TY  - BOOK
AU  - Namsui Thou 
AU  - Athman K V (Guide)
TI  - Diagnosis of pregnancy in bitches by transabdominal palpation along with haematological studies
U1  - 636.082 
PY  - 1999///
CY  - Mannuthy
PB  - Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
N2  - with the object of evolving a suitable and reliable 
method of early pregnancy diagnosis in bitch, a study was 
undertaken to investigate the efficacy of transabdominal 
palpation and~aematological profile during various stages of 
pregnancy in bitches. 
Seventeen apparently normal healthy Alsatian and 7 
Pomeranian bitches aged 1~ to 6 years selected at random 
 

 
formed the material for the study. 
 

These bitches were 
 

 
subjected to abdominal palpation between 21 and 25, 30 and 35 
and 45 and 50 days of mating. Blood samples were collected 
for the estimation of total serum protein, albumin, globulin, 
total erythrocyte and leucocyte count, differential leucocyte 
count, PCV, ESR and Hb concentraiion on the respective days. 
In addition, on the 45th and 50th day bitches were subjected 
to radiography. Body weights and diameter of the abdomen of 
bi tches were recorded on all days of examination. Whelping of 
bitches confirmed pregnant were followed up for recording 
litter size, sex and weight of the pups. 
The data obtained were tabulated. Signs of physical and 
behavioural changes were not noticeable before 21 to 25 days 
, 
of gestation but apparent at 30 to 35 days which continued 
upto 45 to 50 days. The mean body weights and diameter of the 
 
abdomen were significantly higher (P<O.Ol) in pregnant than in 
non-pregnant bitches. 
The earliest positive result obtained by palpation was 21 
days after mating. Accuracy of palpation in Alsatian and 
Pomeranian bitches at 21 to 25 days was 66.7 per cent and 100 
per cent respectively while at 30 to 35 days and 45 to 50 days 
it was 88.9 per cent and 100 per cent respectively. 
The mean total serum protein and globulin were higher in 
pregnant than that in non-pregnant bitches, however the mean 
serum albumin content did not differ. The mean erythrocyte 
count, PCV values and haemoglobin content were lower in 
pregnant when compared to that in non-pregnant bitches. The 
mean leucocyte count and ESR values in pregnant were higher 
than that in non-pregnant bitches. The percentage of 
neutrophil was slightly higher in non-pregnant than that in 
pregnant bitches. In contrast, the mean lymphocyte count was 
higher in pregnant than that in non-pregnant bitches. 
However, the mean monocyte and eosinophil count between 
pregnant and non-pregnant bitches did not differ. 
Radiographs obtained between 45 to 46 days after mating 
revealed faint fetal skeletal components in 4 bitches while 5 
bitches when radiographed between 48 to 50 days showed a 
distinct fetal vertebrae and skull. 
 

 
The mean gestation length, body weights after whelping, 
litter size and birth weight of pups in Alsatian and 
Pomeranian were 62.43 days and 59.5 days, 28.929 ± 1.631 kgs 
and 9.25 ± 0.25 kgs, 4.429 ± 0.649 and 5 ± 1 and 523.871 ± 
28.203 gms and 287 ± 7.311 gms respectively. 
To sum up, it could be said that diagnosis of pregnancy 
in bitches 
can be done by abdominal palpation and 
haematological studies after 4 weeks of mating. 
However, 
radiography can be recommended as an accurate method of 
pregnancy diagnosis in the last trimester. It, could, further 
be said that each method has its own advantages and limitation 
at various stages of gestation and hence .i nf o rmi.nq these 
variables to the client is essential, until further studies 
with large number of animals in t'nis line are undertaken. 


UR  - http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810102271
ER  -