Follow-up by imagiological exams of canine and feline pregnant females

Abstract

Pregnancy is a very important period in fetal development where you always have to pay attention to any problems the female or offspring may develop. One of these may occur at the end of the gestational period, during childbirth. Some female dogs and cats have difficulty performing normal delivery, either by maternal or fetal dystocia. From this, the animal can take serious risks, along with its offspring, which is about to be born. To prevent the death of animals due to dystocia, it is recommended to perform gestational follow-up through ultrasound and radiographic examinations. Ultrasound assists in the estimated prediction of the delivery date while the x-ray verifies the possibility of a dystocic delivery. The objective of this study was to verify the accuracy of these imaging exams in gestational follow-up performed between 2014 and 2019 at the institution's Veterinary Hospital. With the proper analyzes, it was visualized that both exams have high accuracy rate regarding their predictions. In addition, it was also concluded that there are variables that affect this accuracy. It is noteworthy that studies with a larger sample are still necessary for a better finding, also aiming to verify the best dates for the exams. It is recommended to conduct these studies with greater specificity, checking differences between races, species and types of skull. This retrospective study is extremely important to guide the conduct of veterinarians regarding the need for gestational follow-up, aiming at reducing the risks inherent in childbirth.