 1989)

c) 2 -5 Units IM or SQ, may repeat in 45 minutes. 1 - 3 ml. of 10% calcium gluconate given slowly IV, may be helpful. If no response within

45 minutes after second injection, initiate appropriate surgical intervention. (Laliberte 1986)

Raspberry Leaf

The Complete Herbal Handbook For The Dog And Cat

by: Juliette de Bairacli Levy

copyrights 1988 updated 1992

Mention should be made here of that wonderful aid to easy whelping, the wild raspberry leaf. I was the first to popularize this herb among dog breeders, as long ago as the 1930's; it had never been used hitherto for animals but is now in habitual use as a whelping aid in kennels in all parts of the world. The popularity of the herb grew solely out of results obtained. When hitherto proved difficult whelpers whelped normal litters easily and speedily, following treatment with the herb, it was understandable that breeders should spread the news far and wide. In my verterinary-treatment files I have hundreds of reports form breeders supplying details of hitherto undreamt-of successful whelpings, especially from owners of the notoriously difficult whelping breeds, such as most of the toy breeds. The action of the herb on the organs of reproduction is mainly tonic; hence its further use for sluggish std dogs. The North American Indians, gypsies, and other races with a profound knowledge of herbal medicine, have long prescribed raspberry-leaf brew as an important medicine for pregnant women. A gypsy herbal document advises: 'Let all creatures with young, human and animal, take freely of raspberry herb. They will have very easy "times", and will be saved a tremendous amount of suffering.' Harold Ward, in his book, Herbal Manual (for humans), states: 'Thompson and his immediate successors strongly advised the free drinking of raspberry-leaves' infusion for several months before confinement as an aid to parturition, and it is still in much demand.'

My book has no space for publication in detail of breeders' reports - the book would grow to impossible length - but the used of raspberry leaf being of such importance to canine well-being and the birthright of every brood bitch, I have made an exception here. Miss Florence Coockayne is an Irish terrier breeder, at Gorton, Suffolk (England), and is a hospital-trained nurse (St Thomas's). "As for raspberry leaves, I've never seen such easy whelpings until I used this herb, nd the mothers keep so well during pregnancy, bowel evacuation being perfect. Bitches with their first litters give no trouble, the puppies being whelped effortlessly and with no pain. I sent some raspberry leaves on to a bulldog breeder in New South Wales, and she was absolutely amazed at the results; She had always had such ghastly times with her bitches, some of them sometimes being three days in labour. I had a Pekinese bitch who had had two miscarriages, but after having raspberry brew, carried her puppies full time and hardly knew she was whelping.

Mrs. D. Bancroft-Wilson, Dog World, England, pug correspondent and breeder of the Longlands pugs, also sent me a typical report: 'I have had wonderful results from the raspberry-leaf herb; breeding as I do from small well-boned bitches, I find the herb causes them to whelp quickly and easily. I consider it is little short of miraculous.'

...

We who have studied the ways of wild animals know that in sprintime they seek out various pregnancy plants, especially the early leaves and shoots of the wild raspberry and wild rose, chamomile, feverfew, and pennyroyal. Springtime is the natural breeding time for animals. The female carnivores, preying on the herb-eating animals and, above all, seeking the herb-rich intestines of their prey, would quite surely get a sufficiency of pregnancy herbs to keep their own reproductive systems in good clean health and aid the birth process of their offspring.

Before leaving the subject of raspberry-leaf herb, it should be mentioned how greatly the herb is associated with the reproductive organs, it being noticed at the time of whelping of bitches treated with raspberry that placentas are often very dark green and , further, that the strong and unmistakable odour of raspberry leaf is present throughout the time of the actual whelping and associated with the birth discharge.

Dosage of Red Raspberry

Start the queen on raspberry when you check her for being PG at 3 weeks. One capsule a day the rest of the pregnancy. Increase to twice a day the last week before she delivers. Also, start Marshamallow root 3 days before she's due to deliver to help bring in the colostrum & milk. You can continue with the Raspberry for a week after delivery and the Marshmallow while she's nursing. Remember Raspberry helps tone the uterus so it's not only good for getting the uterus ready for the delivery but also getting it back into condition AFTER delivery.

Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook

by: Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M.

and James M. Giffin, M.D.

pg. 282

Uterine Infection

In cats, excessive production of the hormone progesterone appears to contribute in an important way to the development of most uterine infections. One cause of prolonged progesterone production is false pregnancy. It occurs when a queen ovulates but does not become pregnant. Usually this is associated with a sterile mating, but in some cases it may occur spontaneously, or for reasons that are unknown.

The effect of progesterone is to thicken the lining of the uterus and make it fluid-filled and cystic. A fluid-filled uteris is called hydrometra, while one containing a lot of cystic material is called a mucometra. Either provides an ideal media for bacterial growth, sometimes leading to the formation of an abscess in the uterus (pyometra).

Abscess of the Uterus (pyometra). This is a life-threatening disease which occurs most often in queens over five years of age who have never become pregnant. It appears two to eight weeks after the queen goes out of heat.

A queen with pyometra refuses to eat, appears depressed and lethargic, usually runs a fever (but may have a normal or even subnormal temperature), drinks a great deal and urinates frequently. The abdomen is quite markedly distended and firm. This may suggest the possibility of feline infectious peritonitis (the wet form of FIP), but the combination of a severe illness with a distended abdomen in a non-breeding queen after a heat period will suggest the correct diagnosis.

In the open type the cervix relaxes, releasing a large amount of pus which is often cream-colored, pink or brown. In the closed type there is no vaginal discharge. As pus collects in the uterus the cat becomes quite toxic, often vomits, runs a high fever, and quickly dehydrates.

Treatment: In order to sve the life of the queen, a veterinarian should be called at once. Hysterectomy is the treatment of choice. It is much better to do this operation early before the cat becomes toxic.

A disease similar to pyometra, acute metritis, occurs in the post partum queen.

Endometritis. This is a low grade infection which occurs in queens two years and older. Its principal concern is that it is a cause of infertility in the female. When it persists for two or more cycles, it is called chronic endometritis. Vaginitis is a predisposing cause.

A queen with endometritis may appear to be in excellent health, have a normal heat period and be mated successfully--yet fail to conceive, or lose her kittens during pregnancy. Suspect this possibility when the queen is bred at the right time but doesn't conceive on two or more cycles; when she delivers stillborn kittens or kittens who sicken and die within the first few days; and when litters are uniformly small.

Endometritis is difficult to diagnose and requires the use of appropriate smears and cultures taken from the cervix during estrus.

Treatment: Do not breed a queen with infection. Instead, culture the cervix and treat her for three weeks with antibiotics selected on the basis of sensitivity testing. During the next estrus, re-cultue the cervix. If negative, she can be bred.