Canine Pregnancy & Female Reproductive Disease Flashcards
Where does fertilization of oocytes occur in bitches? How long do sperm cells last?
uterine tube (oviducts)
5-7 days if fresh
What are 3 ways of determining whelping date? When does this not apply?
- 65 days from LH surge
- 63 days from ovulation (happens 2 days after LH surge!)
- 57 days from first day of cytological diestrus (vaginal epithelium is rounded and neutrophils are present in response to stud contamination)
singleton pregnancy - only one fetus = no overcrowding to induce fetal cortisol spike, technically gestation can be indefinite and pup can get large enough to induce dystocia)
What breed can go into whelping early?
CKCS —> early by 1-2 days
What causes the huge range of whelping date estimation when only using one date?
(58 days if bred late - 71 days if bred early)
variability of estrus in the bitch and longevity of sperm in the uterus
What kind of placentation do canines have? What unique structure does it have?
zonary endotheliochorial —> 4 layers: maternal endothenium + fetal endothelium, connective tissue, and epithelium
green pigmentation (uteroverdin) = marginal hematoma acting as an iron storage for the fetus
What is occurring if the uteroverdin is seen without the pup?
placental detachment = dystocia
What is progesterone responsible for in canine pregnancy? What is it not used for?
luteal dependence of pregnancy maintenance —> requires 2.6 ng/mL (typically gets >10-15 ng/mL)
pregnancy diagnosis (no maternal recognition of pregnancy)
How do progesterone levels change as whelping approaches?
drops, resulting in a temperature drop
When do prolactin levels increase with pregnancy? How is this related to progesterone?
lutetropic —> second half of gestation
concentration inversely related to progesterone - acts as a dopamine agonist
What is the most pregnancy-specific hormone used for pregnancy diagnosis in dogs? When do levels increase?
relaxin - produced by the placenta
day 21 of gestation
What induces pseudopregnancy? What clinical signs are seen?
decreased progesterone as prolactin increases in late diestrus, post-ovariectomy
- mammary gland enlargement with or without milk production
- nesting behaviors
When can abdominal palpation be used to diagnose canine pregnancy? What is felt?
21-28 days —> gets difficult by day 35 , but can feel fetal bodies and movement after 50 days
string of pearls
When can radiography be used to diagnose canine pregnancy? What is it used for?
day 43 —> fetal calcification
gold standard for counting pups
How is ultrasound used for diagnosing canine pregnancy? When can it be used?
confirms pregnancy and fetal viability —> CAN’T be used for counting pups
- day 17 - can see vesicle
- day 25 - can see heart flutter
What can ultrasound be used to estimate in canine pregnancies?
C-section/whelping date
What 3 features on ultrasounds are used to determine if a bitch is prepared for C-section? When are each seen?
- high kidney definition with visible cortex and medulla - 57-63 days after LH surge
- intestines - 57-63 days after LH surge
- intestine peristalsis - 62-64 days after LH surge
(determines pups’ maturity)
What 3 ways of estrous cycle monitoring are used to estimate whelping date? How is ultrasound used?
- progesterone profile
- LH assay
- cytology
fetal biometry measurements - inner chorionic cavity and biparietal diameter measurements based on size
What 8 structures are seen on radiography when determining fetal maturity? When are they seen?
- spine
- skull
- ribs
- caudal vertebrae
- fibula
- calcaneus
- paws
- teeth
all present at 3-8 days before whelping
What is the best way to assess canine fetal viability?
measuring fetal HR
- 220-240 bpm = normal HR before term
- 180-200 bpm = normal HR on whelping day (Stage II)
- 160-180 bpm = stress, mild hypoxia
- <140-160 bpm = decreased postnatal survival