Hematocrit changes in healthy periparturient bitches that underwent elective cesarean section

Abstract

Haematocrits were measured before each of 406 caesarean sections performed on 324 bitches at term and again following crystalloid fluid therapy administered at 35 ml/kg over 1½ to 2 h starting from induction. The mean haematocrit was 44.2% (95% CI 43.8 to 44.6%) before caesarean section and 37.8% (95% CI 37.3 to 38.2%) following caesarean section and fluid therapy, with a mean decrease of 6.4 percentage points (95% CI 6.1 to 6.7%) over all 406 caesarean sections. These results provide the clinician with clear guidelines of the normal expected ranges of haematocrits in bitches before and after caesarean section. Results of this study show that bitches have haematocrits at term that are at the lower end of the normal reference ranges for non-pregnant dogs and that there is no true anaemia of pregnancy. It is therefore suggested that if late term bitches present with anaemia, other causes besides pregnancy should be considered.1

Blood calcium, glucose and haematology profiles of parturient bitches diagnosed with uterine inertia or obstructive dystocia

“…In a recent large-scale study (De Cramer et al, 2016), mean Ht values measured before elective Caesarean section were in the lower reference range (44.2 ± 4.2%), which is similar to our result (45.3 ± 5.9%). The authors (De Cramer et al, 2016) excluded dehydration by clinical examination and found that only ten of the 406 cases (2.5%) had Ht below 37%. In our study on a smaller number of bitches, 14% of the dogs had lower than 37% but higher than 30% Ht values, which is still less severe than the 30% decrease in Ht described in late pregnant bitches (Tietz et al, 1967).…”

“…This common finding in pregnant dogs (Concannon, ; Doxey, ; Tietz et al., ) is known under the term of pregnancy‐associated anaemia (Verstegen‐Onclin & Verstegen, ) and is due to disproportion between erythrocyte volume and the gestation‐induced increased plasmatic volume (Concannon, ; Verstegen‐Onclin & Verstegen, ). In a recent large‐scale study (De Cramer et al., ), mean Ht values measured before elective Caesarean section were in the lower reference range (44.2 ± 4.2%), which is similar to our result (45.3 ± 5.9%). The authors (De Cramer et al., ) excluded dehydration by clinical examination and found that only ten of the 406 cases (2.5%) had Ht below 37%.…”

“…High platelet counts as well as increased numbers of neutrophils without concurrent leukocytosis were also reported in late pregnant bitches (Kimberely et al., ), but less is known about changes in the haematology profile at the time of parturition. In a recent study (De Cramer, Joubert, & Nothling, ), the authors could not confirm anaemia of pregnancy by measuring haematocrit (Ht) shortly before elective Caesarean section in 406 dogs, and with a few exceptions, they reported Ht values in the lower reference range. Mature neutrophilia without left shift and a sharp increase in white blood cell (WBC) counts were found shortly before and during normal parturition in 13 healthy bitches (Doxey, ).…”

“…In a recent study (De Cramer, Joubert, & Nothling, 2016), the authors could not confirm anaemia of pregnancy by measuring haematocrit (Ht) shortly before elective Caesarean section in 406 dogs, and with a few exceptions, they reported Ht values in the lower reference range. Mature neutrophilia without left shift and a sharp increase in white blood cell (WBC) counts were found shortly before and during normal parturition in 13 healthy bitches (Doxey, 1966).…”

Time course of serum cobalamin, folate, and total iron binding capacity concentrations in pregnant bitches and association with hematological variables and survival

“…Most commonly, PRA has been reported to develop during later pregnancy stages, [4][5][6][7] whereas 2 studies either failed to document preparturition anemia or had reported statistically significant, albeit clinically insignificant, hematocrit decrease during pregnancy. 8,9 Several mechanisms jointly contribute to the development of PRA in women. Hemodilution from volume expansion is a physiological process that causes mild anemia, peaking in women at 20-24 weeks of gestation.…”