Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria
Chaudhari, S.U.R., Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Mshelia, G.D., Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria
The heamatologic parameters of bitches in Northern Nigeria were investigated to evaluate their values for the staging of pregnancy. The values for Red Blood Cells (RBC), White Blood Cells (WBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Hemoglobin Concentration (Hb) were determined in the different stages of the reproductive cycle. RBC values were highest during proestrus with a mean of (14.86±0.79) × 106 μL-1, while the lowest values were recorded during pregnancy (3.86±0.35) × 106 μL-1. WBC, PCV and Hb values showed an increasing pattern from anoestrus to proestrus and then decrease with transition from proestrus to estrus, with the lowest WBC value of (7.99±0.65) × 103 μL-1 recorded during pregnancy. Total WBC count was highest during dioestrus (non-pregnant), with value almost twice that recorded during pregnancy. This suggests that WBC values can be used for pregnancy diagnosis in the Nigerian Local bitch. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.