Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detecting early preterm labor in pregnant dogs with tocodynamometry
By Davidson, Autumn P·Published in Topics in companion animal medicine·2015·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tocodynamometry detects preterm labor in the bitch before luteolysis.
Plain-English summary
A group of five pregnant dogs experienced preterm labor, which can lead to pregnancy loss before the puppies are due. The dogs showed signs of myometrial activity (uterine contractions) and changes in the cervix, but their progesterone levels were normal at the time of diagnosis. Researchers used a special device called tocodynamometry to detect these early signs of labor. This study highlights the importance of monitoring for preterm labor in pregnant dogs, even when hormone levels appear normal.
People also search for: dog preterm labor signs · pregnant dog contractions · how to prevent dog pregnancy loss
Abstract
Preterm labor (PTL), myometrial activity, and accompanying cervical changes can lead to the loss of pregnancy via resorption or abortion before term gestation. Idiopathic PTL has no metabolic, infectious, congenital, traumatic, or toxic cause identified; however, hypoluteoidism has been hypothesized to cause PTL in the bitch, based on progesterone measurements at the time of clinical pregnancy loss. This study documents the use of tocodynamometry to detect PTL in 5 bitches; progesterone measurements in these bitches were normal for pregnancy at the time PTL was diagnosed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26041589/