Clinical use of the canine foetal kidney formula in dogs of different maternal sizes during the last ten days before parturition

AbstractData concerning the use of the canine foetal kidney length (L) formula in the prediction of parturition timing are still lacking. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the L formula in predicting the parturition date during the last 10 days of pregnancy. Twenty-five clinically healthy pregnant bitches, aged 2 –9 years and weighing 3.5–52.2 kg, were ultrasonographically monitored from -11 to 0 days before parturition (dbp). Kidney L was measured for the three most caudal foetuses, and the parturition day was estimated using the kidney formula, whose accuracy was calculated as the percentage of cases estimated (ranges of ± 1 or ± 2 days) on the actual parturition date. A K-proportions test was performed to identify differences in the accuracy among maternal sizes and the sex ratio of pups, and a two-proportions z-test was performed to identify differences between litter size classes (≤  7 vs.> 7 pups) and time ranges (-11/-5 and -4/0 dbp). An accuracy of 35% within ± 2 days was found in the range of -11/-5 dbp and an accuracy of 30% within ± 2 days was found in the range of -4/0 dbp. The accuracy differed between small (53% ±1 day and 60% ±2 days) and large (10% within ± 1 and ± 2 days) bitches (P = 0.019 within ± 1 day, and P = 0.00 7 within ± 2 days). For small litter sizes, the accuracy was 38% within ± 1 day and 44% within ± 2 days, and for large litter sizes, it was 14% within ± 1 and ± 2 day...
Source: Veterinary Research Communications - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research