Erythrocytic parameters as indicators for differentiating between the pregnant and pseudopregnant bitches in Nigeria

The erythrocytic parameters during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in bitches were studied and compared in 8 bitches aged 2 -3 years and weighing 10-12 kg. Blood samples were collected from the bitches before mating, during the three trimesters of pregnancy and the post partum period. The packed cell volume (PCV %), haemoglobin concentration (Hb gm/dl), red blood cell count(x106/μl) were determined using standard methods. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were then calculated. Six of the bitches were pregnant and 2 were pseudopregnant. The results showed that in pregnant bitches, the PCV decreased significantly from the premating values of 51.37+0.94% to 34.00+8.04% during the third trimester of pregnancy (P.