Canine Life stages

Question 1

At what age is a puppy a ‘Neonate’

Answer 1

0-2 weeks old

Question 2

What does altricial mean?

Answer 2

Very dependant on mum, born with eyes closed

Question 3

What are the two types of milk?

Answer 3

Colostrum - immunity and nutrition

Milk - nutrition

Question 4

When is optimal transfer of passive immunity from colostrum?

Answer 4

First 3-6 hours after birth

Question 5

At what stage of gestation should diet change?

Answer 5

Diet should not change until 6 weeks of gestation. Food maintenance should then increase by 1.2-1.5 times.

Question 6

What is colostrum?

Answer 6

Passive immunity (80-90%) 
Contains immunoglobins (large proteins that protect against infectious disease) 
Absorbed across intestinal mucosa in first 16-24hrs pp. Contains lysosomes which are enzymes that control bacterial growth establishing healthy population of intestinal flora. Also contributes significantly to circulating blood volume.

Question 7

What happened if a puppy is orphaned?

Answer 7

Should be fed a milk replacement specially formulated for their needs. This will only provide nutrition and not passive immunity.

Question 8

How should a puppy be weaned?

Answer 8

From 4 weeks the dams milk can no longer provide sufficiently for both energetic and nutritional needs. They will start to ingest semi solid food alongside milk from 3-4 weeks. Nutritionally weaning complete by 6 weeks but behavioural weaning should not be interrupted until 7-8 weeks. Dry food can be fed from 6 weeks.

Question 9

When is important growth phase?

Answer 9

3-6 months

Question 10

When does rapid growth phase end for small breeds?

Answer 10

3 months of age

Question 11

How much longer is rapid growth phase in large and giant breeds?

Answer 11

large breeds continues a month longer and giant breeds continues an additional two months compared to small breeds.

Question 12

How to prevent developmental abnormalities can rapid growth cause?

Answer 12

Restriction rather than ad.lib feeding of large breeds reduces skeletal abnormalities such as osteochondrosis, hypertrophic osteodystropy and hip dysplasia. Excess dietary calcium can cause skeletal abnormalities. large breeds are more sensitive to excess calcium than small breeds

Question 13

What feeding considerations should be taken?

Answer 13

Feeding highly digestible, high quality feed formulated for growth, feed to average adult weight, potential growth linked to parent size, provide multiple meals daily to avoid overloading small stomach. Avoid over feeding or unnecessary supplementation, nutritional requirements for growth reduce over time. Importance of controlled exercise