In this paper we present a number of results on perturbations of second order differential equations of the form $x'' + f( x )h( {x'} )x' + g( x ) = 0$. This is accomplished by constructing a variety of Lyapunov functions. We then show how these Lyapunov functions can be converted to Lyapunov functionals for the delay equation $x'' + f( x )h( {x'} )x' + g( {x( {t - \tau ( t )} )} ) = 0$, thereby obtaining boundedness results. Some of the work is generalized to higher order systems. We also present some continuation results for higher order delay equations. Several examples are given.