Neonatal viability evaluation by Apgar score in puppies delivered by cesarean section in two brachycephalic breeds (English and French bulldog)

Abstract This study tried to define neonatal viability after cesarean section in brachycephalic breeds and the efficacy of an adapted Apgar test to assess newborn survival. Data from 44 cesarean sections and 302 puppies were included. Before surgery (59–61 days after ovulation), an ultrasound evaluation defined the fetal biparietal diameter (BPD). Immediately after the uterine delivery, the pups were evaluated to detect birth defects and then, a modified Apgar score (range: 0–10) was used to define neonatal health at 5 min (Apgar 1) and 60 min (Apgar 2) after neonatal delivery; puppies were classified into three categories: critical neonates (score: 0–3), moderate viability neonates (score: 4–6) and normal viability neonates (score: 7–10). Mean (±SEM) value of BPD was 30.8 ± 0.1 mm and 28.9 ± 0.1 mm in English and French Bull-Dog fetus, respectively. The incidence of spontaneous neonatal mortality (4.98%, 14/281) and birth defects (6.95%) were not influenced by the sex; however, congenital anomalies and neonatal mortality were higher ( p p