TABLE 1-4.

Pregnancy diagnostics in the bitch

Diagnostic type	Appropriate/recommended time period
Abdominal palpation	•23-30 days after breeding •25-30 days after LH surge •Not after 30 days
Ultrasonography	•25 days after LH surge till parturition
Radiography	•45 days after breeding •Improved reliability closer to term
Relaxin	•Hormone level is measured by radioimmunoassay or ELISA techniques •Not as reliable as ultrasonography

LH, Luteinizing hormone; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.