What is it?

• Pseudopregnancy is a common pathological condition in goats that may develop in does with or without exposure to a buck.
• The condition is characterized by accumulation of fluid in the uterus.
• Other names for this condition include hydrometra, mucometra and “cloudburst.”

When should you suspect it?

• Does with pseudopregnancy may have signs of pregnancy (no heat cycles, abdominal enlarge­ment, mammary gland enlargement, etc.).
• Blood tests for pregnancy may be positive.
• Sometimes the fluid in the uterus is spontaneously released by the doe and a clear, slightly cloudy or slightly blood-tinged fluid will be seen coming from the vulva.
• Older does are more prone to development of the condition than yearlings.
• Out-of-season breeding, delayed breeding until after the first or second estrous cycle during the fall breeding season, and use of hormones to manipulate the estrus cycle may increase the risk of pseudopregnancy

How is pseudopregnancy diagnosed and treated?

• Examination of the doe with an ultrasound is the only way to differentiate between true pregnan­cy and pseudopregnancy. Examination for pregnancy should be performed 25-40 days after breeding using the transrectal method or 40-70 days after breeding using the transabdominal method.
• Treatment involves the use of luteolytic drugs.
• If you suspect pseudopregnancy in a doe, please contact your veterinarian for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Authors

Christine Navarre, DVM
School of Animal Sciences
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

M.S. Gill, DVM
School of Veterinary Medicine
Louisiana State University

July 2017