Ch 21 Neonatal care of the puppy, kitten and foal

Question 1

What is the neonatal period?

Answer 1

it is when puppies and kittens are dependent on the bitch or queen for survival (nutrition, warmth, and care) - the first two to four weeks

Question 2

When taking the history of a puppy or kitten, what must be included?

Answer 2

• # of ill animals in household,
• method by which they are raised,
• their normal environment,
• the behavior of each puppy or kitten within
  the litter,
• body weight curves,
• duration and types of clinical signs,
• medications given

Question 3

The queen’s or bitch’s history should include?

Answer 3

• vaccination dates
• estrous cycle (interval and duration)
• breeding practice
• medications or supplements given during
  pregnancy
• problems during pregnancy or birth
• if there are disorders, have they been seen
  in other litters or in any of the relatives
  -

Question 4

What temperature can a neonate have during the first 2 weeks of life?

Answer 4

can be lower than 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 degrees Celsius)

Question 5

Can neonates regulate their body temperature during the first 2 weeks of life?

Answer 5

No - they should be evaluated on a warm, clean surface

Question 6

What must you do to evaluate the hydration status of a neonate?

Answer 6

oral mucous membranes must be examined and not skin turgor

Moist mucous membranes are present in an adequate state of hydration.

Question 7

Lack of hair or sparse hair coat may indicate what?

Answer 7

genetic abnormality of the skin or premature birth

Question 8

What is an indication of a neonate in distress?

Answer 8

bluish or dark-red discoloration (cyanosis or sepsis, respectively)

Question 9

Observing discharge from any orifice is abnormal in the neonate, other than urine and feces. T or F

Answer 9

T

Question 10

During an examination in a neonate what are things to check?

Answer 10

• head, body, limbs, and tail are examined for
  symmetry
• head is examined for open fontanelles, cleft
  palate, bulging eyes from behind closed
  eyelids (infection behind closed eyelids)
• formation of the nose and external ears.
• look for flattening or malformation s of the chest
• bulges in the neck area are abnormal
• abdomen and urachus are examined for defects of the abdominal wall and ventral urine scalding, ventral closure defects, and a persistent urachus
• gentials and the anus are checked for patency
• tail is examined for muscle tone, length, curliness, and kinks

Question 11

Neonatal puppies are mildly pudgy and neonatal kittens are generally on the lean side. T or F

Answer 11

T

Neither should be bloated

Question 12

What is urachus?

Answer 12

an embryonic tube that connects the fetal bladder to the allantoic sac. Normally, the urachus atrophies and is non-functional at birth.

Question 13

What is ventral urine scalding?

Answer 13

an example would be cannibalism as a result of an overzealous mother

Question 14

How do you check for patency in genitals and anus in neonate?

Answer 14

stimulate urination and defecation by using a moistened cotton ball

Question 15

The presence of hair coat anomalies over the dorsum in a neonate may indicate what?

Answer 15

the presence of spina bifida

Question 16

What special care should neonates receive when examining them?

Answer 16

use a exam room in which no other animals with infectious diseases were recently present, freshly washed - clean towels and blankets. Wear examination gloves

Question 17

How often does a neonate nurse?

Answer 17

for a short time every 2 to 4 hours

Question 18

What motor skills are present at birth?

Answer 18

crawling, suckling, and distress vocalization

Question 19

True or False

The queen or bitch initiates urination and defecation by licking the urogenital area.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

How old is a kitten or puppy when it can lift its head?

Answer 20

3 days

Question 21

When can a puppy or kitten crawl in a coordinated manner?

Answer 21

1 week

Question 22

T or F Puppies and kittens are unable to maintain their body temperature during the first few days of life.

Answer 22

T

Question 23

Body temperature in a neonate is?

Answer 23

Body temperature at birth (94.5 °F to 97.3°F [35.5°C to 36. 3°C] – Rises to 94.7°F to 100.1°F [34.8°C to 38.3°C] during first week of life

Question 24

Heart and respiratory rates may be irregular at birth but are?

Answer 24

Pulse = 160 - 200 beats/minute
Respiratory = 10 to 20 breaths per minute respiration has no abdominal component

Question 25

After first week of life, neonates heart and respiratory rates increase to?

Answer 25

P = 200 to 220 bpm
R = 10 to 20 breaths/minute

Question 26

Sex of kittens can be determined at birth by?

Answer 26

evaluating the anogenital distance, which is shorter in females (7.6 ± 1 mm) than in males (12.9 ± 1.5 mm)

Question 27

T or F Male kittens are born with descended testicles that move freely into and out of the scrotum until 5 to 7 months.

Answer 27

T

Question 28

T or F In dogs, the testicles do not descend until 6 weeks of age.

Answer 28

T

Question 29

What is divergent strabismus?

Answer 29

When both eyes are involved and the eyes are turned to the outside, the strabismus is called divergent.

Question 30

What is convergent strabismus?

Answer 30

When the eyes are both turned towards the nose and are cross-eyed, the strabismus is called convergent.

Question 31

What are the neurologic examinations of the very young pediatric patient?

Answer 31

suckling reflex, pressing reflex, flexor tone, extensor tone, lumbar reflex, extensor reflex, Magnus reflex, tonic neck reflexes, hopping reflex, papebral and corneal reflexes, menace reflex

Question 32

What are neonatal illness that need immediate attention?

Answer 32

hypothermia
dehydration
hypoglycemia
neonatal isoerythrolysis
malnutrition