Abstract
Simple SummaryMorphological variability in canines is associated with the mother’s size and weight, which likely affects the birth weight of the puppies and their metabolic status. Identifying physio-metabolic alterations in the blood from the umbilical vein to evaluate the concentration of gases, glucose, lactate, calcium, hematocrit levels, and blood pH of newborn puppies will make it possible to determine the risk of complications due to intrauterine asphyxia. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the mother’s weight on the weight of liveborn and stillborn puppies during spontaneous births and the neonates’ blood physiological alterations during the first minute of life. The above allowed us to identify the physio-metabolic maladjustments that newborn puppies suffer from and to determine the risk of asphyxia according to the weight category of the mothers. Results suggest that if the weight of the bitch is >16.1 kg in eutocic births, there is a higher risk of intrapartum physiological alterations and death. The results of this study allowed us to identify that the weight of dams before birth determines the weight of the puppies at birth, though there is a wide range in birth weights due to the ample morphological variability characteristics of this species.This study aims to determine the effect of the weight of bitches on liveborn and stillbirth puppies from eutocic births, and physiological blood alterations during the first minute postpartum. A total of 52 female dogs were evaluated and distributed in four categories: C1 (4.0–8.0 kg, n = 19), C2 (8.1–16.0 kg, n = 16), C3 (16.1–32.0 kg, n = 11), and C4 (32.1–35.8 kg, n = 6). The dams produced 225 liveborn puppies and 47 were classified as stillbirth type II. Blood samples were taken from the umbilical vein to evaluate the concentration of gases, glucose, lactate, calcium, hematocrit levels, and blood pH. The liveborn puppies in C2, C3, and C4 had more evident physiological alterations (hypercapnia, acidosis) than those in C1 (p < 0.05). These signs indicate a process of transitory asphyxiation. The stillborn pups in all four categories had higher weights than their liveborn littermates. C3 and C4 had the highest mean weights (419.86 and 433.79 g, respectively) and mortality rates (C3 = 20.58%, C4 = 24.58%). Results suggest that if the weight of the bitch is >16.1 kg in eutocic births, there is a higher risk of intrapartum physiological alterations and death. The results of this study allowed us to identify that the weight of dams before birth determines the weight of the puppies at birth.
Highlights
Mortality in dogs during the neonatal period has been estimated to reach 40% [1].Deaths may occur in the uterus, during expulsion, immediately postpartum, or during the first weeks of life [2,3,4], but the highest number of stillbirths occurs during birth [5] and the first 7 days of life [6]
The results of this study allowed us to identify that the weight of dams before birth determines the weight of the puppies at birth, though there is a wide range in birth weights due to the ample morphological variability characteristic of this species
16.1–35.8 kg showed more physio-metabolic alterations, which impacted their adaption to extrauterine life and caused respiratory and metabolic acidosis and hypocalcemia, all of which contributed to the total mortality of 17% as a consequence of intrapartum hypoxia
Summary
Mortality in dogs during the neonatal period has been estimated to reach 40% [1].Deaths may occur in the uterus, during expulsion, immediately postpartum, or during the first weeks of life [2,3,4], but the highest number of stillbirths occurs during birth [5] and the first 7 days of life [6]. Studies of dogs have reported that a certain level of transitory asphyxiation occurs during delivery. Though this is normal, it produces hypercapnia and transitory acidosis in puppies [22,23]. Morphological variability in canines is associated with the mother’s size and weight [23], for these likely affect the birth weight of the puppies [26,28,29,30] and their metabolic status In both veterinary and human perinatology, analyzing blood gases and metabolites has emerged as an important tool for evaluating newborns [13,31], but reports on dogs are scarce. Variations in metabolite levels, including lactate, play an important role in metabolic acidosis [39,40]
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