{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]],"date-time":"2026-06-10T16:05:48Z","timestamp":1781107548957,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]],"date-time":"2026-06-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781049600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Pseudopregnancy in dogs is a common condition in non-pregnant bitches. It is characterized by variable physical and behavioral signs, mainly relating to elevated prolactin levels during late dioestrus. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy and tolerability of a dry extract of\n                    <jats:italic>Vitex agnus-castus<\/jats:italic>\n                    with cabergoline for treating pseudopregnancy. A total of 100 bitches with a clinical diagnosis of pseudopregnancy were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two groups:\n                    <jats:italic>Vitex agnus-castus<\/jats:italic>\n                    group (VAC group) (\n                    <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                    = 50), which was treated with 40 mg\/kg orally twice daily for seven days, and cabergoline group (CAB group) (\n                    <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                    = 50), which was treated with 5 \u03bcg\/kg orally once daily for seven days. Subjects were assessed at T\n                    <jats:sub>0<\/jats:sub>\n                    , T\n                    <jats:sub>7<\/jats:sub>\n                    , T\n                    <jats:sub>14<\/jats:sub>\n                    , and T\n                    <jats:sub>30<\/jats:sub>\n                    using a semi-quantitative clinical score based on physical and behavioral factors. Serum prolactin concentrations were measured at T\n                    <jats:sub>0<\/jats:sub>\n                    , T\n                    <jats:sub>7<\/jats:sub>\n                    , and T\n                    <jats:sub>14<\/jats:sub>\n                    . Both treatments resulted in marked and progressive reduction in clinical signs over time, with complete remission at T\n                    <jats:sub>30<\/jats:sub>\n                    . No clinically relevant differences were observed between the groups regarding clinical scores. In both groups, there was a significant decrease in serum prolactin levels. This decrease was particularly rapid in the CAB group, as evidenced by the results at T\n                    <jats:sub>7<\/jats:sub>\n                    . Adverse effects were significantly more prevalent in the CAB group than in the VAC group (32% vs. 14%). In conclusion,\n                    <jats:italic>Vitex agnus-castus<\/jats:italic>\n                    demonstrated comparable clinical efficacy to cabergoline and minor adverse effects, supporting its potential role as a valid therapeutic alternative in the management of canine pseudopregnancy.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1862418","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]],"date-time":"2026-06-10T15:44:00Z","timestamp":1781106240000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of Vitex agnus-castus compared with cabergoline for the treatment of pseudopregnancy in the bitch"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Viola","family":"Zappone","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina","place":["Messina, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Romina","family":"Marcoccia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Bioscience, University of Camerino","place":["Camerino, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Debora Teresa","family":"Gattuso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ambulatorio Veterinario NORAH","place":["Reggio Calabria, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Temy","family":"Coppola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia","place":["Perugia, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonio","family":"Lombardo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina","place":["Messina, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simona","family":"Di Pietro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina","place":["Messina, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angela","family":"Polisca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia","place":["Perugia, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Troisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Bioscience, University of Camerino","place":["Camerino, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Quartuccio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina","place":["Messina, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulio Guido","family":"Aiudi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari \u201cAldo Moro\u201d","place":["Bari, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"336","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-5827.1997.tb03480.x","article-title":"Effect and mechanisms of the anti-prolactin drug cabergoline on pseudopregnancy in the bitch","volume":"38","author":"Harvey","year":"1997","journal-title":"J Small Anim Pract."},{"key":"B2","first-page":"1269","article-title":"Hormonal and clinical correlates of ovarian cycles, ovulation, pseudopregnancy and pregnancy in dogs","author":"Concannon","year":"1989","journal-title":"Current veterinary therapy, small animal practice"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1080\/01652176.1985.9693978","article-title":"Evidence for the non involvement of the uterus in the lifespan of the corpus luteum in the cyclic dog","volume":"7","author":"Okkens","year":"1985","journal-title":"Vet Q."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"781","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-5827.1988.tb01904.x","article-title":"Treatment of pseudopregnancy in the bitch with cabergoline, an ergoline derivative","volume":"29","author":"Arbeiter","year":"1988","journal-title":"J Small Anim Pract."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2020.01.081","article-title":"Factors affecting the fate of the canine corpus luteum: potential contributors to pregnancy and non-pregnancy","volume":"150","author":"Papa","year":"2020","journal-title":"Theriogenology."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0531.2009.01397.x","article-title":"de la Sota PE, Blanco PG, Arias D, Gobello C. 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