A case report on the use of domperidone for management of agalactia in a queen

Abstract

A pregnant three year old Himalayan queen was presented to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine with her fourth pregnancy. She had lost three previous litters of kittens within two days of birth and had a history of minimal mammary development during the peri-parturient period. Repeated sonographic measurements of fetal structures were used to determine gestational age. Six days before parturition, domperidone was prescribed at a rate of 2.2mg/kg PO q12 hours, and was continued for seven days postpartum. Parturition was uneventful and the queen’s mammary development and milk production were adequate. Four weeks postpartum, three of five kittens that survived appeared healthy. Domperidone is a D2 receptor antagonist used anecdotally for induction of lactation in small animals but the efficacy for this purpose in the queen is not well described. This case demonstrates successful induction of lactation with domperidone in a previously agalactic queen.