The Doppler Indices of Canine Umbilical Artery at the Sixt Week of Gestation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the umbilical artery Doppler exams performed in the second trimester in dogs. In this study, blood flow of canine fetal umbilical artery was investigated at the week 6 of gestation. Doppler sonography exams were performed in six healthy German shepherd bitches bred in the same dog farm. At the sixth week of pregnancy, the bloodstream was examined in the fetus for each dog by the use of the pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography. Pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were recorded from the mid-cord site of the free floating umbilical cord. The mean PI and RI levels of the umbilical artery were 1.74 ± 0.11 cm/s, 0.84 ± 0.02 cm/s, respectively. None fetal stress symptoms were observed during Doppler examinations. All parturitions were between 59 th -65 th days spontaneously. Although obstetrics Doppler exams have been done recently in canine practice, it is thought that it would be a reliable diagnostic application in future. In conclusion, this work provides baseline information for the follow-up canine fetal hemodynamic in the second trimester, which is essential for the use of fetal monitoring