Intravaginal application of misoprostol improves pregnancy termination with cabergoline and alfaprostol in dogs

Abstract

The goal of this study was to compare three different medications for the induction of abortion in bitches between day 22 and 40 after mismating, to reduce the dosage and frequency of PGF(2 alpha) applications and to investigate the effects of additional intravaginal applications of misoprostol, a PGE(1) analog. For this purpose, 22 bitches of different breeds were assigned to three groups: group 1 (n = 6) received cabergoline (Galastop (R), 10 mu g/kg daily, po) until abortion was complete (first application= day 0) and one administration of alfaprostol (Gabbrostim (R), 10 mu g/kg at day 3, s. c.); group 2 (n = 9) was administered cabergoline (10 mu g/kg daily, po) and alfaprostol (10 mu g/kg at days 0 and 3, s. c.); and group 3 (n = 7) received the same combination as group 2 in addition to misoprostol (Cytotec (R), 400 mu g for bitches with <= 20 kg bw, 600 mu g for bitches with >20 kg bw, every other day, intravaginally). Abortion occurred in 83.3%, 77.7% and 100% of cases in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p > 0.05). Cervical dilatation time was shortest in group 3 (3.1 +/- 0.9 days vs. group 1: 5.4 +/- 2.8 and group 2: 5.5 +/- 2.5; p < 0.05). Minor side effects like transient anorexia, weakness, mild vomiting and diarrhea or low grade hair loss were found in 30.3%, 54.3% and 54.0% of cases in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. We conclude that a combination of oral cabergoline (10 mu g/kg) and alfaprostol (10 mu g/kg) is an effective method for inducing termination of pregnancy in bitches, However, a combination of oral cabergoline (10 mu g/kg), alfaprostol (10 mu g/kg) and administration of additional intravaginal misoprostol may be even more effective.