Metilda JosephKARTHIK, V. KUTTAN2019-06-282019-06-282015-06KVASU REFERENCE CITATIONhttp://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810110461The study was undertaken with the objective of identifying and evaluating intra-partum foetal distress in connection with type of delivery in bitches. For this purpose, 26 bitches between one to five years, belonging to 10 different breeds were evaluated. Bitches were subjected to detailed clinico-gynaecological examination based on history. Neonatal stress associated with assisted whelping (AW), emergency Caesarean section(EC) and spontaneous whelping (SW) was evaluated using modified Apgar score and umbilical vein lactate estimation. A high umbilical lactate value and low Apgar score was associated with foetal distress. The mean umbilical lactate value was highest in EC (12.54±0.8 mmol/L) followed by AW (8.86±0.9 mmol/L) and lowest value was found in SW (7.56±0.58 mmol/L) .A significant increase (P<0.05) in umbilical lactate level was observed in EC group of neonates compared with AW and SW groups. The mean Apgar score was lowest in EC (4.85±0.45) followed by AW (10.92±0.53) and highest value was found in SW (11.44±0.58). A significant decrease (P<0.05) in Apgar score was obsverved in EC group of neonates. Out of 13 puppies each in AW and EC, number of puppies that responded to resuscitation was 11(84.6%) and 7 (53.8%) in AW and EC respectively. Overall mean umbilical lactate values of the dead (13.31±1.08 mmol/L) and live (8.87±0.55 mmol/L) puppies differed significantly at 5 per cent level. . From these results it can be concluded that umbilical vein lactate estimation and Apgar scoring can be considered as easy and reliable techniques for the identification of distressed canine neonates. Such a prompt identification of neonatal distress can help the clinician to undertake immediate medical therapy or resuscitation, thereby reducing neonatal mortality.ennullThesis