PREGURINE: Biomarkers in blood and urine at pregnancy in dogs

In many species, the hormone concentrations change when the female becomes pregnant. This means, that blood or urine sample can measure biomarkers to determine pregnancy (e.g., urine pregnancy test in humans). In dogs however, the hormone concentrations are the same after heat whether or not the bitch becomes pregnant, which is the reason for the pseudopregnancy in the bitch. To overcome this issue we are using an advanced technique to identify a large number of substances of so called oxylipins with the aim to identify differences between the pregnant and the non-pregnant bitch.

In the same project we will have the opportunity to look into other factors related to reasons for the bitch not to become pregnant. In one part of the project we are investigating hormone concentrations, such as progesterone,  in bitches in early pregnancy we also plan to look further into factors related to for example inflammation in the uterus or absorption of foetuses during early pregnancy.