Both spontaneous vaginal delivery and elective caesarean section influence neonatal redox status in dogs.

BACKGROUND: The influence of birth mode on redox balance is unknown in dogs. We aimed to compare antioxidant activity and oxidative stress of puppies born by elective c-section or vaginal delivery. METHODS: Twenty-one bitches were elected for spontaneous vaginal delivery (n = 10) and elective cesarean section (n = 11) groups, considering only the first and last puppies born. Neonatal oxygen saturation, lactatemia, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity; marker of oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]) and protein oxidation were analysed at birth, 1 h, 12 h, 24 h and 72 h. RESULTS: C-section newborns had lower oximetry at birth and 1 h. Lactatemia was higher in the last vaginal delivery puppies and higher at birth, and 1 h. Regardless of birth mode, last puppies had hyperlactatemia at birth. Vaginal delivery puppies had higher TBARS, while protein oxidation was higher in c-section, mostly in last puppies. C-section puppies had higher GPx activity, whereas GSH concentration decreased overtime. Surgically born puppies had lowering SOD between 12 h and 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal delivery enhances lipid peroxidation, counteracted mostly by GPx. Conversely, c-section triggers protein oxidation, acutely scavenged by SOD and GSH, thus puppies are less exposed to the negative consequences of oxidative stress.

Clinical Changes and Uterine Hemodynamic in Pyometra Medically Treated Bitches.

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra complex is a canine endometrial disorder, considered the most common and important among uterine diseases. The treatment of choice is ovariohysterectomy, but medical treatments have become an alternative. However, no studies have been performed in order to evaluate uterine hemodynamic changes during medical treatment for pyometra bitches. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two medical protocols by means of clinical (heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature), medullar response (complete blood count (CBC)) and uterine hemodynamic evaluation in pyometra bitches. For such purpose, 10 bitches with pyometra were assigned to two groups: Aglepristone Group (n = 5) and Associative Group (aglepristone + prostaglandin; n = 5). The Associative Group had altered respiratory rate and decreased body temperature. The Aglepristone Group had decreased plasma protein, however, leukocyte count reduced over time for both therapeutic protocols. Uterine area and vascularization score decreased throughout treatment. There was a significant reduction in uterine perimeter, area and vascularization score. The Associative Group had lower final diastolic velocity and higher systole:diastole ratio (S/D), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI). In conclusion, both medical treatments are effective in reversing clinical and CBC changes of pyometra, especially aglepristone, however they cannot fully restore local uterine changes in a short-term evaluation. Conversely, associative therapy was more effective in decreasing uterine vascularization and modulating uterine blood flow.