Abstract
Data concerning the use of the canine foetal kidney length (L) formula in the prediction of parturition timing are still lacking. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the L formula in predicting the parturition date during the last 10 days of pregnancy. Twenty-five clinically healthy pregnant bitches, aged 2–9 years and weighing 3.5–52.2 kg, were ultrasonographically monitored from -11 to 0 days before parturition (dbp). Kidney L was measured for the three most caudal foetuses, and the parturition day was estimated using the kidney formula, whose accuracy was calculated as the percentage of cases estimated (ranges of ± 1 or ± 2 days) on the actual parturition date. A K-proportions test was performed to identify differences in the accuracy among maternal sizes and the sex ratio of pups, and a two-proportions z-test was performed to identify differences between litter size classes (≤ 7 vs. > 7 pups) and time ranges (-11/-5 and -4/0 dbp). An accuracy of 35% within ± 2 days was found in the range of -11/-5 dbp and an accuracy of 30% within ± 2 days was found in the range of -4/0 dbp. The accuracy differed between small (53% ±1 day and 60% ±2 days) and large (10% within ± 1 and ± 2 days) bitches (P = 0.019 within ± 1 day, and P = 0.007 within ± 2 days). For small litter sizes, the accuracy was 38% within ± 1 day and 44% within ± 2 days, and for large litter sizes, it was 14% within ± 1 and ± 2 days. A threshold value was found between litter size classes within ± 2 days. The use of the L formula during the last ten days of pregnancy did not seem to warrant good accuracy in the prediction of parturition date. Further studies on different maternal sizes should be performed.
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The data that support the findings of this study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Paolo Zucchini for his help and care of the bitches during the clinical procedures.
Funding
This work was supported by Italian ministry of Research (MUR, Project DOR, nr. 2025554/20).
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GS: conceptualization, research design, performed research, data analysis, writing (draft and revisions) FDN: performed research, writing (revisions); BC: data analysis, writing (draft and revisions); CM: designed and performed the research; writing (draft and revisions), supervision of the research. All authors revised and approved the manuscript.
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All experimental procedures involving animals were approved by the University of Padova Ethical Committee (Approval number 69/2018), and an informed consent form was signed by the owner of each pregnant bitch before its inclusion in the study.
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Siena, G., di Nardo, F., Contiero, B. et al. Clinical use of the canine foetal kidney formula in dogs of different maternal sizes during the last ten days before parturition. Vet Res Commun 47, 1653–1663 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-023-10120-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-023-10120-2