TABLE 40-2.
Number of Days Prior to Parturition for First Radiographic Detection of Fetal Skeletal Mineralization of Various Bones and Teeth in 17 Pregnant Cats
| First Day of Visible Mineralization | ||
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Mean ± SD | Range |
| General mineralization | 26 ± 1 | 25-29 |
| Vertebral column | 24 ± 1 | 22-27 |
| Skull | 22 ± 1 | 21-27 |
| Ribs | 22 ± 2 | 20-25 |
| Scapula | 20 ± 2 | 17-24 |
| Humerus | 20 ± 1 | 20-24 |
| Femur | 21 ± 1 | 19-23 |
| Radius | 19 ± 2 | 15-22 |
| Tibia | 19 ± 1 | 15-21 |
| Ulna | 17 ± 2 | 5-21 |
| Pelvis | 19 ± 1 | 8-20 |
| Fibula | 13 ± 3 | 0-17 |
| Tail | 15 ± 2 | 8-16 |
| Metacarpals and metatarsals | 8 ± 3 | 3-14 |
| Phalanges | 6 ± 3 | 0-11 |
| Calcaneus | 6 ± 3 | 0-10 |
| Teeth | 2 ± 1 | 1-6 |
SD, Standard deviation.
Reprinted with permission from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association: Haney D, Levy J, Newell S et al: Use of fetal skeletal mineralization for prediction of parturition date in cats, J Am Vet Med Assoc 223:1614, 2003.