Doppler ultrasonographic assessment of maternal and fetal blood flow in abnormal canine pregnancy

• Published in: Animal reproduction science 2011-06, Vol.126 (1-2), p.130-135
• Main Authors: Blanco, P.G, Rodríguez, R, Rube, A, Arias, D.O, Tórtora, M, Díaz, J.D, Gobello, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Animals, Newborn; aorta; Aorta, Abdominal - diagnostic imaging; Bitch; bitches; blood flow; carotid arteries; Dogs; Doppler velocimetry; Female; Fetus - blood supply; Heart Rate, Fetal; luteinizing hormone; Neonatal death; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; puppies; Renal Artery - diagnostic imaging; ultrasonography; Ultrasonography, Doppler - veterinary; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - methods; Ultrasonography, Prenatal - veterinary; umbilical arteries; Uterine Artery - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.04.016

The aim of this study was to describe the changes of uterine artery, umbilical artery and fetal abdominal aorta, renal and internal carotid arteries blood flow in abnormal canine pregnancy. Twenty-two, Brucella-negative pregnant bitches were retrospectively classified into abnormal (which had either interrupted their pregnancy between days 52 and 60 or had perinatal death >60% of the litter; n =11) and normal (which had delivered healthy puppies at term; n =11). In all the animals, color and pulsed-wave Doppler examinations of uterine artery were conducted every 10 days from Day 20 to 50 from estimated luteinizing hormone peak. Doppler ultrasonography was also conducted in the fetuses to assess umbilical artery, abdominal aorta, renal and internal carotid arteries from Day 40 to 60 of gestation. Throughout the study, resistance index (RI) of uterine, umbilical and fetal renal arteries decreased up to −15% compared to −36% (P