No abstract

Background: Ultrasonographic monitoring of the pregnant bitch is an established routine in many veterinary clinics. In order to better assess foetal health and avoid pregnancy losses, Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of the pregnant uterus is the need of the day. Investigations on the dynamics of maternal and foetal blood flow using Doppler ultrasound have been conducted in multiple species recently and it is invisaged that it would be a reliable diagnostic tool in future in monitoring pregnancy. The present study was designed to compare Doppler parameters systolic peak velocity (SPV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI) and resistivity index (RI) of the uteroplacental (UPA) and umbilical arteries (UA) measured during 40 to 50 and 51 to 60 days in normal gestation and threatened abortion in canines. Results: In total 40 pregnant bitches with known history of breeding; irrespective of age and parity belonging to different breeds were classified into normal gestation (NG) and threatened abortion (TA). Bitches with the history of greenish black discharge or expulsion of one foetus were included in the abortion group and bitches with no such symptoms were included in the normal gestation group. End diastolic velocity of uteroplacental vessels decreased while PI and RI increased significantly with decrease in body weight in threatened abortion cases during 40 to 50 and 51 to 60 days of gestation in canines. Systolic peak velocity and EDV of umbilical arteries increased while PI decreased significantly with decrease in body weight during 40 to 50 days of gestation in canine threatened abortions. Conclusions: Doppler evaluation of uteroplacental and umbilical arteries is recommended as a diagnostic tool to monitor high risk pregnancy during 40 to 50 and 51 to 60 days of gestation in canines.

49 ± 0.21, 3.10 ± 0.13, 3.06 ± 0.12 cm to 6.16 ± 0.20, 3.44 ± 0.12, 3.31 ± 0.11

Total 40 pregnant bitches with known history of breeding; irrespective of age, parity belonging to different breeds were classified into normal gestation (NG) and threatened abortion (TA) and further divided into four groups (n=10) according to dam’s body weight (Group I-NG, >25kg BW; Group II- NG, Lessthan25kg BW; Group III- TA, >25kg BW and Group IV- TALessthan25 kg BW). In impending abortion conventional treatment of antibiotics and progesterone was given for 7 days and 15/20 bitches parturited. The puppies were evaluated at birth, at 30 minutes and at 60 minutes after birth by using Apgar scoring System. The mean Apgar scores at birth, 30, 60 minutes were 7.33 ± 0.22, 9.19 ± 0.23, 10.55 ± 0.12; 6.53 ± 0.16, 9.26 ± 0.20, 10.88 ± 0.12; 6.28 ± 0.20, 7.88 ± 0.21, 9.35 ± 0.18 and 5.39 ± 0.15, 7.36 ± 0.21, 9.81 ± 0.19, respectively in group I, II, III and IV. The Apgar scores of the puppies at birth, 30 and 60 minutes were significantly higher in normal gestation than in threatened abortion irrespective of body weights. At birth 6.54, 86.27, 7.19 and 17.17, 82.83,0 per cent puppies from normal gestation and threatened abortion had low, medium and high Apgar scores, respectively. At 60 minutes, 0, 10.79, 89.21 and 0, 41.46, 58.54 per cent puppies had low, medium, high scores in normal gestation and threatened abortion, respectively.