A possible correlation between diet, serum oxytetracycline concentration and reproductive disturbances onset in bitches: clinical observations and preliminary results

Based on the raising of food-related disturbances in animals and the recent findings concerning the toxicity of oxytetracycline presence within pet food we compared the effectiveness of two commercially available diets on 36 bitches suffering from reproductive disturbances. We run a randomized clinical evaluation over a 90-day period. Bitches were randomly assigned to receive a control (CD) or a nutraceutical diet (ND) and were assessed for the presence of OTC within their sera before and at the end of the study. 16 out of 18 bitches went on heat within an average of 35.5 ± 3.1 days, and 15 of them became pregnant. In the CD group, 12 out of 18 bitches went on heat within an average of 54.1 ± 3.2 days, and 10 of them became pregnant. A significant decrease in mean OTC serum concentration was observed in bitches belonging to CD and ND group (**P < 0.01). The overall amelioration, in particular in the ND group, provides new insights for future studies involving the modification of diet in order to restore the normal physiology of the bitches suffering from reproductive disturbances.