HORMONAL PROFILE OF IRAQI BITCHES DURING VARIOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL STAGES.

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the success of inducted estrus and totrack the hormonal levels during the estrus cycle, pregnancy and post-parturition indogs. Ten females, aged 2-3 years and weighted 18-22 kg, were kept in cages at theCollege of Veterinary Medicine-University of Baghdad. Dogs were mated and trackedtill they become conceive. Then, after one month of parturition, they treated withBromocriptine (Parlodel) a dose of (0.05mg/kg/dog) twice daily to induce estrus.Eight dogs showed estrus and mated again with the same mature dogs. Blood serumwas taken once a week from cephalic vein. Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH),Luteinizing hormone (LH), Estrogen and Prolactin were measured by using canineGamma counter kits. In both, normal and induced estrus periods, FSH and LHhormone levels started to elevate in proestrus and estrus phases then they declined inpregnancy months and post-parturition. Estrogen and prolactin hormones hadsignificant differences during the second month in the other non-responsive dogs.Estrogen levels indicated that the proestrus, estrus and treatment period showedhigher significant differences (P<0.01) than anestrus period.