Maternal and neonatal cortisol and catecholamines throughout vaginal eutocia and C-section in dogs.

Increased fetal cortisol is associated with catecholamine release, a primary factor for neonatal adaptive responses. However, relationship between canine peripartum cortisol and catecholamine is unknown. We aimed to compare serum adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol during peripartum in bitches and neonates of distinct obstetric conditions and to assess amniotic fluid cortisol concentration. Twenty females and maximum of three puppies per litter were allocated into Vaginal Eutocia (10 females; 17 neonates) and Elective C-section (10 females; 20 neonates) groups. Amniotic fluid was collected at delivery for cortisol concentration. Maternal and neonatal blood were collected prepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and 1h postpartum, and at birth, 30 and 60min, 12hs and 24hs, respectively, for cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline assessment. C-section determined higher noradrenaline throughout delivery and cortisol concentration from intrapartum through 1h postpartum, compared to vaginal birth. C-section maternal cortisol showed progressive increase from intrapartum onwards, while neonatal cortisol remained unchanged. No difference of maternal cortisol concentration occurred along whelping, whereas a significant decrease was verified for vaginal delivery puppies from birth until the 12hs. Puppies delivered vaginally had higher cortisol concentration at birth and 30min, compared to c-section puppies. There was a higher concentration of amniotic fluid cortisol in vaginal eutocia. In conclusion, c-section induces higher maternal stress during and after surgery, whilst vaginal delivery is a more neonatal physiologically stressful condition, contributing to better adaptation during transition.

Neonatal severity indicators in dogs / Indicadores de severidade neonatal em cães

Despite the increasing interest for canine neonatology many aspects of canine neonatology are still not completely studied and perinatal mortality rates are high. The identification of newborn puppies at high risk at birth/hospitalization is the main goal in advancing veterinary neonatology, as well as the improvement of newborn assessment protocols. The identification of at risk puppies should rely on objective indicators of severity, allowing a differentiated clinical assistance according to neonatal conditions and allowing canine perinatal mortality reduce. This paper presents and discuss the neonatal severity indicators presently useful in the dog, as demonstrated by the specific scientific literature. Among them, some can be used only at birth, others only during the subsequent neonatal period and some useful at both times. Despite the availability of some useful severity indicators, the development of severity score systems are considered necessary also in dogs as in humans.