APGAR score: Application in canine neonates born normal and cesarean

Abstract

Neonatology is defined as the science responsible for the study of neonatal care, its physiological aspects and its neonatal affections per se. The Apgar score system is an easy and reliable method to evaluate the vitality of newborn animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the vitality of canine neonates born from euthy- partal delivery and cesarean delivery. Data were collected from 31 neonates of dogs of different sizes and breeds. Of this sample number, 21 were born with eutocic delivery and 10 with caesarean section. The data were collected about 10 minutes after birth, measuring: heart rate, respiratory rate, and inspection of the gingival mucosa, muscle tone and reflex irritability, assigning scores from 0 to 2. The sum of the notes of each variable gave newborns the total Apgar score of 0 to 10. The results were submitted to analysis of variance at the level of 5% of probability and the test of normality and homogeneity was performed. The variables were compared by t-Student test, at a 5% probability level. Heart rate, respiratory rate and Apgar score were influenced by the types of delivery. The highest mean heart rate, respiratory and Apgar scores of 184.05 ± 6.95 bpm and 47.23 ± 2.18 mpm and 8.95 ± 0.22, respectively, were found in animals born with euthyococcal labor. The Apgar score proved to be an efficient method in the neonatal evaluation of dogs, as well as collaborated to identify nonspecific alterations of the immediate neonatal period.