High-risk pregnancy and hypoluteoidism in the bitch.

High-risk pregnancies are those in which the prevalence of maternal, fetal and/or perinatal morbidity or mortality is likely to be higher than that of the general obstetrical population. Some maternal characteristics associated with risk to maternal, fetal and/or perinatal health are readily identifiable prior to conception, such as advanced maternal age, brachycephalic breed, or a previous history of pregnancy loss. Others, such as gestational diabetes or a singleton litter, are recognized after conception. Early recognition of the problem (i.e. the risk), anticipation of the potential sequelae, and development of an aggressive management scheme are essential for a successful outcome of a high-risk pregnancy. A previous history of pregnancy loss is a high-risk factor for recurrence during subsequent pregnancies. Infection is a common cause. In some instances, recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with low serum concentrations of progesterone. Although the mechanism(s) by which this occurs is not fully understood, the situation has been called hypoluteoidism. Whatever the cause of the risks to pregnancy, the goals of managing high-risk pregnancies are to optimize maternal, fetal and perinatal health, so as to maintain maternal health throughout pregnancy and lactation and maximize the number of healthy pups surviving to weaning age.