Detection of pregnancy in the bitch: a study of abdominal palpation, A‐mode ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound techniques

Abstract

A total of 474 pregnancy tests (of all three types) were carried out on 82 bitches of a variety of breeds. The practical problems and possible sources of error for each test were studied and their accuracy in predicting whether or not the bitches would whelp was ascertained. Palpation of the abdomen, in the period from 26 to 35 days after mating, was found to be 87% accurate in detecting bitches that would whelp and 73% accurate in detecting bitches that would not whelp. The optimum period for using A‐mode ultrasound was found to be from 32 to 62 days after mating. In this period the accuracy of detecting bitiches that would whelp was 90%, and for non‐whelping bitches was 83%. Two Doppler ultrasound instruments were used. For the superior instrument, the accuracy of detecting whelping bitches was 85% and 100%, in the periods from 36 to 42 days and 43 days to term, respectively. For detection of non‐whelping bitches, the accuracy was 100%.

Pregnancy diagnosis in the bitch: the development of a test based on the measurement of acute phase proteins in the blood

“…Provided 2 or more firm 'lumps' of roughly equal size can be felt it can be said with reasonable certainty that the bitch is pregnant and it may be possible to give an indication of litter size. Figures of 87 and 73% accuracy have been quoted in respect of positive and negative pregnancy diagnoses respectively by abdominal palpation in the period 26-35 d after mating (Allen and Meredith, 1981). in practice however, experienced veterinary surgeons seldom get false positives and when this does occur it is very possible that the diagnosis was indeed right at the time, but that the puppies subsequently died and were reabsorbed.…”

Studies on canine pregnancy using B‐mode ultrasound: Diagnosis of early pregnancy and the number of conceptuses

“…Doppler and A-mode ultrasound have been used for some time to diagnose canine pregnancy (Allen and Meredith 1981) but more recently real time B-mode ultrasound has been employed, although the reports of this technique are incomplete. For such studies it is important that gestational age is accurately determined.…”