title: Factors affecting gestation duration in the bitch.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was performed to determine the effects of age, breed, parity, and litter size on the duration of gestation in the bitch. Bitches at two locations were monitored from breeding to whelping. A total of 764 litters whelped from 308 bitches (36 large hounds, 34 Golden Retrievers, 23 German Shepherd Dogs (GSD), and 215 Labrador Retrievers). By breed, the number of whelpings was 152, 72, 58, and 482 for the hounds, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and Labrador Retrievers, respectively. Whelping was predicted to be 57 d from the first day of cytologic diestrus in the hounds or 65 d from the initial progesterone rise in the other breeds. The average gestation duration (calculated as 8 d prior to Day 1 of cytologic diestrus in hounds or measured from the initial progesterone rise in other breeds) by breed (days +/- S.D.) was 66.0 +/- 2.8, 64.7 +/- 1.5, 63.6 +/- 2.1, and 62.9 +/- 1.3 for the hounds, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and Labrador Retrievers, respectively. The relationship of age, breed, parity, and litter size with the difference in gestation duration was evaluated using log linear modeling. Age or parity had no effect on gestation duration. Compared to Labrador Retrievers, the German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers and hounds were more likely to have a longer gestation duration; three, four and nearly eight times as likely, respectively. Bitches whelping four or fewer pups were significantly more likely to have a longer gestation duration than those whelping five or more pups; the prolongation averaging 1 d.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA. beilts@lsu.edu
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Eilts
authors.forename: Autumn P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Giselle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hosgood
authors.forename: Dale L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Paccamonti
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors