Reversible Control of Reproduction In Queens: Mastering the use of reproductive drugs to manipulate cyclicity

Self Cite

Background: There has been a growing interest in alternatives to surgery for controlling reproduction in tom cats, and the resultant medical options add to a practitioner’s toolbox when handling these cases in clinical practice. It is important, however, that when suggesting these drugs, veterinarians have a good understanding of their mode of action, and their correct use and dosage. Clinical relevance: Breeders increasingly wish to be able to switch on/off the reproductive ability of their tom cats in a controlled manner. In addition, in small animal medicine, there has been concern from some academics, and a growing number of pet cat owners, about potential long-term effects of surgical sterilisation. Further, for some cats surgical castration may not be possible due to health conditions that mean anaesthesia is unsafe. In all of these scenarios, medical alternatives to surgery can prove useful. Equipment and technical skills: No special equipment or technical skills are required. A good knowledge of the medical alternatives to surgical sterilisation for controlling reproduction in a tom, and making sure the patient is a suitable candidate, are, however, important for ensuring the cat’s health during and after treatment and the owner’s satisfaction. Audience: This review is aimed principally (but not exclusively) at veterinary practitioners working with cat breeders who seek a temporary arrest in their tom cat’s reproduction. It may also help practitioners with clients who would like an alternative to surgery or with cats where anaesthesia for surgical castration is not possible. Evidence base: Advances in reproductive feline medicine have resulted in improved knowledge of medical contraception. This review draws on scientific evidence-based papers that report on the mode of action, length of efficacy and potential side effects of different methods of medical contraception, as well as the authors’ own clinical experience.

Section: Progestogensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversible control of reproduction in tom cats: medical options for manipulating libido and fertility

Ferré-Dolcet¹,

Romagnoli

2023

Self Cite

“… For further information, see the accompanying review on reversible control of reproduction in queens 94 SRI = slow-release implant; PO = oral; SC = subcutaneous …”

Section: Reproductive History and Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“… For further information, see the accompanying review on reversible control of reproduction in queens 94 …”

Section: Reproductive History and Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…88 A review of the potential benefits and risks of progestogens – mainly MPA and MA – was published by Romagnoli in 2015, 88 and further detailed discussion is available in an accompanying review on the reversible control of reproduction in queens. 94 The major benefit of MA is its short half-life (a few hours), 95,96 compared with the longer half-life of other progestogens (eg, 12-17 h for MPA after oral administration), making MA most likely the ‘safest’ progestogen. 88 Weekly administration of 2.5 mg/cat MA (the licensed dose for commercial MA-based formulations) for a maximum of 30 weeks can be considered relatively safe.…”

Section: Reproductive History and Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Reproductive Management in Catteries: Optimising health and wellbeing through veterinarian-breeder collaboration

Goericke-Pesch

Packeiser

2022

Practical relevance: Many veterinarians – even those engaged in small animal reproduction – are uncomfortable with taking care of cat breeders or being in charge of catteries. Likely reasons for this are that feline reproduction is largely under-represented in undergraduate and graduate reproduction teaching, as well as in postgraduate education and science, whereas cat breeders themselves are often well informed and actively share knowledge with other cat breeders via the internet and social media. Clinical challenges: A variety of problems can exist within a cattery, and collaboration between veterinarian and breeder to solve these is ultimately beneficial for the breeder, for the veterinarian, and for the health and wellbeing of the individual cats and of the cattery as a whole. Aim: This review presents a comprehensive overview of aspects of cattery management that might negatively impact reproduction, including sanitation, hygiene and infectious disease control. It also discusses monitoring of reproductive performance, breeding recommendations, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to some common and specific problems. Equipment and technical skills: Reproductive management in the cattery requires no specialised equipment, as such. What it does need is an open mind, in terms of seeing how things are done, an open ear, for listening to the breeder, and the veterinarian’s clinical skills in palpation, auscultation and, where required, further examination of the animals. Keeping abreast of the latest information on infectious diseases, disinfection and genetics ensures proper advice is provided. Evidence base: Current knowledge of reproductive management in catteries is summarised in order to apply an evidence-based approach, whenever possible. Notwithstanding, much of the information remains empirical.

“…it is characterised by hyperplasia of the endometrial epithelium and cystic dilatation of the endometrial glands (Figure 9). CEH may occur following the erroneous use (too high a dose or too long a treatment duration) of exogenous progestins (see accompanying reviews on reversible control of reproduction in queens and reproductive management in catteries 23,24) , 25 or in a cat that has experienced several episodes of spontaneous ovulation or infertile matings, with subsequent prolonged progesterone secretion leading to endometrial development without pregnancy. 22 CEH may be a cause of infertility as it seems unlikely that embryos could survive in such a hostile environment and placentation would be hampered.…”

Section: Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia and Pyometramentioning

confidence: 99%

Infertility In Queens: Clinical approach, experiences and challenges

Fontbonne

2022

Clinical challenges: It is not easy for a veterinarian to determine the cause of infertility in a queen. The simplest method is to start by investigating the most common causes and then progress by successive elimination to the less common causes. For example, mating problems are commonly responsible for reproductive failure, and owners should be particularly vigilant in checking that the mating is progressing satisfactorily. Frequently, a veterinarian may have to determine, among other things, if there is a uterine or hormonal disorder or if an infectious pathology may be involved. In the case of a queen that is not cycling, it is important to differentiate a lack of onset of puberty in a young queen from a lack of cyclicity in an adult queen. Aim: This review sets out a practical, step-by-step approach that veterinarians can follow, starting with the most common causes of infertility in queens and moving towards more rare or specific causes. Equipment and technical skills: Simple techniques such as vaginal smears are essential to determine if a queen that is ready to be mated is in full oestrus, if a queen is cycling or not and to diagnose inflammation of the genital tract. Veterinarians should be familiar with the peculiarities of the swabbing technique in cats, as well as the interpretation of feline vaginal cytology. Progesterone assays are useful on many occasions in the diagnosis pathway. A laboratory capable of performing karyotypes should ideally be available. Finally, it is important to be able to perform an ultrasound examination of the ovaries and uterus in a queen. Evidence base: Although it appears that infertility is a problem among purebred queens, there is a lack of knowledge in this area and too few published studies. Some causes of feline infertility remain poorly investigated.