Care and Management of Neonates Flashcards

1
Q

Define neonate

A

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

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2
Q

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

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

How can you manually stimulate breathing?

A

rub vigorously with a towel

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4
Q

What is the normal respiratory rate for a neonate?

A

15 - 40 breaths per minute

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5
Q

What neonate defects do we look out for?

A
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
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6
Q

What details should we record?

A
sex 
weight
natural markings
presence of dew claws
any congenital abnormalities
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7
Q

What are the characteristics of neonates?

A
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
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8
Q

Define altricial

A

reliant on the mother

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9
Q

What species produce precocious offspring?

A

guinea pigs
chinchillas
snakes

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10
Q

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

A
  • helps with socialisation
  • neophobic - things that cause fear in neonates
  • helps to ensure cats can be handled appropriately
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11
Q

What temperature should neonates be kept at?

A

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

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12
Q

Why must we supply artificial heat for neonates?

A

they cannot thermoregulate

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13
Q

What can we use to keep neonates warm in hospitals?

A

head pads/beanies
incubator
bear hugger
plenty of bedding

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14
Q

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

A
  • 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
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15
Q

In what situations will a neonate need hand rearing?

A
sick dam
death of dam
large litter
if dam has no interest in litter - always reattempt to reunite
dam has no milk
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16
Q

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

A
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)
17
Q

What equipment is needing to hand rear neonates?

A

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

18
Q

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

A
  • 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
19
Q

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

A

aspiration pneumonia

20
Q

When can neonates be weaned onto solid foods?

A

around 2.5 weeks, complete by around week 5

21
Q

Whats sorts of foods are suitable to wean pups onto?

A

palatable foods
soft consistency
high energy/high calorie density

22
Q

How would you stimulate elimination?

A

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

23
Q

What are some neonatal post partum complications?

A

fading puppy/kitten syndrome
neonatal septicaemia
neonatal viral infection

24
Q

How long is a foal a neonate for?

A

up to 4 weeks

25
In an equine practice what would they apply to the umbilicus that we wouldn't in a small animal practice?
disinfectant
26
What reflexes should a foal show a few moments after birth?
the righting reflex and the suck reflex
27
When should the foal be suckling from the mare?
within 3hrs of birth
28
How often will a foal suckle?
5 - 7 times per hour
29
When do foals start producing urine?
colts - 6-8hrs | filly's - 8-11hrs
30
When will solid foods start contributing to a foals diet?
2 - 3 months
31
When are foals weaned?
6 months
32
Is it better to foster or hand rear a foal?
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
33
How much milk must a healthy foal consume in the first 2 days?
5 - 7 litres
34
When can an orphan foal be creep fed and when can it be weaned?
creep from 1 week old | weaned from 3 months
35
When should a foal have a farrier look at their hooves?
2-5weeks
36
What medications should we use for foals for wormers?
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
37
When should a tetanus vaccination be carried out on the foal?
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
38
When should a foal be given the influenza vaccine?
7-8months