Thanks, jim. I passed this on to Cheryl who is the real canine expert in
the household.
Ed
-----Original Message-----
From: iPad@yahoogroups.com [mailto:iPad@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim
Saklad
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2012 8:42 PM
To: iPad@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [iPad] Lily update
>> Wow, glad you figured it out. Hope she is better soon! I didn't even
know they could get mastitis if they weren't lactating.
>> Julie
>
> This came on right at the end of a huge false pregnancy. The vet said it's
the first such case he has seen like this. . he's been practicing for at
least a couple decades.
> Ed in Oregon
Early in our history of breeding dogs, with me as a physician, and my wife
as a trained zoologist, we kinda thought we made a fair veterinarian.
Eventually we learned that there are a lot of ways in which dealing with
dogs is JUST like dealing with small furry people.
But we also learned there were a lot of ways in which it ISN'T.
When humans ovulate, the part of the ovary that released the ovum -- the
corpus luteum -- produces the progesterone that maintains the pregnancy --
but only for a while. After a time, the developing placenta in the uterus
takes over the production of progesterone, until the completion of the
pregnancy.
In dogs, the contribution of the placenta(s) is negligible. The corpus
luteum maintains the progesterone levels required for the entire pregnancy.
Sounds complicated, doesn't it?
This is what it means: when a bitch comes in season and ovulates -- EVERY
TIME -- the same levels and duration of hormone production occurs -- whether
she becomes pregnant or not. EVERY time she comes in season, she either has
a pregnancy or she has a false pregnancy.
It is not in the least uncommon to see them show nesting behavior, and even
lactation, when they haven't even been bred.
Although puppy suckling further stimulates lactation and breast development,
there can and usually is some breast development even if there are no
puppies. And therefore there can still be mastitis, although it is less
likely than if there are puppies in the picture.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jim Saklad mailto:jimdoc@icloud.com
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