MVSc

With the object of finding a suitable and reliable method of early pregnancy diagnosis in bitches, the study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of trans abdominal palpation, ultrasound scanning and relaxin detection was conducted.
The study consisted of 45 apparently healthy bitches which were brought to the clinics for finding the optimal breeding time. Out of this, ten animals were selected at random for pregnancy diagnosis and were subjected to different methods of pregnancy diagnosis at different gestational age-16 to 20 days, 21 to 24 days and 25 to 30 days post breeding. Blood samples were collected for the estimation of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the day of breeding and also at the above gestation periods. Body weights were recorded at the day of breeding and also at different gestation periods.
In the present study, it was found that abdominal palpation was difficult in diagnosing pregnancy between 16 to 20 days of gestation. When palpation was done in between 21 to 24 and 25 to 30 days post breeding, the accuracy obtained was 50% and 70% respectively. This study suggests that trans abdominal palpation was not useful in diagnosing early pregnancy.
By ultrasound scanning, the percentage accuracy at 16 to 20 days was 50%, which improved to 80 percent and 100 percent at 21-24 and 25-30 days post breeding respectively. Foetal heartbeat could be observed in all the positive cases from 24 days of gestation. Pseudo-pregnancy, pyometra and abortion could be easily identified by this method.
The earliest positive result obtained for serum relaxin detection was obtained at 20th day post breeding and the percentage accuracy was 50% at this period, as against 100% at 21-30 days of gestation. In the present study, it was found that serum relaxin test was not influenced by pseudo-pregnancy and uterine pathological conditions like pyometra.
There was significant variation in haemogram (P < 0.01) at the day of breeding and at different gestational age. Haemoglobin concentration at 16-20, 21-24 and 25-30 days of gestation were 10.88+0.31, 10.24+0.22, 8.77+0.28g/dl, which was lower than the value 11.56+0.27 obtained prior to breeding.
The packed cell volume values were 34.66+0.9, 30.77+0.94, 28.22+1.02 and 26+0.94 percent at day 0, 16-20, 21-24, 25-30 days post breeding. There was significant variation in the values before and after conception.
There was significant variation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate between day zero and at different gestational age. The values obtained varied significantly and recorded as 4.6+0.33, 14.3+1.09, 17.8+1.28 and 21.76+1.47mm/hr at day 0, 16-20, 21-24 and 25-30 days of gestation respectively.
The body weight of all the ten animals varied significantly (P<0.01). It was observed that the body weight had shown a steady and progressive increase as the pregnancy advanced.
The study revealed that abdominal palpation was not very useful in diagnosing early pregnancy. By ultrasound scanning, uterus as well as foetus could be visualized after 23 days of gestation. Serum relaxin detection could be used as an early tool for pregnancy diagnosis in bitches from 20 days post breeding. Results of the present study suggest that the relaxin test was accurate in diagnosing early pregnancy and its advantage being that it could be conducted and interpreted easily by a dog breeder or a dog owner. It could be concluded that detection of serum relaxin is a quick, simple and accurate tool for diagnosing early pregnancy under field conditions.