Bacteriological status of canine milk and septicaemia in neonatal puppies--a retrospective study

Results of the bacteriological examination of milk samples from 46 bitches were evaluated retrospectively, and correlated with findings of the bacteriological examination of organs from dead, septicaemic puppies in their litters (n = 33). The aim of this study was to investigate, in how many cases of clinical and subclinical mastitis of the bitches, the same bacteria can be detected in their septicaemic neonates. One group of lactating bitches was clinically healthy (group I, n = 38), whereas in eight bitches different puerperal disorders were found (group II). Twenty-five septicaemic puppies were from group I, eight from group II. Out of a broad spectrum of bacteria isolated from the milk of clinically healthy and diseased bitches, only Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and/or ss-haemolytic (haem.) Streptococcus sp. could be isolated from organs of their septicaemic puppies. This was the case in three bitches with mastitis and in one clinically healthy bitch only. Staphylococcus intermedius, although frequently isolated from canine milk, does not seem to be a cause of septicaemia in neonates. It is assumed that in most cases of neonate septicaemia, bacteria from the bitches' milk are not the primary cause.