Evaluation of Puppies by Apgar Scoring System in Normal Gestation and Threatened Abortion in Canines

Total 40 pregnant bitches with known history of breeding; irrespective of age, parity belonging to different breeds were classified into normal gestation (NG) and threatened abortion (TA) and further divided into four groups (n=10) according to dam's body weight (Group I-NG, >25kg BW; Group II- NG, <25kg BW; Group III- TA, >25kg BW and Group IV- TA<25 kg BW). In impending abortion conventional treatment of antibiotics and progesterone was given for 7 days and 15/20 bitches parturited. The puppies were evaluated at birth, at 30 minutes and at 60 minutes after birth by using Apgar scoring System. The mean Apgar scores at birth, 30, 60 minutes were 7.33 +/- 0.22, 9.19 +/- 0.23, 10.55 +/- 0.12; 6.53 +/- 0.16, 9.26 +/- 0.20, 10.88 +/- 0.12; 6.28 +/- 0.20, 7.88 +/- 0.21, 9.35 +/- 0.18 and 5.39 +/- 0.15, 7.36 +/- 0.21, 9.81 +/- 0.19, respectively in group I, II, III and IV. The Apgar scores of the puppies at birth, 30 and 60 minutes were significantly higher in normal gestation than in threatened abortion irrespective of body weights. At birth 6.54, 86.27, 7.19 and 17.17, 82.83,0 per cent puppies from normal gestation and threatened abortion had low, medium and high Apgar scores, respectively. At 60 minutes, 0, 10.79, 89.21 and 0, 41.46, 58.54 per cent puppies had low, medium, high scores in normal gestation and threatened abortion, respectively.