Is Ultrasound Necessary for the Pregnant Dog

Is Ultrasound Necessary for the Pregnant Dog

Dog pregnancy can be confusing and stressful. In general, the average period of canine pregnancy will last about 2 months. However, it is difficult to predict the timing of delivery because the breeding date doesn’t always match up with the conception date and the gestation period in dogs varies with breed and litter size. Thus, it is necessary to use some diagnostic tools for dog pregnancy confirmation. Then someone asks: is ultrasound necessary for a pregnant dog?

Pregnancy Test in Dogs

Diagnostic testing is the most accurate way to tell if a dog is pregnant.

#1 Ultrasound—the most reliable way

Ultrasound is a non-invasive technology widely applied both in veterinary and human medicine. The ultrasound probe records echoes of ultrasonic waves that are transmitted through the dog’s body to create an image. Ultrasound scanning is most often utilized with pregnant pets to gauge the health of puppies and kittens because abdominal ultrasound allows veterinarians to have a closer look at the internal organs. The owner of the puppy mill really should get the dog scanned for pregnancy with a vet ultrasound.

The Advantage of Ultrasound for A Pregnant Dog

There are many reasons that ultrasound is thought to be the most reliable way of evaluating canine pregnancy. One of the key advantages of ultrasound is that it offers a real-time look at the internal organs of those dogs. Other benefits of ultrasound for pregnant dogs include:

  • Non-invasive, pretty safe for pregnant dogs.
  • Require no necessary medication or anesthesia.
  • Great efficiency. The procedure won’t distress dogs.
  • Allow viewing the internal organs with greater precision.
  • Affordable.

Dog Pregnancy Confirmation

Ultrasound for a pregnant dog is best done 20-30 days after breeding. It is helpful to distinguish between pregnancy and pyometra.

As the best method used to visualize and evaluate the pups in the womb, ultrasound scanning won’t cause radiation exposure to the developing fetuses. It is pretty safe for puppies. However, it is less accurate to estimate fetal numbers because only a small portion of the uterus can be imaged in one view, and some fetuses may be double counted and others not counted at all.

Assessment of Fetal Viability

Ultrasound is a useful tool for the assessment of fetal viability, fetal malformations, and fetal distress. It can provide useful information for monitoring fetal growth for accessing gestational. Veterinarians can access the fetal heart rate and fetal movement with ultrasound probes.

It has been reported that normal fetal heart rates are 180-245 beats per minute in dogs. If the fetal heart rate is discovered less than 180 beats per minute and the fetal bowel movements are found by the ultrasound, severe fetal distress may happen. Ultrasound is important to implicate for managing clinical assistance and planning.

The Role of Vet Ultrasound in Canine Dystocia and Stillbirths

Canine dystocia or stillbirth can seriously harm the mother dog if it cannot be detected and managed as early as possible. It will cause uterine diseases, such as endometritis or pyometra. Also, canine dystocia or stillbirth may affect the dog’s next conception and even endanger her life. Therefore, early diagnosis of dog pregnancy is very necessary. Vet ultrasound is one of the most common methods of confirming dog pregnancy. And doppler ultrasound is a useful method for assessing the development of the placental and fetal circulation during normal and abnormal canine pregnancy.

If there is a substance with a slightly strong echo in the fluid that is found in the uterus of the pregnant dog, and the vertebrae and part of ribs can be vaguely discernible, but no heart beating can be seen, then the canine stillbirth can be confirmed.

ultrasound for pregnant dog-2

#2 Relaxin Test

The Relaxin test, also called a hormone test, is a blood test to detect dog pregnancy by measuring levels of a hormone called relaxin. The hormone relaxin is only produced during the dog’s pregnancy and will decline following the end of the pregnancy. At about 25-30 days of gestation, the veterinarian can perform this test to confirm the dog’s pregnancy.

#3 Abdominal Palpation

By gently pressing on the surface of the dog’s abdomen with fingers, you can feel swellings in the uterus. Abdominal palpation is the traditional way of detecting pregnancy in a dog. This test must be careful, otherwise, it will damage the puppies. In addition, abdominal palpation is not reliable for determining the viability of the fetus.

#4 X-ray

Abdominal X-rays are useful in detecting dog pregnancy, but this is best done in the last trimester of gestation, as the puppies’ bony structures cannot be seen until then. However, dog stillbirth in the uterus would be difficult to detect on X-ray.

 

Conclusion

Come back to the question: is ultrasound necessary for the pregnant dog?

Ultrasound is not necessary for dog pregnancy because there are several other ways like relaxin test, abdominal palpation and X-ray to tell if a dog is pregnant. But ultrasound scanning is the most reliable way of detecting pregnancy and accessing the viability of the fetus.

dog pregnancy-2 (1)

Wellue Recommended Dawei Portable Veterinary Ultrasound

Dawei portable veterinary ultrasound is designed for horse pregnancy tests, sheep pregnancy tests, pig pregnancy tests, dog pregnancy ultrasound scans and cow pregnancy tests. It works as an equine pregnancy calculator, sheep pregnancy scanning equipment, pregnancy detector for sheep and goats, a pig pregnancy calculator, an ultrasound of dog pregnancy and a cow pregnancy calculator. The best veterinary ultrasound machine for breeders, specialists of insemination, and veterinary doctors who work at veterinary hospitals and farms.

Fitness and Wellness Tech Innovations to Improve Your Well-being 

Fitness and Wellness Tech Innovations to Improve Your Well-being 

fitness and wellness tech products to improve your life

Tech Products that Could Seriously Upgrade Your Life 

Healthcare technology is no longer confined to sickly clinics. There are all sorts of health and wellness tech products like sleep trackers, heart rate monitors, and more. You are probably making all sorts of resolutions about quickly improving your health, diet, weight, stress level, and overall well-being. Wellue store has 2 particular products, a smart blood pressure monitor with EKG and a smart body fat scale, that can work together to help you manage your health at home and on the go. 

 

See Our Smart Body Fat Scale and Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor with EKG

Smart Body Fat Scale — Always Know Where Your Health Stands

Wellue makes a few different at-home health devices, like a smart blood pressure cuff and ECG monitor. But the one you’ll likely want for your bathroom is the smart body fat scale that measures weight and full-body composition stats like percent body fat and muscle mass. It’s also got cool features like the ability to recognize individual family members and a baby mode that can track your baby’s growth.

This smart scale can show you more than the 3 numbers that define your weight. It measures 15 body compositions: Weight, BMI (body mass index), Fat-free Body Weight, Body Fat, Body Water, Protein, Visceral Fat, Subcutaneous Fat, Bone Mass, Heart Index, Skeletal Muscle, Bone Mass, Heart Rate, Body Age, and BMR (basal metabolic rate). It offers insight into cardiovascular health. Those data are typically synced to an app on your smartphone via Bluetooth.

The APP “Fitdays” provides detailed trend charts of 15 measurements to track the changes in your body composition over days, weeks, months, or even years. Clear data graphs give you a clear view of your body change and enable you to reach your goal in a healthy way; think of it as a personal coach within your smartphone.

Wireless BP Cuff + EKG — Keep Blood Pressure and EKG in One

Another key indicator of one’s health is blood pressure. Wellue’s Smart Blood Pressure Monitor allows you to measure your blood pressure and track EKG quickly and wirelessly. Wrap one around your arm, press the button, and then the systolic and diastolic pressures and heart rate data will be displayed on the OLED screen. By holding the gadget with your hands on its both sides, you can have the EKG results within 30 seconds.

With an App that records readings over time, it’s an amazingly convenient tool for people who need to keep a close eye on their blood pressure and EKG. You can keep a history of recordings to show your doctor, or monitor any unusual rises or falls.

The AI analysis of the EKG waveforms is one of this monitor’s amazing features. While no substitute for a doctor, it is handy to get an interpretation of your EKG. 

Who Will Benefit Most?

Naturally, anyone can benefit from devices that help improve and monitor health and wellness. But for some, it will be particularly important.

  1. Someone trying to lose weight
  2. Someone trying to live healthier
  3. The elderly or those with blood pressure or heart issues
  4. Athletes and fitness fanatics 

No matter your particular health goals, age, or fitness level, smart scales and blood pressure monitors can work together to help create a clearer picture of your health and wellness.

The Difference Between 3-Channel and 12-Channel ECG

The Difference Between 3-Channel and 12-Channel ECG

3-channel-and-12-channel-ecg-machine

The Electrocardiograph is used to measure and record the electrical signal from the heart to check for different heart conditions by using electrodes placed on the skin of limbs and chest. The resting 12-lead electrocardiogram is commonly used to assess cardiovascular disease. ECG machines in the market may come as single channel, or multi-channel including 3-channel, 6-channel or 12-channel configurations. In brief, You can choose to buy a multi-channel or a single-channel ECG machine.

Our Biocare iE300 is one example of 3-channel ECG machine, and Biocare iE12A is one example of 12-channel ECG machine.

 

What’s the difference between 3-channel and 12-channel ECG machines?

First, learn something about “channel”. Each lead measurement will be passed through an “amplifier” channel and recorded. In a single-channel system, each lead is recorded and displayed one at a time. In a multi-channel system, the ECG has a microprocessor that manages this processing of signals based on the number of channels. The signals are amplified, filtered, and sent to a multiplexer. The multiplexer receives all the inputs, reconstructs signals, de-multiplexes, and sends the output to the display screen or chart recorder.

If it is a 3-channel ECG, the microprocessor groups the signals received from the 12-leads, in 4 groups of 3 and processes them. Similarly, in 6-channel it is in 2 groups, and in the 12-channel devices, the same 12-leads are processed simultaneously. Hence, the higher the number of channels, the faster the ECG recording would be.

Most of the 12-channel ECG machines are known to print on A4 size paper ECG sheets. And the report is broad and low. It makes it easy for doctors to examine the ECG waveform and compare it.

Given below shows 2 printed reports of 3-channel ECG machine and 12-channel ECG machine.

3 channel ecg report

3-channel ECG report

paper roller

Paper roller, 80mm

12 channel ECG report of Biocare iE12A ECG machine

12-channel ECG report

z-fold paper

Z-fold paper, larger size

See Our 3-channel and 12-channel ECG

For example, let’s compare the Biocare iE12A 12-channel ECG machine with the iE300 3-channel ECG machine. Both of them are portable ECG machines with printers for instant ECG tests. They both can provide 300 seconds of R-R interval analysis, and can detect pacemakers through ECG analysis.

The price of the iE12A is higher than the iE300. The faster ECG recording speed and larger-size printing paper are just one of the reasons that the iE12A is sold at a higher price than the iE300.

In addition, with a high-resolution touchscreen and full keyboard, the iE12A is more convenient for operation.

More lead modes are able in the iE12A, including standard 12 leads, Cabrera lead, and Nehb lead. The iE300 can only support standard 12-lead mode.

The Biocare iE12A also supports VCG (Vectorcardiogram) acquisition and analysis for diagnosis and location for myocardial infarction. The VCG acquisition is disabled in the iE300.

VCG report

VCG report

detailed ECG data

Detailed measurement data

As for the analysis report, besides the simple report, the iE12A can provide detailed measurement data in a chart for clinical reference, but the iE300 has no this chart. 

Before buying an ECG machine, the number of channels is a feature that you have to check. Ideally, the device should be able to print at least 3 leads of the ECG waveform continuously with manual switching between leads. That means the 3-channel ECG machine can cover the basic needs. If you have enough budget and need more functions, the 12-channel ECG is a good choice. 

Self-care after Covid-19, what can you do at home?

Self-care after Covid-19, what can you do at home?

There is no magic pill to fix the problems caused by the assault the COVID-19 infection has had on your body, so self-care is as important in your recovery as working with doctors to manage the treatable medical conditions that Long COVID is causing.

COVID-19 can cause long-term health problems and symptoms that interfere with daily activities. In some cases, these can persist beyond 12 weeks, now referred to as post-COVID-19 conditions, also known as Long COVID, or Post-COVID-19 syndrome.

“As we return to a new normal, clinicians cannot overlook the damage done to their patients’ physical and mental health during this pandemic,” Jonas told Healio Psychiatry. “Thus, patients are forced to care more for themselves. We need to find new ways of providing care and anticipate patient need during and after the pandemic. We need to empower individuals to maintain any healthy habits formed during the pandemic and emphasize strategies that enable them to promote their own well-being — like good nutrition, exercising and stress reduction — alongside guidance from physicians.”

New trends in health care

The shortage of medical staff and available appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of ‘DIY’ healthcare dramatically. DIY (Do It Yourself) healthcare is here to stay and may represent a good portion of the healthcare of many people in the future.

So what is it? Essentially, it’s taking a more active role in your healthcare, using everything from smartphone apps to at-home electronic medical devices and tests.

While it’s obviously far from a cure-all, it’s another tool in the box to managing your health.

Smart home devices proliferating

During the pandemic, many COVID-19 patients have been sent home from the hospital with fingertip pulse oximeters to monitor their own oxygen levels as they recover. Other devices monitor not just your oxygen levels at night but also the overall quality of your sleep.

Blood pressure monitoring has become much easier too, with more compact devices, digital displays and the ability to store readings over time.  You can even perform your own heart EKGs at home, using a smart device like 24-HOUR AI ECG MONITOR, which, paired with your smartphone, help to capture heart abnormalities that hard to detect at regular checkups.

Easily share your data and reports

Most of us are carrying around very powerful little computers in our pockets or purses: smartphones. People are using smartphone apps (sometimes paired with electronic devices) to record, track, and analyze everything from their medications to their exercise, migraines, foods eaten, to record allergy symptoms or digestive ailments, to glucose levels, for diabetics. It’s certainly a lot easier and more efficient than using a pencil and paper, and at your next medical appointment you’ll have the data readily available to share with your provider.

Self-health monitoring with Wellue O2ring

Robyn Gold has embraced one particular DIY healthcare device. The 62-year-old Framingham resident was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago after undergoing an overnight sleep study at a medical facility. She tried and couldn’t adjust to using a CPAP machine while sleeping, which involves wearing a mask that delivers air pressure through the nostrils to keep the airway open. 

“I discovered the Wellue 02Ring and immediately decided to give it a try,” she said. “What makes sleep apnea harmful is that it deprives your body of oxygen. The 02Ring enables me to monitor my oxygen levels overnight and it buzzes me awake when they go below a pre-set threshold,” she explained. “It stores sleep data in an iPhone app so I can pore over last night’s sleep records and review sleep trends over time.”

She noted that her oxygen levels stay high most nights and the 02Ring never wakes her up. When it does go off, the act of waking up restores her normal breathing, and she goes back to sleep. 

“So, although I bought the device to monitor the state of my medical problem,” Gold explained, “for my mild case, it is able to treat it as well. I am very happy with my device! I even discussed the plan with my doctor, and she approved.”

Robyn Gold of Framingham is monitoring and treating her sleep apnea, with her doctor’s approval, using a smart ring and phone app that measures her oxygen levels.

Using O2ring in COVID-19 recovery

Michael E. Turpin wrote a review about O2Ring™ Continuous Ring Oxygen Monitor, “I’m currently on oxygen after about with covid related double pneumonia. This device has been a Godsend. I manage pulse ox with ease. I check it about 10 times a day. It’s comforting to know my numbers are at my fingertips, literally”.

Benjie bought an O2Ring as part of his COVID-19 recovery, “I need to monitor my O2 & PR as much as I can. O2Ring gave me that option plus some. The Reports were a big plus to my needs. As well as the alarm feature. I just wished it can be used in the shower and also use it while charging so I can gather complete 24hrs stat of my system. I recommend this product for post Covid patients still having O2 stability concerns as well as for Sleep Apnea patients to learn more of your illness”, he said.

Other tips for recovery from Long COVID.  

Minimizing physical and psychological stressors is essential in recovery from Long COVID.  

Nutrition: Try to eat protein and vitamin-rich foods daily. Avoid chemicals, preservatives, sugars, fast foods, prepared foods, and high histamine foods.

Don’t skip meals. Your body needs protein, vitamin C, and vitamin D to heal from any injury or illness.

Low histamine or low carbohydrate diet is recommended by doctors treating Long COVID (PASC), and many people report a reduction in symptoms within 1-3 days of the diet change, including decreases in sneezing, itching or hives, irritable bowel syndrome, body pain, along with a reduction in swelling and inflammation.

Hydration: A minimum of eight 8 oz glasses of plain water daily is recommended.

Avoid drinks with chemical additives.

You can easily make a fresh electrolyte drink yourself by adding a dash of mineral-rich Epsom salt and a piece of fruit like raspberry for flavor instead of spending money on commercial drinks like Gatorade that contain chemicals and sit in plastic bottles for long periods of time.

Sleep hygiene: Getting 7-9 hours of sleep so your body can repair itself. Your body needs at least 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep to get into the restorative phase of sleep.

Monitor your sleep with a great assistant

Avoid stimulating activities after dinner like thrilling movies or books, arguments, negative news, or frustrating stimuli.

If you wake up frequently or with a startle, you may be experiencing drops in your oxygen level, which signal your brain to release adrenaline to force you to take a breath.

This could be a temporary inflammation issue or more enduring sleep apnea. Ask your doctor for a sleep study to evaluate your need for a CPAP or BiPAP, a machine that forced air into your lungs when it senses an apneic episode.

iBreeze™ APAP Machine

Stress management: Everything about the pandemic and being sick is stressful, and it can stress every component of your life. The only thing you can control about stress is your reaction to it.

Try to avoid or minimize your exposure to stressful situations: Turn off the news, make family visits that end unpleasantly short, wait for the morning to have intense discussions, and let go of things that annoy you but don’t really matter in the big scheme of things.

Exercise within tolerance: Do not push your body to extremes in any way. For some, this may mean seated breathing exercises or walking to the mailbox.

Pace yourself. Rest when you’re body says to slow down. Gradually build on your activity endurance as your body cues you to progress.

Breathwork: You can literally stop the fight or flight reaction by taking slow deep breaths. This shuts down the adrenaline flow, slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, and decreases stress-related histamine release.

When you do this, your blood reroutes back to your brain and nervous system to allow you to think clearly. It also allows your body to use its energy and oxygen to heal your inflamed nerves and organs.

Note

Additionally, health care professionals can make suggestions to tailor the advice for you. The advice in the article should not replace any individualized rehabilitation program or any advice you may have been given by your health care professionals.

Your family and friends can help support you as you recover, and it may be helpful to share this article with them.

Some Basic Facts about EKG that You Have to Know

Some Basic Facts about EKG that You Have to Know

about ecg waveform

I believe that you must have heard or had an EKG done. Whether in a hospital or cardiology clinic, the electrocardiogram is a routine examination.

Though familiar with the term EKG, most people know little about it. One of my friends even told me, “when doing an EKG test, I worry about getting an electrical shock! Every time when I am going to do a 12-lead EKG, I feel nervous.” Actually, EKG is a safe, non-invasive, painless test and has no major risks.

As EKG is the most common physical examination, there are some basic facts that you have to know, so that you will not be nervous when doing the EKG test, or feel confused after reading the EKG results.

What does an EKG monitor do to your heart?

An EKG is used to record the heart’s own electrical activity instead of discharging to the heart.

The beating of the heart is directed by its own electrical signals. The electrocardiogram machine can record these signals and show them through curves.

If there is a problem with the heart, the electrical signal of the heart will be abnormal, and the EKG curve will be different. Through the EKG graph, doctors can see if there is a problem with the patient’s heart.

EKG tests do not cause damage to the heart. It’s just a recording device, so you don’t have to be nervous when you’re doing an EKG.

Is it necessary to make EKG a part of a routine physical exam?

Commonly, many institutions take EKG as a routine physical exam. EKG tests are always used to screen for heart disease.

These people must do the electrocardiogram test:

  • Persons over 60 years of age;
  • People with risk factors of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia;
  • Regular smokers.

The risk of heart disease in these groups of people is much higher than in others. So it is necessary to carry out EKG examinations regularly.

EKG Results

The electrical signal of the heart is very complicated. It is difficult for people who are not cardiologists to thoroughly understand the EKG. So it is best to consult a cardiologist to interpret the EKG if you are in doubt about the EKG results.

In general, words in EKG reports like “sinus rhythm” and “sinus arrhythmia” mean a relatively normal situation.

There are abnormal EKG examples like “conduction block” “myocardial infarction” “tachycardia” and “bradycardia”. If you experience those EKG events, you need to go to seek emergency medical attention.

What does the word “sinus rhythm” of an EKG report mean?

Some electrocardiogram reports have a lot of confusing technical terms.

For example, in many reports, the first sentence is “sinus rhythm”. Many people don’t know what it means.

As a matter of fact, “sinus rhythm” is the signal of heartbeat. “Sinus” refers to an anatomical structure of the heart called the sinoatrial node.

The heart must start beating from the sinoatrial node, or it is an abnormality or disease.

Some friends have this kind of experience: the heart is uncomfortable, but the EKG result is normal. Why is that?

The electrocardiogram is a tool to analyze the electrical activity of the heart, but it only reflects one aspect of the heart. There is a metaphor circulating among doctors that vividly explains the function of various cardiac tests as here:

If you think of the heart as a house:

  • The echocardiogram is used to see how many rooms the house has, and if the wall of the house is good;
  • The electrocardiogram is used to see whether the circuit is normal;
  • The coronary angiogram is used to see if the pipes in the house are blocked or leaking.

We can see that only when the abnormal electrical activities of the heart occur, the electrocardiogram will be abnormal.

Several reasons why your heart feels uncomfortable but your ECG is fine

There may be several reasons why your heart feels uncomfortable but your ECG is fine:

  1. The monitoring time is not enough

People may be only hooked up to the machine for a very brief amount of time, so heart rhythm irregularities are not shown in the EKG waveform. Thus the doctor will suggest the patient to continuously monitor their hearts for over 24 hours.

2. It’s not a heart problem

“Heart is not comfortable” is a very subjective feeling. Having this feeling does not necessarily mean heart problems. It may be temporary emotional distress or stomach disease. The stomach and heart are close together, so it’s easy to get confused. Sometimes the doctor will also ask patients with stomachache to do an electrocardiogram.

3. It’s too mild

When the heart abnormality is so mild that it is not recognized by an EKG, other tests may be needed.

4. It’s too severe

Sometimes heart disease is so serious that the electrocardiogram judgment is “false negatives” (where the test fails to identify a real problem), which is related to the principle of the electrocardiogram. Doctors will make a comprehensive judgment based on the patient’s physical condition, and the results of the ultrasound, chest X-ray and other heart examinations.