PREDICTION OF WHELPING DATE IN DOGS BASED ON VAGINAL EXFOLIATIVE CYTOLOGY, VAGINOSCOPY AND PERI-OVULATORY SERUM PROGESTERONE ASSAY
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Date
2019-08-20
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES, POOKODE WAYANAD
Abstract
The study was designed to assess the efficacy of vaginal exfoliative cytology
(VEC), vaginoscopy and peri-ovulatory serum progesterone assay in predicting the
whelping date in dogs. VEC and vaginoscopy were performed in 43 animals with the
history of proestrual bleeding on all days till the onset cytological dioestrus (D1).
Serum progesterone (P4) level was estimated on alternate days till the value reached
four ng/mL or higher and two breeding were recommended. Eighteen whelped dogs
were selected randomly for the current study. On VEC, mean ± SE cornification index
peak was 71.63 ± 2.55. On vaginoscopy, mean ± SE period of shrinkage with
angulation and period of declining shrinkage with rounding out of mucosa was 5.22 ±
0.31 and 2.89 ± 0.26 days, respectively. Mean serum P4 values in ng/mL on the day of
LH surge and ovulation were 2.53 ± 0.10 and 4.99 ± 0.14, respectively. Whelping was
predicted on 57th, 61st, 65th and 63rd day from D1, day of maximum angulation (S5),
day of LH surge and day of ovulation, respectively. When calculated from D1, 22.22
per cent animals delivered on 57th day. The accuracy of prediction of whelping date
within ±1 and ±2 days was 83.33 and 100 per cent, respectively. When calculated from
S5, 22.22 per cent animals delivered on 61st day. The accuracy of prediction of
whelping date within ±1, ±2, ±3 and ±4 days was 44.44, 77.78, 94.44 and 100 per cent,
respectively. When calculated from the day of LH surge, 33.34 animals delivered on
65th day. The accuracy of prediction of whelping date within ±1, ±2 and ±3 days was
66.67, 83.34 and 100 per cent, respectively. When calculated from the day of
ovulation, 27.78 per cent dogs delivered on 63rd day. The accuracy of prediction of
whelping date within ±1, ±2 and ±3 days was 66.67, 83.34 and 100 per cent,
respectively. Significant correlation was found between serum P4 value on the day of
LH surge (R2 = 0.867) and gestation length. However, no significant correlation was
found between serum P4 value on the day of ovulation (R2 = 0.461) and gestation
length. Two gestational equations were also derived from the observations. In
conclusion, VEC was the most accurate method for prediction of whelping date.
Whereas serum P4 values were found to be more accurate than vaginoscopy.