Newborn pups from 4 large litters were allotted to 6 groups to determine effect of time and route of administration on absorption of an alternate source of immunoglobulin. Selective absorption of specific classes of immunoglobulins was also investigated. The alternate source of immunoglobulin consisted of pooled serum that was administered either PO or SC. Control groups were either left with the dam (group C1) or fed milk replacer (group C2). Blood samples were collected from pups at birth and 24 hours. Immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM) concentrations were determined by use of radial immunodiffusion on samples of pooled serum, colostrum, and pups' serum (birth and 24 hours). Serum IgA concentration was less than the sensitivity of the procedure and was not included in the statistical analysis. Pups fed 8 ml of pooled serum at birth and 12 hours later (group T1) absorbed more (P < 0.05) IgG and IgM than did group-C2 pups, but less (P < 0.05) than did group-C1 pups. Pups fed 8 ml of pooled serum at 12 hours only had significant (P < 0.05) increase of IgG concentration, but no absorption of IgM (P > 0.05) at 24 hours, compared with control pups (group C2). Pups administered 8 ml of pooled serum SC at birth (group SC1) had similar (P > 0.05) absorption of IgG and higher (P < 0.05) absorption of IgM than did pups of group T1. Pups administered 16 ml of pooled serum SC at birth had the highest increase of IgG and IgM concentrations of all treatment groups, but immunoglobulin concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) than those for group-C1 pups. Absorption of IgG was favored, compared with IgM, when pooled serum was fed. Results indicate clearly that intestinal absorption of immunoglobulins is minimal after 12 hours and thus, another route of administration should be used. Pups in groups SC1 and T1 had similar absorption of IgG, despite lower IgM absorption in pups of group T1. This lower IgM concentration in group-T1 pups may have been the result of selective intestinal absorption or the consequence of low number of pups per group. Subcutaneous administration of 16 ml of pooled serum was the most successful alternative to colostrum, with minimal pain to pups if serum was administered slowly. Serum IgG concentration in C1 pups was higher than expected and probably was attributable to the amount of colostrum available to the pups.

Adrenocortical function was assessed in 27 Beagle pups at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age by determination of plasma sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations; serum aldosterone and cortisol concentrations; and plasma ACTH concentrations. Serum cortisol concentration was measured before and 1 and 2 hours after IM administration of 2.2 IU of ACTH/kg of body weight. Serum progesterone concentration also was determined for all pups at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age. Mean baseline cortisol concentration was lower for pups 8 weeks old or younger than for mature dogs. Nevertheless, mean serum ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentration in dogs of all age groups increased into the adult reference range after administration of ACTH. For pups 4 weeks old or younger, increase in cortisol concentration was maximal at 2 hours after ACTH administration. However, in pups between 6 and 12 weeks of age, the increase in cortisol concentration was maximal 1 hour after ACTH administration in about a third of the pups, whereas the remaining pups had peak values at 2 hours. Mean plasma sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations for each age group were within the reference ranges established for mature dogs, with the exception of lower mean plasma sodium and chloride concentrations in pups 4 weeks old or younger. Mean serum aldosterone concentration in pups of each age group was substantially higher than the range of aldosterone concentrations for clinically normal mature dogs. Median progesterone concentration was uniformly less than 0.2 ng/ml for all pups 6 weeks old or younger. The normal endogenous ACTH concentration and adequate cortisol responses to exogenous ACTH seen in our pups would support functional pituitary gland and adrenal cortex for cortisol production. The low baseline cortisol concentration observed in the pups of this study may be related to reduced binding of cortisol to plasma proteins, as exists in human infants.

Recordings of visual-evoked potentials that were induced by flashes of white light were obtained from 13 Beagle pups to document the development of the response from age 7 to 100 days. Responses were recorded between needle electrodes placed on the nuchal crest and the interorbital line, with ground at the vertex. Five alternating positive (P) and negative (N) peaks were observed in most visual-evoked potentials: P1, N1, P2, N2, and P3. Responses were recorded from 2 pups prior to opening of the eyelids. Recordings were performed without sedation or dark adaptation. Peak latencies were essentially mature (equal to those of adult dogs) by day 11 for P1, and by day 38 for N1, and P2. The latencies to N2 and P3 did not reach adult values by day 100, but did reach plateau values by day 43. The P1-N1, amplitude measurements reached mature levels by day 14, whereas N1-P2 amplitudes were mature by day 32. The P2-N2 and N2-P3 amplitudes reached plateaus that greatly exceeded adult amplitudes by days 50 and 58, respectively. Maturation of visual-evoked potential responses paralleled reported morphologic development of the visual cortex. All of the measured latency and amplitude values had significant (P less than or equal to 0.004) linear regression lines of latency vs age or amplitude vs age.

The modified Apgar score for puppies was evolved based on the reference range of heart rate, respiration, irritability reflex, motility and membrane mucous colour according to the physiology of canine neonate. A total of 100 puppies born to the bitches that underwent Spontaneous Whelping (SW), Assisted Whelping (AW) and Caesarean section (CS) were selected and were divided into III groups viz. SW (n=30), AW (n=35) and CS (n=35).A modified Apgar score model was used to assess neonatal viability of the puppies. Among the total 100 pups evaluated 36, 13 and 51 pups were having Apgar scores of 0 to 4, 5 to 9 and 10 to 14, respectively. Out of 36 pups having Apgar scores of 0 to 4 at birth, 5.56, 19.44 and 75.00 per cent of pups were born through SW, AW and CS, respectively. Among 13 pups born with Apgar scores of 5 to 9 at birth, 0, 38.46 and 61.54 per cent of pups were born through SW, AW and CS, respectively. Out of 51 pups with Apgar scores of 10 to 14 at birth, 54.90, 45.10 and 0 per cent of pups were born through SW, AW and CS, respectively. Among the viable pups at birth, the pups born through CS were having low and medium Apgar scores of 0 to 4 and 5 to 9, respectively. All the pups delivered through SW had highest Apgar scores at birth while the pups delivered through AW had shown Apgar scores between 5 to 9 and 10 to 14.

The growth of the heart, relative to body weight, was measured by M-mode echocardiography in dogs during the first year of life. Echocardiographic measurements were obtained from 16 English Pointers at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of age and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Left atrial (LA), aortic (AO), left and right ventricular internal dimensions, interventricular septal and left ventricular wall thickness measurements increased in curvilinear fashion relative to increasing body weight. Least-squares regression analysis, performed on logarithmically transformed data, was used to develop power-law equations describing the relationship of echocardiographic measurements to body weight. Linear dimensions of the LA, AO, left and right ventricular internal dimensions and interventricular septal and left ventricular wall thickness changed proportionally to slightly differing exponential powers of body weight (BW), varying from 0.31 to 0.45 (BW(0.31) to BW(0.45)). Fractional shortening and the LA to AO ratio decreased slightly, but significantly, as body weight increased. Indexing echocardiographic measurements to BW(1/3) was more appropriate than indexing such measures linearly to body weight, offering a practical method for developing accurate normative graphs or tables for M-mode echocardiographic dimensions in growing dogs.

Recordings of visual-evoked potentials that were induced by flashes of white light were obtained from 13 Beagle pups to document the development of the response from age 7 to 100 days. Responses were recorded between needle electrodes placed on the nuchal crest and the interorbital line, with ground at the vertex. Five alternating positive (P) and negative (N) peaks were observed in most visual-evoked potentials: P1, N1, P2, N2, and P3. Responses were recorded from 2 pups prior to opening of the eyelids. Recordings were performed without sedation or dark adaptation. Peak latencies were essentially mature (equal to those of adult dogs) by day 11 for P1, and by day 38 for N1, and P2. The latencies to N2 and P3 did not reach adult values by day 100, but did reach plateau values by day 43. The P1-N1, amplitude measurements reached mature levels by day 14, whereas N1-P2 amplitudes were mature by day 32. The P2-N2 and N2-P3 amplitudes reached plateaus that greatly exceeded adult amplitudes by days 50 and 58, respectively. Maturation of visual-evoked potential responses paralleled reported morphologic development of the visual cortex. All of the measured latency and amplitude values had significant (P less than or equal to 0.004) linear regression lines of latency vs age or amplitude vs age.

OBJECTIVE To investigate effects of metoclopramide orally administered to healthy bitches on serum prolactin and milk lactose concentrations, gross energy, and dry matter content and on puppy weight gain during early lactation. ANIMALS 20 client-owned bitches and their 121 puppies. PROCEDURES 10 bitches received metoclopramide (0.2 mg/kg, PO, q 6 h for 6 days; treatment group) starting 10 to 24 hours after birth of the last puppy of the litter (day 0), and 10 bitches served as the control group. Blood and milk samples from all bitches were collected on days 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6. Milk samples for days 1 and 2 and days 4 and 6 were pooled because of small volume. Puppies were weighed twice daily. RESULTS Serum prolactin concentration increased significantly over time in both groups, and no treatment effect was detected. When day-to-day changes were analyzed, the prolactin concentration increased from day 0 to day 1 in the treatment group but not in the control group. Milk lactose concentration increased significantly and was higher in the treatment group than in the control group. Milk dry matter content was unchanged, whereas the time course for milk gross energy content differed significantly between treatment and control bitches. Puppy weight gain was not affected by metoclopramide treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Oral administration of metoclopramide to healthy bitches after parturition induced a transient increase in serum prolactin concentration and stimulated milk lactose production. It is likely bitches with insufficient or delayed milk production could benefit from metoclopramide treatment.

Objective—To evaluate distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) measurements in puppies with normal hearing. Animals—23 clinically normal 7.5-to 10.5-week-old puppies. Procedures—A cross-sectional study was performed. The DPOAE measurements were obtained with a commercially available distortion product otoacoustic measurement system and were performed in a quiet, non-sound-attenuated room. All measurements were obtained from alert puppies and were repeated 1 or 2 times to ensure that the measurements were replicable. Results that were a minimum of 8 dB higher than the noise floor were accepted. Values from the first trial in which emissions were obtained at all test frequencies were used for analysis. Results—Otoacoustic emission measurements were easily obtained, robust, reliable, and consistent with auditory brainstem response and behavioral results. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Hearing screening in alert puppies can be accomplished reliably and rapidly with otoacoustic emissions testing. Results supported the possibility of the use of DPOAE measurement in hearing screening of dogs.

Objective-To determine mortality rate over time, risk factors for death, and heritability of life expectancy in Boxers. Animals-1,733 purebred Boxers born in The Netherlands between January 1994 and March 1995. Procedure-Dogs were followed up from weaning (ie, 49 days of age) to 10 years of age through use of a written questionnaire sent to owners every 6 months. Mortality rate over time, risk factors potentially associated with death, and heritability of life expectancy were examined by use of a proportional hazards model based on the Weibull distribution. Results Estimated mortality rate during the 10-year study period for this birth cohort of Boxers was 45%. The probability of surviving to 5 years of age was 88%; the probability of surviving to 10 years of age was 55%. Estimated effective heritability of life expectancy was 0.076, meaning that in this population, an estimated 76% of the observed variation in life expectancy could be attributed to genetic differences among dogs that were passed from parents to their offspring. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggest that cumulative incidence of death from weaning to 10 years of age among this birth cohort of Boxers was 45%. The estimated heritability of life expectancy suggested that life expectancy can be improved by use of selective breeding.