The Influence of Oxytocin on Maternal Care in Lactating Dogs

Abstract

In recent years, many studies on the role of oxytocin (OXT) in the onset of parental care, regulation of social bonding, and modulation of the emotional state have been published. However, its possible regulation of maternal behavior in lactating dogs has not been investigated yet. For this reason, the present study aimed at assessing potential correlations between salivary oxytocin and maternal behavior in 25 lactating Labrador Retriever dogs. Salivary concentrations of OXT (sOXT) were unrelated to the amount of maternal care except for a weak negative correlation with sniffing/poking behavior. Moreover, sOXT was positively correlated with the percentage of male puppies. Sniffing/poking behavior, in turn, was positively correlated with the duration of time the mothers spent out of the whelping box, while the number of male puppies showed a positive correlation with lateral nursing, a position known to provide puppies the easiest access to the milk. Taken together, these results suggest that sOXT may not be strongly associated with maternal care dynamics but could be correlated with sex-biased parental investment in dogs.

Blood Biomarker Profile Alterations in Newborn Canines: Effect of the Mother′s Weight

“…A high neurologic morbidity increases the risk of neonatal mortality [ 14 ]. The birthing process is the most critical phase for newborns [ 15 ] because the transition from fetus to neonate involves physiological, biochemical, and anatomical changes accompanied by flows of hormones that trigger the respiratory function, vascular changes, and the activation of energy metabolism [ 16 , 17 ]; additionally, the maternal behavior is critical for the parturition to take place in favorable conditions for the newborn puppy [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Studies of dogs have reported that a certain level of transitory asphyxiation occurs during delivery.…”

Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Lactating Dogs

“…Each sample was analyzed in duplicate. Collection of saliva samples was performed as described in [ 34 ].…”

“…After each saliva sample, the litters were videotaped for 15 min as soon as the dams were back from their walk. Each video was analyzed through a continuous sampling method using BORIS ® v. 7.8 [ 35 ], following a specific ethogram of maternal behavior ( Table 1 ) previously reported in [ 34 ].…”

“…Despite the peripheral role of OXT, it is crucial in both parturition and lactation, and despite the fact that the central role of this neuromodulator is well studied in the maternal behavior of many mammals [ 32 , 33 ], we are aware of a single study analyzing the influence of peripheral OXT in canine maternal behavior [ 34 ]. Therefore, the present study aimed to fill the lack of literature on this topic by investigating the possible correlation between OXTR gene polymorphism, peripheral OXT and maternal behavior in dogs.…”

How Stressful Is Maternity? Study about Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Coat and Claws Concentrations in Female Dogs from Mating to 60 Days Post-Partum

“…However, the HPA axis could not be considered as a "closed system", and its activity is modulated by factors such as oxytocin, able to exert an inhibitory action on the HPA axis. A recent study reported that the salivary oxytocin concentrations in female dogs were negatively correlated with excessive sniffing/poking behavior, considered as a possible sign of maternal distress associated with lactation [22]. Moreover, an allostatic theory of oxytocin was reported.…”