Vol. 9, Special Issue 1 (2024)

The aim of this study is to determine the importance of the fetal heart rate as an indicator of fetal health. This study was conducted on 20 pregnant bitches 10 medium to large breeds (body wt. < 15kgs) and 10 small breeds (body wt. > 15kgs) and the fetal heart rate was recorded every day for a week before estimated date of whelping. The bitches with the fetal heartrate less than 200 bpm in case of small breeds and less than 180 bpm in case of large breeds were considered as indication for fetal distress and referred to caesarean section for decreasing incidents of fetal mortality. In this study under examination of 20 pregnant bitches, 7 bitches are referred to csection because of clinical signs of impending parturition, In these 3/10 in large breeds and 4/10 in small breeds are referred to c-section and saved fetuses on timely intervention.