• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.287-296
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• 1997

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed on 8 bitches (5 Maltese and 3 Yorkshire terrier) from day 15 until parturition to determine the size of gestational structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. When the size of fetal and extra-fetal structures according to gestational age was measured, there was a difference between Maltese and Yorkshire terrier in extra-fetal structures (P<0.001), and no difference in fetal structrures (P<0.001). The correlations between the gestational age and the growth in fetal and extra-fetal structures were examined by regression analysis. The extra-fetal structure which showed high correlation from day 20 to 35 was inner chorionic cavity diameter in two breeds. The fetal structures which showed high correlation from day 36 until parturition was fetal head diameter in two breeds. In conclusions inner chorionic cavity diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age and prediction of whelping day from day 20 to 35, and fetal head diameter from day 36 to parturitions respectively. Ultrasonography is very useful tool to evaluate the gestational age and to predict the whelping day in pet dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2004

Serial ultrasonographic examination was daily performed on 12 pregnant Shih-tzu bitches from day 15 until parturition to determine the size of gestational structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. Extra-fetal structures were measurable from days 17 to 46. Outer uterine diameter increased from $9.9{\pm}0.4$ mm (Mean${\pm}$SD) at day 20 to $44.3{\pm}0.8$ mm at day 46 and inner chorionic cavity diameter increased from $7.2{\pm}0.2$ mm at day 17 to $36.9{\pm}1.5$mm at day 41. Length of chorionic cavity or zonary placenta increased from $6.6{\pm}0.4$ mm at day 21 to $46.4{\pm}0.9$ mm at day 44. Of the extra-fetal structures, inner chorionic cavity diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age until day 38. Fetal structures were measurable from days 23 to 60. Crown-rump length increased from $3.9{\pm}0.3$ mm at day 23 to $55.2{\pm}3.3$ mm at day 41, fetal body diameter increased from $7.9{\pm}0.6$ mm at day 32 to $47.8{\pm}2$ mm at day 60, and fetal head diameter increased from $6.3{\pm}1.1$ mm at day 29 to $25.6{\pm}0.2$ mm at day 60. Of the fetal structures, fetal head diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age from day 38 until day 60.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2004

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed on 12 Shih-tzu bitches from 15 days after ovulation until parturition to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures and to determine the size of gestational structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. The gestational length in 12 Shih-tzu bitches was 62.1 (range:60-64) days. The initial detection of the fetal and extra-fetal structures were: gestational sac at days 19.2 (16-21); zonary placenta in the uterine wall at days 25.9 (24-28); yolk sac membrane at days 24.1 (22-26); amniotic membrane at days 26.6 (24-28); embryo initial detection at days 22.3 (21-24); heartbeat at days 23.8 (23-25); limb buds at days 29.3 (27-31); fetal movement at days 32.3 (31-34); stomach at days 32.6 (29-34); urinary bladder at days 33.1 (29-35); skeleton at days 35.9 (34-38) and kidney at days 45.8 (45-48).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 1997

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed on 11 bitches (5 Maltese and 3 Yorkshire terrier) from day 15 until parturition to determine the time of Sift detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when p18sma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. The gestational length in 8 bitches was 61.5 (range: 60-64) days. The initial detection time of fetal and extra-fetal structures were: gestational sac at days 20.5 (18-23); zonary placenta in the uterine wall at days 25.4 (24-30); yolk sac membrane at days 25,5 (23-37); amniotic mombrane at days 28.7 (25-32); embryo initial detection at days 23.3 (20-26); fetal heartbeat at days 23.9 (21-27); fetal movement at days 31.3 (26-34); limb buds at days 32.1 (29-35); rotomarh at days 35.3 (32-40); urinary bladder at days 35.6 (33-39); skeleton at days 37.8 (37- 40) and kidney at days 45.3 (41-49), respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.235-245
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• 1996

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 9 pregnant Korea Jin-do bitches that were the Korean native breed, from days 15 to 60 pregnancy to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures of pregnancy. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (Day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. Gestational ages at earliest detection of the following fetal and extra-fetal structures were; gestational sac at days 17 to 22; placental layers in the uterine wall at days 20 to 24; zonary placenta at days 25 to 28; yolk sac membrane at days 22 to 24; amnionic membrane at days 27 to 29; embryo initial detection at days 21 to 23; fetal heartbeat at days 21 m 25; bipolar shape embryo at days 25 to 26; fetal movement at days 28 to 31; limb buds at days 31 to 35; anechoic area in head at days 31 to 36; stomach at days 34 to 37; urinary bladder at days 34 to 37; skeleton at days 36 to 38; dorsal sagittal tubular structure in vertebrae at days 36 to 38; lung hyperechoic vs liver at days 37 to 39; liver hypoechoic vs abdomen at days 37 to 40 and kidney at days 43 to 48, respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.501-505
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 9 Miniature Schnauzer bitches from day 15 of gestation until parturition to determine the ultrasonographic measurement of gestational structures. Ovulation was designated the day that plasma progesterone concentration exceeded 4.0 ng/ml (day 0). Extra-fetal structures were measured from day 17 or 18 to 60. Outer uterine diameter (OUD) increased from $6.50{\pm}1.06mm$ ($Mean{\pm}SD$) to $50.89{\pm}5.62mm$, inner chorionic cavity diameter (ICCD) increased from $2.10{\pm}0.15mm$ to $37.15{\pm}4.36mm$, and length of placenta (PL) increased from $7.50 {\pm}1.41mm$ to $40.62{\pm}3.27mm$. OUD and ICCD were significantly and linearly relative to gestational age especially through day 37, whereas PL was not significantly relative to gestational age. Of the extra-fetal structures, ICCD was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age before day 38 of gestation. Fetal structures increased at a linear rate to parturition. Fetal crown-rump length (CRL) increased from $2.55{\pm}0.07mm$ on day 22 to $85.25{\pm}9.89mm$ on day 48. Fetal head diameter (HD) increased from $3.43{\pm}0.64mm$ on day 27 to $25.06{\pm}0.41mm$ on day 63. Fetal body diameter (BD) increased from $ 5.96{\pm}0.84mm$ on day 30 to $43.76{\pm}3.36mm$ on day 63. Of the fetal structures, HD was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age after day 38 to parturition.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.247-254
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• 1996

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 9 pregnant Korea Jin-do dog from days 15 to 60 to determine the size of gestational structures throughout pregnancy. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (Day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. Extra-fetal structures were measureable from days 17 to 49. Outer uterine diameter increased from $7.0{\pm}0.7$ ($mean{\pm}SD$)mm at day 17 to $54.0{\pm}2.2mm$ at day 49 and inner chorionic cavity diameter increased from $3.0{\pm}0.7mm$ at day 17 to $37.5{\pm}0.6mm$ at day 49. Uterine wall thickness increased from $2.8{\pm}0.4mm$ at day 17 to $8.3{\pm}0.5mm$ at day 49, placental thickness increased from $1.0{\pm}0.1mm$ at day 22 to $5.7{\pm}0.2mm$ at day 49 and length of chorionic cavity or zonary placenta increased from $5.5{\pm}1.3mm$ at day 20 to $52.3{\pm}2.2mm$ at day 49. Inner chorionic cavity diameter, outer uterine diameter and placental length each increased at a linear rate through day 37, after which time, each had a marked plateau in growth. Of the extra-fetal structures, inner chorionic cavity diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age until day 37. Fetal structures were measureable from days l7 to 60. Crown-rump length, increased from $3.0{\pm}0.7mm$ at day 22 to $118.7{\pm}3.1mm$ at day 49, fetal body diameter increased from $4.0{\pm}0.7mm$ at day 25 to $55.8{\pm}1.7mm$ at day 60 and fetal head diameter increased from $4.3{\pm}0.6mm$ at day 26 to $29.8{\pm}0.8mm$ at day 60. Of the fetal structures, fetal head diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age from day 37 until day 60.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed from 15 days after ovulation until parturition to determine the time of first detection and ultrasonographic appearance of the fetal and extra-fetal structures in pregnant 10 Maltese, 10 Yorkshire Terrier, 15 Shih-tzu, and 10 Miniature Schnauzer bitches, respectively. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0ng/ml. The gestational length was $63.4{\sim}63.6$ (range: $61{\sim}65$) days and the geatational length was no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). The initial detection of the extra-fetal structures were; gestational sac at days $18.9{\sim}19.5\;(17{\sim}22)$, zonary placenta at days $24.6{\sim}25.5\;(23{\sim}28)$, yolk sac membrane at days $24.6{\sim}25.5\;(23{\sim}27)$, yolk sac tubular shape at days $26.1{\sim}26.3\;(24{\sim}28)$, and amniotic membrane at days $26.1{\sim}28.2\;(24{\sim}31)$, respectively. The time of the first detection of the extra-fetal structures were no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). The initial detection of the fetal structures were; embryo initial detection at days $22.5{\sim}22.9\;(21{\sim}24)$, heartbeat at days $23.2{\sim}23.8\;(21{\sim}25)$, embryo bipolar shape $27.6{\sim}28.9\;(26{\sim}30)$, fetal movement at days $31.9{\sim}32.8\;(27{\sim}34)$, limb buds at days $29.1{\sim}30.7\;(27{\sim}33)$, stomach at days $31.1{\sim}33.1\;(29{\sim}34)$, urinary bladder at days $32.4{\sim}33.2\;(29{\sim}35)$, skeleton at days $34.7{\sim}35.9\;(34{\sim}39)$, and kidney at days $42.1{\sim}44.7\;(41{\sim}48)$, respectively. The the time of the first detection of the fetal structures were no statistically significant difference among bitches (p>0.05). These results indicate the evaluation of the time of first detection and ultrasonographic characteristics of the gestational structures might be useful for pregnancy diagnosis, estimating fetal age, embryonic resorption, fetal monster, abnormal fetal growth and fetal viability, respectively.