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Principal Investigator: Dr. Dietrich Volkmann
Fellow: Dr. Fiona Hollinshead
Contact Information: E-mail: dhv2@cornell.edu - Phone: 607-253-3531
Sponsor: Nestle Purina
Title: Determination of Calcium and Parathyroid Hormone Levels During Parturition in the Bitch
Annual Direct Cost: $20,655
Project Period: 01/11/2005-12/30/2005
The objective of this research proposal, is to determine the serum concentrations of calcium (total and ionized) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in bitches during the immediate peripartal period. Bitches for this study will be selected from a colony of German Shepherd dogs that has had no complications during parturition (Group 1) and from a group of Labradors that have experienced an increased incidence of stillbirths (Group 2). It is our hypothesis that the underlying cause for the increased incidence of stillbirths in litters of bitches belonging to the latter population is a subclinical hypocalcemia, leading to a mild uterine inertia and hence to the delayed delivery and intrapartal hypoxia of puppies in the second half of the litter (reviewed by Romagnoli et al., 2004).
Despite the fact that uterine inertia is a well recognized clinical complication of hypocalcemia in the parturient bitch there are no scientific reports on the relationship between blood calcium and PTH concentrations and the effect acid-base status has on these parameters during the peripartal period. This study will be the first to report on serum calcium and PTH concentrations in normally whelping bitches during late gestation and parturition. In the longer term, this investigation will contribute much needed information on dietary formulations that will optimize calcium homeostasis in the parturient bitch.
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