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Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T16:43:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-12-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Canine congenital malformations are structural or functional abnormalities of organs present at birth that possibly interfere with the viability of newborns, thus contributing to neonatal mortality. This study evaluated and described the incidence of congenital malformations in neonatal dogs and determined the mortality rates among those affected. Of the 178 litters and 803 newborns included in the study, 24.7% (44/178) of the litters presented neonates with congenital malformations. The total rate of neonates that presented malformations was 6.7% (64/803). The total mortality rate in newborns with congenital defects was 5.4% (44/803), representing 68.7% (44/64) of the deaths observed among those affected. The early (0–2 days old) and late (3–30 days old) mortality rates among the affected neonates were 61.4% (27/44) and 38.6% (17/44), respectively. In total, 27 malformations were recorded, and the most common congenital defects were cleft palate 2.8% (23/803) and hydrocephaly 1.5% (12/803), either alone or associated with other malformations. The malformations were recorded in 15 breeds: Pug, Miniature Pinscher, Rottweiler, Pitbull, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Dachshund, Labrador Retriever, Lhasa Apso, Poodle, German Spitz, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih-tzu, Brazilian Terrier and mixed breed. One case of exposure to a teratogenic agent was reported, but no maternal exposure to teratogens during gestation was reported with the other litters. The occurrence of congenital defects may be related to genetic factors since the highest incidence of malformations (84.4%) was observed in purebred dogs. Department of Veterinary Clinics School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Veterinary Anesthesiology and Surgery School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Veterinary Clinics School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Veterinary Anesthesiology and Surgery School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP)

The monitoring and development of foals, based on biometric indices, and the determination of body composition could be important for genetic improvement and the elaboration of nutritional plans for horses. Considering that little information was available, the aim of the present study was to assess the growth and determine the body composition of suckling Quarter Horse foals. Animals (n = 46) of both sexes were monitored monthly from birth until the fifth month of age, using an ultrasound device and the following measurements: Wither Height (WH); Chest Perimeter (CP); Cannon Bone Circumference (CBC) Cannon Bone Girth (CG); Body Mass (BM); and Rump Fat Thickness (RFT). These tests determined the Fat-Free Mass (FFM), BM, Fat Percentage (FP) and Fat Thickness (FT). The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test, with differences considered statistically significant when P ≤ 0.05. The results demonstrated that the parameters analyzed changed significantly during the study period. The BM was ~41 at birth and ~177 kg at the point of weaning. Conversely, the FM was ~3.8 at birth and 18.1 kg at the point of weaning. The FFM was ~37 and ~160 kg at the time of birth and weaning, respectively. The FP varied from 9.3 at birth to 9.54 at weaning. The mean FT was ~1.39 and ~1.91 cm at birth and weaning, respectively. The WH measured ~91 at birth and 116 cm at weaning. In conclusion, suckling foals gain BM quickly from the time of birth to the time of weaning. The main cause of this gain is FFM. Therefore, due to the significant changes in the parameters studied herein, it is important to monitor these values in order to prevent nutritional imbalances.