Ultrasonographic analysis of fetal gastrointestinal motility during the peripartum period in the dog

•Fetal gastrointestinal motility increases in the last five days of pregnancy.•A vaginal and rectal temperature decrease was evident in the 24−48 hours prepartum.•Vaginal temperature and fetal gastrointestinal motility are negative correlated. The aim of this study was to investigate fetal gastrointestinal motility (FGM) of dogs using ultrasonic imaging and its association with vaginal and rectal temperature, serum progesterone concentrations and fetal heart rate. Pregnant bitches were examined after day 54 of gestation and there were determinations of vaginal and rectal temperature and serum progesterone concentrations. The fetal abdomen was evaluated for 30 s using longitudinal and transversal assessments, and FGM was scored as 0 (no peristalsis) or 1 (evident peristalsis). Number of fetuses with a 1 or 0 score were determined for each bitch (number and the percentage of fetuses with FGM). A total of 135 FGM measurements were recorded. There was FGM in 0/3, 0/6, 1/6 (16.7 %), 3/20 (15 %), 5/18 (27.3 %), 18/28 (64.3 %), 12/17 (70.6 %), 14/22 (63.6 %), 6/9 (66.7 %), 4/6 (66.7 %) fetuses from day -9 until 0 preceding parturition, respectively. In the last 5 days before parturition, 63.3 % of fetuses had FGM. Vaginal and rectal temperature were strongly and positively correlated (P