The intra-uterine position of canine foetuses and their sequence of expulsion at birth |
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| Authors: | G C VAN DER WEYDEN M A M TAVERNE A C OKKENS P FONTIJNE |
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| Institution: | Clinic for Veterinary Obstetrics, A.I. and Reproduction, State University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 7, De Uithof, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | In 14 bitches, laparotomy was performed between the 45th day and 54th day of gestation. In total, 89 foetuses were marked individually by means of transuterine injections of a radiopaque substance. After expulsion, each pup was provided with a colour code. By radiographs one day after birth, all pups of a litter could be identified by the radiopaque markings. In this way the order and presentation at birth of each pup could be compared with the uterine position and presentation at laparotomy. When after expulsion of a pup, one or more were left in each uterine horn, the next pup was produced by the contralateral horn in 43 cases (78·2%) and by the ipsilateral horn in 12 cases (21·8%). One horn was never observed to be completely empty before the other horn started expelling pups. In six of eight bitches in which each two uterine horns did not contain an equal number of foetuses, the first pup was born from the horn containing most pups. The presentation at birth has been observed in 73 pups. For five of these (6·9%), the presentation differed from the one observed at laparotomy; in all five cases the original posterior presentation had changed into an anterior one. |
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