Canine Pregnancy Flashcards
describe canine conception
- oocyte matures 2 days post ovulation
- fertilization
- oviductal transport: 9-13 d
- transuterine migration
- implantation 16-18d post ovulation
NO maternal recognition of pregnancy!
CL is the only source of progesterone during preg (secretes same amount whether pregnant or not)
describe endocrinology of canine pregnancy
- progesterone: produce by CL only increases and stays elevated for 1st half
- prolactin: produced by anterior pituitary; steady increase throughout preg
0important for CL maintenance late preg - relaxin:
-produced by placenta!
-can detect postpartum bc trophoblastic cells take a while to slough
describe canine placentation
- zonary
- placental (marginal) hematomas: uteroverdin
- pups covered in amnion, which is NOT fused to chorioallantois
- endothelial placentation: 5-10% IgG transfer
what does green discharge mean?
placental separation of at least one pup, NEED TO see a vet!! an emergency!
describe pregnancy diagnosis options
- transabdominal palpation
- relaxin
- ultrasound
-B mode
-doppler - radiographs
NOT PROGESTERONE!!!! will be same regardless of preg
describe advantages and disadvantages of transabdominal palpation
advantage:
-cheap
-no equipment needed
-2cm swelling by d30
disadvantage:
-small window accuracy (30-45d and >45d)
-inaccurate (tense abdomen, obese or a large singleton pup)
-iatrogenic fetal death
gie pros and cons of transabdominal ultrasound
pros
1. early diagnosis: vesicles 18-20d, heartbeat at 25d
- late preg: fetal viability and maturity
-HR should decrease as progress until AT parturition
-peristalsis/GI definition is last thing to mature! if see, feel confident will survive C-section
-renal development (once see cortex and medulla = almost to term) - can assess: fetal viability and stress, age, placental disease, fetal maturation
cons:
-puppy counts not 100% accurate due to miscounts and resorptions
-tell owner +/- 1-2 puppies
describe abdominal radiographs for pregnancy detection
- only useful for later gestation when mineralization:
>45d in dog and >38d in cat - assess: gestational age, fetal death (gas, disarticulated skeleton), feto-maternal disproportion
- best method for puppy count
tips:
-take at approx 55-60d for easier images
-have dog defecate first
-or don’t feed dog that am
describe relaxin as a method for pregnancy detection
- can get false negatives <28d gestation
- can get false + after abortion or whelping
- NOT an assessment of fetal health or fetal number
describe care of the pregnant dog (6)
- all vx PRIOR to breeding
- good nutrition and moderate exercise
- isolate the last 3 weeks of preg (no exposure to infectious diseases)
- introduce whelping box last week of preg
- high risk pregnancies: weekly ultrasound and progesterone monitoring
-don’t give progesterone before 30d!!! use altrenogest is Ellerbrock rec - be careful with females naive to CHV-1
describe feeding a pregnant dog
don’t need to feed them more!
just feed maintenance requirements up until 6 weeks prior to gestation then switch mom to puppy food
describe exercise during pregnancy
- maintain activity level
- maintain weight
- avoid heat stress!
describe prediction of whelping
- lactate up to 2 weeks pre-whelping: not super useful
- nesting 1 week pre-whelping
- breeding timing:
-65 +/- 1 day from LH peak
-63 +/- 1 day from ovulation
-57 +/- 2 days from D1 diestrus
-55-72 days from last breeding - fetal maturity:
-radiographs: start with axial skeleton and then work prox to distal on limbs for mineralization; so look for mineralization of teeth- mineralize last! (but in last 3-8 days so still wide window)
-ultrasound: GI development, renal development - progesterone: drops below 2ng/ml within 24-48 hr of gestation
- rectal temp:
-take 2-3 times per day CONSISTENTLY starting with approx 55-58d gestation
-when temp <99 or drops 1.6 degrees, will whelp within 8-24 hours
-this is bc progesterone is thermogenic; when progesterone drops, body temp goes down too
describe endocrinology of parturition
- maturation of fetus adrenal cortex - fetal stress and release of cortisol
- fetal cortisol increase mom PGF2a which causes:
-increased uterine contractions on its own
-increased oxytocin = increased uterine contractions
-decreased progesterone, which increases uterine contraction and drops body temp - all of this results in parturition
may not happen with singleton puppies (not enough cortisol to trigger, often result in C section)
describe stage 1 labor in dogs
- 6-12 hours (up to 24 hours depending on owner interpretation)
- uterine contractions
- pelvic ligament and cervical relaxation
- placental separation: can see green to black vulvar discahrge
- signs: obsessive nesting, anorexia, restlessness, panting, shivering