Gestation Estimation
Gestation Estimation
Gestation Estimation
As has been outlined in various chapters of this book, certain pathogens have
a tendency to affect fetuses prototypically. Some affect the fetus by inflicting
predictable lesions whereas other pathogens are known to affect the fetus
within a particular gestational age range. Therefore, it is important to have
scientifically sound data to help determine the age of a fetus when a breeding
or conception date is unknown. Therefore, this appendix includes a series of
tables that aid the diagnostician in determining a gestation age of a fetus in a
particular species. Fetal measures that may be included are crown-to-rump
lengths, fetal weights, size comparisons, and phenotypic or physical
characteristics that, in aggregate, help the diagnostician arrive at an estimated
gestational age.
Relative C–R
Age size Measurement Weight External fetal characteristics
(Continued)
221
Relative C–R
Age size Measurement Weight External fetal characteristics
(From Veterinary Obstetrics and Genital Diseases Theriogenology, 3rd Edition, 1986, S. Roberts, p. 19).
Crown to
Gestational Age Rump Length Fetal Detail
20 25
27 30
46 40
89 50
135 60
170 70
207 85
270 110
Njaa_bapp01.indd 223
Weight, C–R Length, and Characteristics of the Equine Fetus
16 0.32 cm
20 0.66 cm
25 0.6–0.85 cm
30 0.2 gm 0.9–1.0 cm Eye, mouth, and limb buds visible, chorionic vesicle present only in uterine horn.
35 1.5 cm
40 1.8–2.2 cm Eyelids and pinnae have appeared.
45 2.0–3.0 cm
50 3.0–3.5 cm
60 10–20 gm 4–7.5 cm (1–3/4–3 in.) Lips, nostrils, and beginning development of feet observed, eyelid partially closed.
Placenta not attached but beginning to go into the body of the uterus.
90 100–180 gm (3–6 oz) 10–14 cm (4–5-3/4 in.) Villi of placenta present but without firm attachment, mammary nipples and hooves
visible, body and horn of uterus both involved and enlarged.
120 700–1,000 gm (1.5–2 lb) 15–20 cm (6–8 in.) External genitalia formed but scrotum is empty, placenta attached, ergots and orbital
areas prominent.
150 1,500–3,000 gm (3–6 lb) 25–37 cm (10–14-1/4 in.) May or may not have fine hair on orbital arch and tip of tail, prepuce not yet developed.
180 3–5 kg (6.5–12.5 lb) 35–60 cm (14–24 in.) Hair on lips, orbital arch, nose, eyelashes, and fine hair, no mane.
210 7–10 kg (15.4–22 lb) 55–70 cm (22–28 in.) Hair on lips, nose, eyebrow, eyelids, edge of ear, tip of tail, back, and mane.
240 12–18 kg (26.4–39 lb) 60–80 cm (24–32 in.) Hair on main and tail, back and distal portion of extremities.
270 20–27 kg (44–59.4 lb) 80–90 cm (32–36 in.) Short fine hair over entire body.
300 25–40 kg (55–88 lb) 70–130 cm (36–52 in.) Body completely covered with short hair, prepuce developed, hair in mane, and tail increased.
330 30–50 kg (66–125 lb) 100–150 cm (40–60 in.) Complete hair coat and hair coat gets its final color, testes descended.
11/16/2011 4:25:38 PM
Table A.5 Gestational age estimates of canine fetuses.
Age Crown-to-rump
(days) length (mm) External fetal characteristics
(Table extrapolated from graphical data presented in, Evans HE and Sack WO, Prenatal Development of
Domestic and Laboratory Mammals: Growth Curves, External Features and Selected References, Anat.
Histol. Embryol. 2:11–45, 1973.)
Age Crown-to-rump
(days) length (mm) External fetal characteristics
(Table extrapolated from graphical data presented in, Evans HE and Sack WO, Prenatal Development of
Domestic and Laboratory Mammals: Growth Curves, External Features and Selected References, Anat.
Histol. Embryol. 2:11–45, 1973.)