Perinatal cortisol and blood glucose concentrations in bitches and neonatal puppies: effects of mode of whelping

Abstract The decision on how and when to assist whelping is crucial for survival rate of puppies and health status of the dam. However, medical or surgical therapy in dystocia can impact differently both maternal and neonatal stress and glucose response. This study aims to compare perinatal cortisol and glucose among different modes of delivery in bitches and neonates. We analyzed 50 puppies derived from 27 healthy bitches. According to the condition at birth, bitches and their puppies were allocated into: Eutocia Group (vaginal birth with no whelping assistance), Fetal Dystocia Group (whelping assistance with fetal manipulation), Maternal Dystocia Group (whelping assistance due to partial uterine inertia corrected by oxytocin administration) and Cesarean Section Group (fetal or maternal dystocia bitches subjected to C-section). Maternal blood cortisol and glucose concentrations were analysed during the perinatal period (prepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and 1 h after postpartum). Neonatal blood samples were collected within five minutes and 1 h after birth for assessment of cortisol and glucose. Maternal dystocia bitches had higher cortisol concentrations at postpartum than the Fetal Dystocia Group. At 1 h postpartum, the Cesarean Section Group had higher cortisol concentrations compared to fetal dystocia bitches. The Eutocia Group presented increased cortisol concentrations at intrapartum and postpartum, whereas fetal dystocia bitches had higher intrapartum cortisol concentrations than at 1 h postpartum. The Maternal Dystocia Group presented higher postpartum cortisol concentrations than at prepartum and 1 h postpartum. Maternal glucose had a progressive increase throughout peripartum, and was higher during postpartum and at 1 h postpartum. C-section bitches had the highest blood glucose concentration. Neonatal cortisol concentrations at birth were higher than 1 h after birth. Fetal dystocia puppies had higher cortisol concentrations whereas caesarian section puppies had lower cortisol levels. Fetal dystocia and c-section puppies had higher glucose concentrations than the Eutocia Group. In conclusion, maternal dystocia leads to high cortisol concentrations in bitches immediately postpartum, whereas only fetal dystocia causes increased neonatal cortisol concentrations. Moreover, fetal dystocia and c-section are hyperglycemic obstetrical conditions for neonatal puppies; on the other hand only c-section causes hyperglycaemia in bitches.