What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to evaluate amniotic fluid glucose and cortisol as markers for neonatal maturity in puppies delivered by caesarean section.

April 12, 2026Open Access

Amniotic cortisol and glucose as markers of perinatal viability of pups delivered by caesarean section

Key Points

The study aims to evaluate amniotic fluid glucose and cortisol as markers for neonatal maturity in puppies delivered by caesarean section.
Assessed amniotic fluid from 12 high-risk pregnant dogs after elective or emergency caesarean sections.
Collected amniotic fluid from 24 pups at delivery for analysis of glucose and cortisol levels.
Recorded survival at birth and neonatal mortality within 48 hours.
Liveborn pups had significantly higher amniotic glucose levels than stillborn pups.
Live pups showed lower cortisol levels compared to stillborn pups.
Overall, survival rates at birth were slightly higher in the elective group compared to the emergency group.

Abstract

The identification of new, reliable amniotic fluid markers for evaluating neonatal maturity is crucial in canine clinical practice to optimise perinatal outcomes. The current study assessed the impact of elective caesarean section (ELCS) and emergency caesarean section (EMCS) on amniotic fluid glucose and cortisol concentrations in relation to perinatal outcomes in different breeds of dogs. Twelve high-risk pregnant bitches underwent ELCS (n 6) or EMCS (n 6), resulting in a total of 53 pups. Amniotic fluid was collected from 24 pups at delivery and analysed for glucose and cortisol. Survival at birth and neonatal mortality within 48 h were recorded. The proportion of liveborn pups was higher in ELCS (87.50) than EMCS (86.21), with stillbirth rates of 12.50 and 13.79, respectively. Live pups showed significantly higher amniotic glucose (43.81 4.68 mgdL) and lower cortisol (21.12 2.49 nML) compared to stillborn pups (25.22 2.43 mgdL glucose; 48.51 8.66 nML cortisol; p

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