Canine neonatal assessment by vitality score, amniotic fluid, urine, and umbilical cord blood analysis of glucose, lactate, and cortisol : possible influence of parturition type?

Plavec, Tanja (author), Knific, Tanja (author), Slapšak, Aleksandra (author), Raspor, Sara (author), Lukanc, Barbara (author), Zakošek, Maja (author)

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of parturition type on vitality in newborn puppies, their weight gains, and survival in the first week postpartum. One hundred and twenty-three puppies were divided in three groups: vaginal parturition (VP), emergency (EM-CS), and elective cesarean section (EL-CS). Apgar scores were assessed 5, 15, and 60 min postpartum. Lactate and glucose concentrations were measured in amniotic fluid and umbilical blood; cortisol concentrations were measured in amniotic fluid and puppy urine. Puppies’ weight gain was tracked daily for 7 days postpartum. Apgar score at 5 and 15 min was significantly better in the VP group. EL-CS puppies had significantly lower umbilical blood and amniotic fluid lactate concentrations compared to the VP group, which also had higher umbilical blood lactate concentration than EM-CS puppies. The cortisol concentration in the amniotic fluid and in urine differed significantly between the groups, with the highest concentration in the EM-CS, followed by the VP group. Glucose concentration in amniotic fluid was higher in the VP group than EM-CS group. The type of parturition had no impact on puppies’ weight gain or their survival at birth; however, supportive treatment was provided for non-vital puppies. Non-invasive analysis of puppies’ fluids could help in the assessment of the neonatal vitality.

• Language: English
• Keywords: neonate, Apgar score, lactate, glucose, cortisol, neonatal fluids, infant, newborn, lactic acid, hydrocortisone, dogs
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 19 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 10, art. 1247
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136670
• UDC: 637.7.09:579:618.2/.7
• ISSN on article: 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani12101247
• COBISS.SI-ID: 107558659
• Publication date in RUL: 13.05.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Animals
• Shortened title: Animals
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2076-2615
• COBISS.SI-ID: 519120409

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0053
• Name: Endokrini, imunski in encimski odzivi pri zdravih in bolnih živalih

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0092
• Name: Zdravje živali, okolje in varna hrana