Management of asphyxia in newborn puppies

The key to treating asphyxia in newborn puppies is to ensure unobstructed breathing and to stimulate the puppy to breathe. Start by lowering the puppy’s head, then immediately wash the mucus and amniotic fluid from the mouth, nose and throat with a clean cloth or catheter or ear wash ball. Lift the puppy upside down and gently press on the chest and if the puppy has not made any movement to breathe, administer artificial respiration. Place the foetus on its back and press rhythmically and gently against the chest wall or hold both forelimbs and rock back and forth to encourage the puppy to breathe. If the puppy has not been falsely dead for more than 1 minute, it can usually be revived by 3-4 minutes of artificial respiration.