Ultrasonographic study of gestation in dogs and cats

Ultrasonographic examination provides useful information for monitoring fetal growth and for assessing gestational age. Among a wide variety of ultrasonographic fetal measurements, the diameter of the inner chorionic cavity (ICC) during early pregnancy and the biparietal (BP) diameter during late pregnancy are highly correlated with the gestational age and both highly reliable for the prediction of parturition term when specific formulae for different size bitches and for queens are applied. In clinical practice the prediction of parturition term is particularly valuable for planning clinical assistance of whelping or elective caesarean sections.