C
Loading...
Date
2005
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy.
Abstract
With the object of comparing different methods of pregnancy diagnosis
and to determine the early and reliable method, a study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of transabdominal palpation, ultrasound scanning and haematological profile during pregnancy at various stages of gestation in bitches.
Sixty six apparently normal healthy bitches were included in the study. The bitches subjected to pregnancy diagnosis were grouped based on gestational period as 20 to 30, 31 to 40 and 41 to 65 days post breeding. The data obtained
were compiled and tabulated.
At 20 to 30 days post breeding the accuracy of abdominal palpation were 61.9, 60 and 75 per cent, respectively, in large, medium and small breeds and by ultrasound scanning it was 90.4, 80 and 75 per cent in that order. Accuracy of abdominal palpation in large, medium and small breeds at 31 to 40 days of gestation were 66.6, 100 and 80 respectively and it was 100 per cent for
ultrasound scanning. At 41 to 65 days post breeding the accuracy of diagnosis by
abdominal palpation in large, medium and small breeds were 81.25, 75 and 60 per cent respectively, while, by ultrasound scanning it was 100 per cent in all
animals.
Foetal heart beat could be observed in all pregnant bitches from 33 days
of gestation. There was a high correlation between predicted value and actual
value of gestational age by measuring the gestational sac diameter and the
coefficient of correlation was 0.792, 0.855 and 0.953 in large, medium and small
breeds, respectively. However, the accuracy of estimating the foetal number by
ultrasound scanning was only 23.52 per cent.
There was significant variation (P<0.05) in haemogram of pregnant
bitches compared to non pregnant. Total erythrocyte count at 20 to 30, 31 to 40
and 41 to 65 in pregnant bitches were 7.62 ± 0.17, 6.99 ± 0.2 and 6.70 ±0.19
million/cmm and that of non pregnant was 8.32 ± 0.28 million/cmm.
Haemoglobin concentration at 20 to 30, 31 to 40 and 41 to 65 days post breeding were 11.73 ± 0.18, 10.9 ± 0.2 and 10.69 ± 0.2 g/dl and that of non pregnant was 12.37 ± 0.28 g/dl. There was significant variation observed in
haemoglobin concentration between pregnant and non pregnant dogs.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate at 20 to 30, 31 to 40 and 41 to 65 days post breeding were 12.03 ± 0.97, 17.62 ± 1.11 and 17.07 ± 1.09 mm/hr respectively and that of non pregnant was 2.5 ± 1.57 mm/hr. There was
significant variation observed in ESR between pregnant and non pregnant
bitches.
The packed cell volume at 20 to 30, 31 to 40 and 41 to 65 days post
breeding in pregnant animals were 39.83 ± 0.72, 37.70 ± 0.82 and 36.88 ± 0.8 per
cent respectively. In non pregnant one it was 45 ± 1.15 per cent There was
significant variation observed in PCV between pregnant and non pregnant.
There was no significant variation in leucogram and serum biochemistry
between pregnant and non pregnant.
There was significant variation of plasma fibrinogen between pregnant
and non pregnant animals. The plasma fibrinogen concentration at 20 to 30, 31
to 40 and 41 to 65 days post breeding were 321.10 ± 20.92, 251.33 ±21.49 and
210.52 ± 22.11 mg/dl respectively and that of non pregnant it was 156.33 ± 37.22
mg/dl. The mean plasma fibrinogen concentration was found to be highest
between 20 to 30 days of gestation. Hence estimation of plasma fibrinogen could
be taken as an additional index for early pregnancy diagnosis in bitches.
Results of this study indicates that ultrasound scanning could be used as a
more accurate and scientific method of diagnosing pregnancy even during early
stages especially to confirm the foetal viability. However, for routine clinical
practice an approach of transabdominal palpation combined with ultrasound
scanning could be used for confirmed pregnancy diagnosis in bitches. Moreover,
increase in plasma fibrinogen, by haematological studies could be taken as a
supportive index for pregnancy diagnosis in bitches.
Description
Keywords
null