Influence of the Order of Birth on Blood Gasometry Parameters in the Fetal Neonatal Transitional Period of Dogs Born by Elective Caesarean Parturition

The umbilical artery and jugular venous blood gases of the first five neonatal puppies born from nine healthy bitches by elective caesarean section, were analyzed to determine whether the order of birth had any influence over the evaluated parameters. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (6.0 mg kg-1, IV) followed by epidural injection of 2% lidocaine chloride (5.0 mg kg-1). Additional boluses of propofol (2.0 mg kg-1) were administered as needed. A blood sample (0.3 mL) was taken from the umbilical artery before the puppy took its first breath. Venous blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein of all neonates, 30 and 90 minutes after birth, for further blood gas analysis. There was no significant difference in pH (p=0.73), PvCO2 (p=0.96), PvO2 (p=0.55) and HCO3 (p=0.99) between the averaged values of all five birth positions at moment 0’ or when considering the combination of all moments evaluated (0’, 30’ and 90’): pH (p=0.83), PvCO2 (p=0.96), PvO2 (p=0.43) and HCO3 (p=0.98). For puppies born by elective caesarean with this anesthetic protocol, the puppy’s birth order did not influence blood gases.