Assessment of Vitality, Blood Profile, and Degree of Meconium Staining on the Skin in Newborn Dogs According to Its Birth Weight

Abstract

Neonatal mortality in dogs reaches up to 40%. Due to the high rates, promptly detecting the causes and preventing newborns from dying are extremely important. Vitality evaluation, blood parameters, and the degree of meconium staining on the skin are valuable resources in canine perinatology. In this study, 435 puppies from 85 bitches close to parturition were recruited and divided into four quartiles according to the puppy’s birth weight: Q1 (127–200 g) n = 110 puppies, Q2 (201–269 g) n = 108 puppies, Q3 (270–388 g) n = 108 puppies, and Q4 (389–464 g) n = 109 puppies. This experimental article aimed to report the effect of birth weight on the blood profile variables, the vitality of newborn puppies, and the meconium staining degree, integrating these three aspects. It was concluded that the weight of newborns was correlated with the degree of meconium staining, presenting more cases of severe meconium staining in the puppies of the highest birth weight group. The weight of the newborns was correlated with a higher number of stillbirths and alterations in the blood variables, showing the most severe cases of metabolic acidosis, hypoxia, and hypoglycemia in the puppies of the Q4 quartile. On the contrary, no statistically significant correlations were found between the weight of newborns and vitality. Nevertheless, the analysis of the results showed that the most vigorous puppies were found at Q1; however, at minute 60 after birth (AB), all the puppies in the four quartiles standardized their vitality scores.

Uterine dynamics, blood profiles, and electronic fetal monitoring of primiparous and multiparous bitches classified according to their weight

“…Although this tool has many advantages, some authors ( 77 ) caution that it is not helpful in preventing cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, several techniques that, when combined, provide the most complete fetal and maternal evaluation possible should be used ( 4 ). For example, MFE using cardiotocography, thermography ( 78 , 79 ), evaluation of newborn vitality (APGAR) ( 6 , 80 – 82 ), gasometry ( 83 , 84 ), and evaluation of the morphology of the umbilical cord can be performed.…”

“…In veterinary perinatology, high prenatal, intrapartum, and perinatal mortality is observed in some domestic species. Therefore, to reduce these high rates, it is essential to monitor the development of the fetus throughout pregnancy and parturition, which can improve perinatal care and reduce newborn mortality ( 3 , 4 ). For example, in dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ), mortality rates of 17–30% have been reported ( 5 ), although, according to Veronesi et al ( 6 ), these rates may range from 5 to 35%.…”

“…It is a practical, noninvasive commercial alternative to traditional Doppler techniques ( 3 ) that is safe for the fetus and the mother ( 15 , 16 ). Davidson ( 8 ), Groppetti et al ( 17 ), Ayres-De-Campos and Nogueira-Reis ( 11 ), and Lezama-García et al ( 4 ) have recently implemented this monitoring technique in bitches because in this species, it helps prevent and reduce mortality before, during and after parturition. In bitches ( Canis lupus familiaris ), this technique can detect dystocia, facilitating the prediction of whether a birth will end in a cesarean section ( 18 ), thereby allowing the timely detection of problems that cause fetal stress and pathological conditions, such as hypoxia and metabolic acidosis ( 11 ).…”

Evaluation of Canine Neonatal Health by Breeders: A Prospective Questionnaire Study on the Association between Neonatal Scores (Modified APGAR), Parturition, Birth Weight, Growth, and Puppy Mortality

“…High birth weight was also a risk factor for stillbirth in colonies of guide dogs [5]. A high birth weight might increase the risk of neonatal mortality by increasing the length of parturition [5,13], which in turn could lead to intrapartum asphyxia [1,13,14]. Hypoxemia is one of the leading causes of neonatal deaths [14].…”