Uterine and fetal monitoring in the bitch

摘要

The standard approach to labor management in the bitch has involved client subjective monitoring of behavior, rectal temperature, progression of whelping, and the physical condition of the neonates. Little accurate and timely information is made available to the clinician concerning actual uterine activity or prepartum fetal viability. Telephone consultations between the veterinarian and breeder usually entail interpretation of indirect information, such as time between deliveries, color of vaginal discharge, presence of externally visible abdominal contractions, and occurrence of stillborn puppies.(6) Although generally acceptable for the uneventful delivery in a young, healthy bitch, whelping associated with fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality are familiar to most clinicians in reproductive practice.