Dead or Alive? A Review of Perinatal Factors That Determine Canine Neonatal Viability

Hypothermia, a factor associated with neonatal mortality, can occur immediately after birth as a protective mechanism to prevent hypoxic damage in neonates, or to reduce the metabolic rate to improve the chances of survival in the first hours of life. The heat interchange through the superficial temperature of animals can be evaluated with infrared thermography (IRT). However, to date, there is no information on thermal windows in puppies. This study aimed to evaluate, with the use of IRT, the microcirculatory alterations in 8 different thermal windows identified at 7 different times in 289 newborn puppies assigned to different groups. Three thermograms were taken from four zones of each puppy: the facial, frontal, right lateral, and left lateral regions. Newborn puppies were grouped in 4 quartiles according to their weight: Q1 (126–226 g) n = 73, Q2 (227–330 g) n = 72, Q3 (331–387 g) n = 74, and Q4 (388–452 g) n = 70. A total of 8 thermal windows were considered at 7 evaluation times from Wet at birth until 24 h after birth (AB). Two-way mixed ANOVA within and between subjects’ design for each thermal window (eight models) was performed. Results revealed a positive correlation between the puppy’s weight and its ability to achieve thermostability in all the evaluated thermal windows. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) between the 4 quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) were found. The lowest temperatures were recorded when the pups were still wet and the highest at 24 h AB. Thermal windows with the highest temperatures were abdominal (34.234 ± 0.056 °C), thoracic (33.705 ± 0.049 °C), nasal (30.671 ± 0.110 °C), and upper left palpebral (34.066 ± 0.052 °C), while the lowest were thoracic limb brachial biceps (27.534 ± 0.051 °C), thoracic limb elbow (27.141 ± 0.049 °C), thoracic limb metacarpal (27.024 ± 0.062 °C), and femoral pelvic limb (27.654 ± 0.055 °C). Assessing the thermal response in newborn puppies can help identify drastic temperature reductions or deficient thermoregulatory compensation during the first hours of life, preventing the consequences of hypothermia.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the Weight of the Newborn Puppy Related to Its Thermal Balance?

Lezama-García

Martı́nez-Burnes

Marcet-Rius

et al. 2022

“…As stated by Uchańska et al [ 44 ], hypoxia can cause almost 60% of neonatal deaths; the interruption of umbilical circulation during prolonged parturition or dystocia is one of the main reasons. This is similar to what was reported in other studies that mention maternal factors such as duration in the expulsion stage or the high stress of the peripartum period [ 32 , 45 , 46 ], which could result in oxygen reduction, as it has been observed in piglets [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Blood Analysis and Gas Exchange Monitoring in the Canine Neonate: Effect of Dam’s Size and Birth Order

Reyes-Sotelo

Ogi

Mora-Medina

et al. 2022

In canines, size at birth is determined by the dam’s weight, which would probably affect the newborn’s viability due to litter size and birth order. Fetal hypoxia causes distress and acidemia. Identifying physiological blood alterations in the puppy during the first minute of life through the blood gas exchange of the umbilical cord could determine the puppy’s risk of suffering asphyxiation during labor. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the birth order and dam’s size during spontaneous labor and the alterations during the first minute of life. The results indicate that the dam’s size and the birth order have considerable physiological and metabolic effects in the puppies, mainly in birth order 1 (BO1) in small-size dogs, while in the medium size, the last puppy presented more alterations, probably because of a prolonged whelping which could have fostered hypoxic processes and death. Likewise, with large-size dogs, intrapartum asphyxiation processes were registered during the first minute of life in any birth order.

“…The course of a pregnancy fundamentally determines the viability of a newborn during its first weeks of life. The number of factors that can affect the mother’s condition during this period is countless [ 12 ]. Age, genetics, nutrition, vaccination status, and the presence of infectious diseases, among other maternal conditions, can directly interfere with litter survival [ 13 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Pregnancy and Prenatal Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regular examinations and monitoring of pregnancy are key tools for the early detection of signs that may indicate disorders even before clinical signs occur. Early detection significantly increases the chances of adequate development and survival of neonates [ 12 ].…”

Section: Pregnancy and Prenatal Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are a wide variety of factors that can potentially affect the health of a litter during pregnancy, birth, and the first few weeks of life, which require adequate attention from both the breeder and the veterinarian. Maternal, neonatal, environmental, and birth-related factors can directly influence litter viability [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Furthermore, lack of knowledge, management errors, lack of neonatal care, and neglect also influence neonatal mortality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neonatology: Topics on Puppies and Kittens Neonatal Management to Improve Neonatal Outcome

Pereira

Fuchs

Corrêa

et al. 2022

The productivity of kennels and catteries is directly linked to maternal prolificacy and neonatal survival. During the neonatal period, mortality is high, not only due to environmental factors after birth but also with regard to gestational fetal life, complications during delivery, and management errors. Neonatology is an area of veterinary medicine where having a strong knowledge base of applied physiology and common clinical presentations for newborns can often favor better outcomes and greater neonatal survival. The teaching of animal theriogenology topics, particularly neonatal medicine, in the veterinary curriculum has evolved significantly in recent years. It is essential that the veterinarian understands the maternal and neonatal particularities and the main aspects involved in the handling of puppies and kittens for the instruction of the correct handling to the breeders and better medical conduct. The breeder of dogs and cats, experienced or not, must count on the help of a veterinarian in their breeding. Proper management, constant monitoring of the litter, and prompt assistance are the keys to successful breeding.