@article{Borikappakul_Chaivoravitsakul_Penchome_Ponglowhapan_2021, title={Clinical evaluation of the accuracy of foetal radiographic findings in parturition date prediction of small size dogs}, volume={51}, url={https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tjvm/article/view/247435}, abstractNote={<p><span class="fontstyle0">Ultrasonographic measurements of extra-foetal or foetal structures have been reported as an accurate means of<br>predicting the date of parturition in the bitch. However, for many years, radiography has been clinically useful for<br>pregnancy diagnosis, determining the number of foetuses and prolonged foetal death. Guidelines for estimating the<br>canine parturition date based on foetal skeletal mineralization in relation to gestational age and preovulatory LH surge<br>have been applied in small animal practice. The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the accuracy of<br>parturition date prediction using foetal radiographic findings in small size dogs (1-10 kg), and to determine factors<br>affecting the accuracy of predicting. Bitches of different breeds were submitted for pregnancy diagnosis using a<br>computed radiography system, and images (both ventrodorsal and lateral views) were evaluated by two radiology<br>specialists. The retrospective study involved pregnancies of 92 small size bitches showing natural onset of parturition.<br>Prediction of parturition date was made according to the guideline previously published; days before parturition (DBP)<br>was calculated based on pregnancy length of 65 days. Only 11.9% (11/92) whelped on the prediction date. Parturition<br>mostly occurred before the prediction date (3.4 ± 2.5 days, range 1-11) in 64 out of 92 bitches (69.6%), and 18.5% (17/92)<br>of bitches whelped after the predicted date (2.2 ± 1.5 days, range 1-5). The accuracy rates when predicting the delivery<br>day within ±1 day, ±2 days and ±3 days were 36.9% (34/92), 56.5% (52/92) and 66.3% (61/92), respectively. In this<br>study, the factor affecting the accuracy of parturition prediction was gestational age (r=0.27, P=0.008). Close to term<br>(64-65 days of pregnancy), the accuracy of parturition prediction was significantly lower than those obtained during<br>48-63 days (</span><span class="fontstyle2">P</span><span class="fontstyle0"><0.01). Maternal age (P=0.09), body weight (P=0.4) and litter size (P=0.88) did not affect the prediction<br>accuracy. In conclusion, the canine parturition date was predictable using radiographic identification of foetal bony<br>structures with low accuracy. Because the minority (11.9%) whelped on the prediction date and most of pregnant<br>bitches (69.6%) whelped before predicted parturition date, the accuracy is not acceptable to time planned caesarean<br>section.</span> </p>}, number={1}, journal={The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine}, author={Borikappakul, Panthipa and Chaivoravitsakul, Nardtiwa and Penchome, Rampaipat and Ponglowhapan, Suppawiwat}, year={2021}, month={Jan.}, pages={85–89} }