DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL FOR PREDICTING WHELPING DATE IN SMALL BREEDS OF DOGS
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Date
2021-12-30
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR
Abstract
Accurate prediction of time of whelping is essential for peripartum management in high risk pregnancy dogs. Since the gestation period in dogs is
relatively short, it’s critical that the foetuses should mature prior to delivery. Use of
existing formula based on ultrasonographic measurement for prediction of whelping in
small sized breeds lack accuracy. Thus refining the formula for small breeds for
estimation of due date becomes inevitable. Hence the study aimed at developing a new
model (sonographic measurement formula) to predict the whelping date in small breeds
of dogs. The study was carried out in two phases; in the first phase a new model was
developed based on ultrasonographic measurements namely, inner chorionic cavity
diameter (ICC) and biparietal diameter (BPD) of early and mid to late pregnancy in 60
small sized breeds. The second phase of the study validated the newly developed model
in comparison with the existing model. The equation developed for prediction of
parturition in early pregnancy was Gestational age (GA) = (4.2 × ICC) + 25.9 and in
mid to late pregnancy, GA = (13.28 × BPD) + 27.58 where, ICC and BPD is in cm.
Overall accuracy of the new model based on ICC was 25, 72, 82 and 100 per cent and
for BPD, it was 35, 70, 90 and 100 per cent on same day, ±1, ±2 and ±3 days of
whelping respectively. The prediction accuracy of whelping date within ±3 days for
new and existing model based on ICC was 100 and 85 per cent, while for BPD, it was
100 and 17 per cent respectively. The mean difference of predicted and actual day of
whelping based on BPD (-5.13 ± 0.26 vs 0.80 ± 0.25 days) and ICC (-1.8 ± 0.28 vs
0.27 ± 0.28 days) measurements for existing and new model, differed significantly
(p≤0.01). The overall mean gestation length observed in the study when calculated
from the last day of breeding was 60.21 ± 0.36 days with a range of 53-71 days. Factors
like breed, age, parity, body weight and litter size had no influence on gestation length
of the animals included in the study. Neonatal survivability within the first week of
parturition was 73.50 per cent and decreased to 67.79 per cent in second week. No
significant difference in birth weight of neonates in relation to litter size, age of dam
and parity was noticed. Results of the present study indicated that, existing model
overestimated the prediction of parturition date, while the new model increased
accuracy of prediction of whelping dates in small sized breeds
Description
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of
MASTER OF VETERINARY SCIENCE in Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics