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

Abstract

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.

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

“…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.…”

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

“…The inclusion criteria were the same used in previous studies by Reyes-Sotelo et al [ 27 , 28 ] and Lezama-García et al, 2022. Mota-Rojas et al’s [ 29 , 46 ] classification of type I and type II stillbirths in piglets was used to define which could be considered for the study and which could not.…”

“…Newborn mortality risk also includes the proportion of liveborn (LB) vs. stillbirth (SB) puppies and their viability [ 25 , 26 ], with hypoxia being a determinant factor that can alter a newborn’s blood profile [ 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Apgar scores in puppies following the induction of etomidate compared with alfaxalone or propofol for cesarean section

“…Therefore, neonatal assessment and assistance are imperative for improving neonatal survival in dogs [4]. There are various methods for assessing canine neonatal viability, including measurement of umbilical lactate, blood glucose, blood gas analysis, and Apgar score [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Although these blood analyses, especially the umbilical lactate concentration, are useful for predicting neonatal mortality, they are invasive and difficult to perform in puppies [6].…”

“…Several factors affect neonatal survival, including emergency surgery, brachycephalic breeds, litter size, body size, spontaneous breath and vocalization, and anesthetic procedure [2,16,17]. The two most common causes of fetal depression following cesarean section are fetal hypoxia and anesthetic effects [7]. The anesthetic protocol is one of the important factors affecting puppy's viability because all anesthetic drugs can cross the blood-placental barrier to the fetus.…”