Pontikaki A.E. DVM, MSc, Surgery of Companion Animals, Intern in Small Animal Surgery with Anaesthesia, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, England | Barkoulis A. DVM, ΜSc, Surgery of Companion Animals, Surgical Intern, Fitzpatrick Referrals, Godalming, England | Elekidou E. DVM, MSc, PhD student, Surgery and Obstetrics Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Ververidis C. DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Surgery and Obstetrics Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Introduction
Prediction of the parturition day (PD) is useful in veterinary practice to reduce the peripartum losses and for decision-making in pregnancy failure, elective caesarian section, and dystocia.
Materials and methods
This study reviews the existing literature regarding the ways of predicting PD in the bitch.
Results
Knowing the day(s) of mating is insufficient for calculating the PD, since delivery may occur 55 to 72 days later. Reliable methods are considered to be: a) daily luteinizing hormone (LH) measurement, from proestrus onwards, with delivery at 65 ± 1 days after the day of LH surge, which, however, lags due to high cost, b) daily progesterone (P4) concentration measurement, with delivery at 63 ± 1 days after ovulation (sudden increase in P4 > 10 ng ml-1) and c) daily vaginal cytological smear examination for determination of the first day of diestrus, with delivery at 57 ± 2 days later. Less reliable methods are imaging, monitoring the P4 reduction, and transient body temperature reduction (< 37 oC) near the PD.
Conclusions
To determine the PD, close monitoring of the bitch already from the end stage of proestrus is essential. The determination of the ovulation day and the combination of methods are preferred.
