Breed-specific fetal biometry and factors affecting the prediction of whelping date in the German shepherd dog

The aim of this study was to derive the growth curves of the inner chorionic cavity and the biparietal distance in miniature dog breeds by ultrasonographic fetometry and present new specific formulas for prediction of parturition date. In this study, foetal biometry parameters were obtained using serial ultrasonographic examinations in 24 pregnant bitches of six different miniature breeds (≤5 kg). The mating time was unknown. Overall, 25 inner chorionic cavity diameter (ICC) and 22 biparietal diameter (BP) measurements were taken. The relationship between ICC or BP growth and days to parturition was analysed by linear regression. The results showed a significant relationship between days before delivery and ICC or BP. The equations derived from the growth curves can be used in practical prediction of parturition date in miniature dog breeds.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specific fetometric formulas of ICC and BP for calculating the parturition date in the miniature breeds of canine

Socha

Janowski

2018

“…Even when using a specific equation for a single breed, some variables, such as smaller than average litter size, can greatly reduce the accuracy of the prediction (Groppetti et al. ). In small and medium size breeds, approximately 70% of parturition dates were predicted within 1 day and 85% within 2 days using BP (Beccaglia and Luvoni ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnostic Efficacy of a Single Progesterone Determination to Assess Full‐Term Pregnancy in the Bitch

Rota

Cucuzza

Pregel

2015

In clinical settings, when the reproductive history of a near-term bitch is limited to mating dates, the possibility to accurately assess whether pregnancy is at term could be very useful in order to be able to plan a correct management of parturition or to safely perform an elective Caesarean section. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of a single progesterone determination, measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), in predicting the occurrence of parturition on the following day. At least one blood sample was collected from 51 pre-partum bitches during the 3 days before parturition and on day of parturition. The efficacy of progesterone as a marker of the end of pregnancy was tested using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Youden's index was calculated to select the optimal cut-off value (with 95% confidence interval), aiming at maximizing the correct identification of negative events, so not to risk to diagnose as full term a bitch which is not. Progesterone concentration lower than 3.4 ng/ml correctly identified the bitches whelping the following day; however, because of the obliged prudential approach, sensitivity was low (46.88%), and 17 of 32 full-term bitches were missed. Due to a very large individual variation, a single progesterone determination has low diagnostic efficacy, although it can represent a useful first screening.

“…Some authors proposed the elaboration of breed‐specific formulae to further increase the accuracy of the prediction of the day of parturition (Groppetti, Vegetti, Bronzo, & Pecile, ).…”

Section: Ultrasonographic Measurement Of Extra‐foetal or Foetal Strucmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of gestational time and prediction of parturition in dogs and cats: an update

Beccaglia¹,

Alonge

Trovo³

et al. 2016

ContentsAccurate prediction of delivery date in canine and feline allows a better management of parturition, reducing the loss of neonates. This review evaluates the most common methods adopted to accurately predict the day of delivery: determination of ovulation and hormonal assays, first appearance of embryonic/foetal structures using ultrasound or radiography, echographic measurement of extra-foetal and foetal structures, or evaluation of foetal flux and heart rate. Determination of ovulation and hormonal assays at the time of breeding and close to pregnancy term is widely used to predict Journal of Veterinary Research, 53, 1992, 342; Zambelli et al. Theriogenology, 57, 2002a, 1981 Zambelli et al. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 4, 2002b, 95;Zambelli and Prati 2006; Lopate Theriogenology, 70, 2008, 397; Davidson and Baker Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 24, 2009, 55). Ultrasonographic measurement of extra-foetal and foetal structures is a common and accurate method for the prediction of parturition day during pregnancy, when specific formulae are used depending on the ultrasonographic parameter, the species and, in canines, the size of the bitch (Shille and Gontarek