Canine Pregnancy

Question 1

Lifespan of chilled semen AI

Answer 1

<4 days in normal dogs

Question 2

Advantage of surgical AI

Answer 2

Comparable pregnancy rates/litter size can be achieved with 10% of the sperm numbers inseminated vaginally

Question 3

Obligatory diestrus

Answer 3

Always occurs, following estrus

- regardless of pregnancy status, then P4 is high regardless

Question 4

How is pseudo-pregnancy a misnomer?

Answer 4

An intact bitch always has a luteal phase (obligatory diestrus) with high progesterone and most resolve without treatment

Question 5

Psuedopregnancy

Answer 5

Due to elevated prolactin levels in the face of falling progesterone

• mammary development
• behavioral changes, nesting, agitation
• increased appetite and enlarged abdomen

Question 6

Why would you treat a pseudopregnancy?

Answer 6

Increased risk of mammary tumors

- give prolactin inhibitiors

Question 7

Pregnancy diagnosis

Answer 7

• palpation at 20-40 days
• ultrasound at 20 days
• relaxin assay at 25 days
• radiographs after 42 days

Question 8

At ______ days you can feel separate bulges

Answer 8

30 days

Question 9

You can get a fetal heart rate at ______

Answer 9

55-58 days

Question 10

Placentas are described by

Answer 10

• shape
• origin
• degree of invasiveness
• structure of fetal placental vasculature
• degree of intimacy of attachment

Question 11

Canine placentation

Answer 11

• zonary
• chorioallantoic
• endotheliochorial invasiveness
• structure of fetal placental vasculature: labyrinthine
• degree of intimacy of attachment to endometrium: deciduate

Question 12

Length of pregnancy

Answer 12

• 64-66 days from LH surge (P4 of 2-2.9 corresponds to LH surge)
• 57 days from onset of cytological diestrus
• apparent length of 57-67 days from breeding

Question 13

Parturition

Answer 13

Sharp decline in progesterone with resultant decline in body temperature

• P4 is thermotrophic
• prolactin increase and peak before with short decline, followed by increase when pups suckle

Question 14

Normal canine delivery

Answer 14

• stage 1: 6-12 hours
• stage 2: 3-12 hours
• stage 3: follows with each fetus w/n 15 minutes
• expulsion of 1st fetus takes the longest
• interval b/w pups can be 5 min to 2 hrs

Question 15

Management before parturition

Answer 15

• proactive measures: 57 days from diestrus, 64-66 days from LH surge
• approx 24 hrs after final drop in progesterone: less than 2 ng/ml, drop in body temp

Question 16

Diagnosing stage 2 labor

Answer 16

• passage of fetal fluids
• visible abdominal straining
• rectal temp returning to normal after abrupt drop

Question 17

Clinical signs of dystocia

Answer 17

• greenish brown (uteroverdin) discharge without delivery of first pup in 2-4 hrs
• strong straining for >20-30 min without progression
• more than 2-3 hrs between pups
• dam in 2nd stage labor for >12 hrs

Question 18

Dystocia

Answer 18

Inability to expel fetus out of the birth canal without assistance

• incidence in dogs is around 5%
• risk factors: brachycephalic, toy breeds, singleton litters

Question 19

Dystocia etiology

Answer 19

75% maternal and 25% fetal

Question 20

Maternal causes of dystocia

Answer 20

Primary uterine inertia (number one cause of dystocia)

- secondary uterine inertia due to low calcium

Question 21

Fetal causes of dystocia

Answer 21

• malpresentation
• fetal oversize
• malformations and fetal death

Question 22

Clinical exam of parturition

Answer 22

• vaginal exam: fetus in birth canal
• mammary chain: presence of milk
• palpate abdomen
• fetal heartrate less than 150 indicates stress

Question 23

Obstruction

Answer 23

• torsion
• malposition
• narrow birth canal or more often vaginal stricture
• fetal anasarca
• some pups delivered vaginally with gentle traction and lubrication

Question 24

Medical management of uterine inertia

Answer 24

• oxytocin

- calcium gluconate

Question 25

C section

Answer 25

• ventral midline incision
• exteriorize uterus
• uterotomy incision
• delivery pups after breaking down fetal membranes
• double clamp umbilicus
• deliver to assistant
• inverting pattern in uterus
• routine abdominal closure

Question 26

Anesthesia

Answer 26

• minimize anesthesia time
• propofol induction
• iso or sevo inhalant
• lidocaine line block on abdomen
• fluids
• pre oxygenate for 5 min
• avoid alpha 2 agonists!

Question 27

Neonatal care

Answer 27

• reverse any drugs
• get dry, warm
• suction mouth and nose
• assure pups are nursing
• rotate pups to assure adequate milk ingestion
• colostrum ingestion