Care and Management of Neonates

Question 1

Define neonate

Answer 1

new born animal - characterised by complete dependence on dam/queen etc

Question 2

How should you cut the umbilical cord and how far away from the neonate should you cut?

Answer 2

• ideally tear rather than cut
• use forceps either side to prevent bleeding
• 3 cm from body

Question 3

How can you manually stimulate breathing?

Answer 3

rub vigorously with a towel

Question 4

What is the normal respiratory rate for a neonate?

Answer 4

15 - 40 breaths per minute

Question 5

What neonate defects do we look out for?

Answer 5

cleft palate
hare lip
imperforate anus
hydrocephalus
limb deformaties
cerebellar hypoplasia
umbilical and inguinal hernias
heart problems e.g. patent ductus arteriosis
over/under shot jaw

Question 6

What details should we record?

Answer 6

sex 
weight
natural markings
presence of dew claws
any congenital abnormalities

Question 7

What are the characteristics of neonates?

Answer 7

poor immune system
porr thermoregulatory system
unable to stand until 10days
eyes don't open until 10-14days
cornea may be cloudy
strabismus may be present
ears don't open until approx 2 weeks
require stimulation to eliminate up to 2-3weeks old

Question 8

Define altricial

Answer 8

reliant on the mother

Question 9

What species produce precocious offspring?

Answer 9

guinea pigs
chinchillas
snakes

Question 10

Why would it be beneficial for a neonate to have a stimulating environment?

Answer 10

• helps with socialisation
• neophobic - things that cause fear in neonates
• helps to ensure cats can be handled appropriately

Question 11

What temperature should neonates be kept at?

Answer 11

1st week - 26 - 29oc
2nd week - 21 - 26oc
up to weaning - 21oc

Question 12

Why must we supply artificial heat for neonates?

Answer 12

they cannot thermoregulate

Question 13

What can we use to keep neonates warm in hospitals?

Answer 13

head pads/beanies
incubator
bear hugger
plenty of bedding

Question 14

Why is is important to reunite mother and neonate as soon as possible?

Answer 14

• pup needs the colostrum which is rich in antibodies and is absorbed by the GI tract within the first 24hrs of life
• after this time the GI tract ceases to absorb antibodies(different ones absorbed and different times)
• they should get colostrum within the 1st 8 hours

Question 15

In what situations will a neonate need hand rearing?

Answer 15

sick dam
death of dam
large litter
if dam has no interest in litter - always reattempt to reunite
dam has no milk

Question 16

What sorts of things do we need to consider when planning hand rear neonates in practice?

Answer 16

obs
environment
housing
cleaning
protection (feeding/fluids - every 2-3/4hrs for 1st 5 days -- then every 4hours after day 5)
-eliminations
-preventative tx (fleas and worms)

Question 17

What equipment is needing to hand rear neonates?

Answer 17

apron/gloves
puppy/kitten formula NOT COWS MILK
feeding bottles
syringe/teats

Question 18

What technique would you use to administer the feed to a neonate?

Answer 18

• wear gloves and apron
• hold in natural position
• ensure all equipment is clean (low immunity)
• feed according to feeding chart but only has much as the neonate wants to eat
• observe to ensure the neonate is swallowing

Question 19

What is the risk if a neonate doesn’t swallow the food?

Answer 19

aspiration pneumonia

Question 20

When can neonates be weaned onto solid foods?

Answer 20

around 2.5 weeks, complete by around week 5

Question 21

Whats sorts of foods are suitable to wean pups onto?

Answer 21

palatable foods
soft consistency
high energy/high calorie density

Question 22

How would you stimulate elimination?

Answer 22

rub damp cotton wool after each feed on the prepuce/vaginal area and the anal area (use different pieces for each)

Question 23

What are some neonatal post partum complications?

Answer 23

fading puppy/kitten syndrome
neonatal septicaemia
neonatal viral infection

Question 24

How long is a foal a neonate for?

Answer 24

up to 4 weeks

Question 25

In an equine practice what would they apply to the umbilicus that we wouldn’t in a small animal practice?

Answer 25

disinfectant

Question 26

What reflexes should a foal show a few moments after birth?

Answer 26

the righting reflex and the suck reflex

Question 27

When should the foal be suckling from the mare?

Answer 27

within 3hrs of birth

Question 28

How often will a foal suckle?

Answer 28

5 - 7 times per hour

Question 29

When do foals start producing urine?

Answer 29

colts - 6-8hrs

filly’s - 8-11hrs

Question 30

When will solid foods start contributing to a foals diet?

Answer 30

2 - 3 months

Question 31

When are foals weaned?

Answer 31

6 months

Question 32

Is it better to foster or hand rear a foal?

Answer 32

foster as hand reared foals can get behavioural problems and you want to avoid humanisation of the foal otherwise there will be abnormal behaviour patterns

Question 33

How much milk must a healthy foal consume in the first 2 days?

Answer 33

5 - 7 litres

Question 34

When can an orphan foal be creep fed and when can it be weaned?

Answer 34

creep from 1 week old

weaned from 3 months

Question 35

When should a foal have a farrier look at their hooves?

Answer 35

2-5weeks

Question 36

What medications should we use for foals for wormers?

Answer 36

ivermectin can be used every 4- 6weeks
moxidectin shouldn’t be given to foals under 6 months old
weanlings should be given a double dose of pyrantel in the autumn for tapeworm
paddock management will also help with worms

Question 37

When should a tetanus vaccination be carried out on the foal?

Answer 37

should be given to mare 4-6weeks prior to foaling

- if the mare wasn’t vaccination then the foal needs to be given a prophylactic tetanus antitoxin soon after birth

Question 38

When should a foal be given the influenza vaccine?

Answer 38

7-8months