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Case Reports
. 2023 Oct 21;9(2):20551169231201606.
doi: 10.1177/20551169231201606. eCollection 2023 Jul-Dec.

Successful parturition and lactation after a deslorelin implant removal in a pregnant cat

Alessandra Paganotto  1 , Annouck Truttmann  2 , Émilie Rosset  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Successful parturition and lactation after a deslorelin implant removal in a pregnant cat

Alessandra Paganotto et al. JFMS Open Rep. .

Abstract

Case summary: The aim of this clinical case presentation was to describe the effect of a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant placement in a pregnant queen during the second half of gestation, and the consequences of its removal on the pregnancy and parturition. A 5-year-old female cat exhibiting nesting behaviour and weight gain 10 days after placement of a deslorelin implant was presented for examination. Gestation was confirmed on ultrasound, with two well-formed kittens of a gestational age of approximately 7 weeks. The deslorelin implant placed on the umbilicus was removed 1 week later. No change in the pregnancy was observed after removal of the implant. The fetuses showed no signs of distress on ultrasound and radiography examination 4 days after removal of the implant. One week after implant removal, the queen naturally delivered two healthy kittens. The queen showed maternal behaviour with normal milk production.

Relevance and novel information: In the light of the lack of literature on implant injection and removal in the pregnant queen, this case report showcases a successful birth of healthy kittens without any subsequent adverse effect on the queen. Further study is needed to assess the safety of implant removal during pregnancy and potential use as a means to induce fertile oestrus in the queen.

Keywords: Deslorelin implant; implant removal; parturition; pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Case chronology. Days are referenced with respect to the implant placement date (day 0) onwards as the mating date is approximative. Two other deslorelin implants had been placed 14 and 27 months prior for contraceptive purposes
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fetal count radiography 3 days before delivery, revealing the skeleton of two cat fetuses. Ultrasound examination also showed two normal heartbeats
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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