Dog Therio (From Parturition) Flashcards
normal mothering behaviour includes:
- attentiveness
- helping nurse
- stimulating urination and defecation
- grooming
- protecting pupts
what are 3 main causes of abnormal mothering
- stress
- pain
- too much human interference
what are normal bitch mammary glands
- non-painful
- symmetrical
- firm or softer
- warm
when does mastitis typically occur in bitches
6-10 days post-whelping (or at early weaning)
the only signs of mild mastitis in bitches might be
more firm mammary gland, uncomfortable bitch
what are clinical signs of more severe mastitis
- fever
- hard, hot, painful, discolored mammary gland
- milk MAY be purulent or different colour
- bitch lethargic, anorexic, painful, anxious, poor mom
- may be septic (gangrenous or abscessed)
what might you see on bloodwork and on cytology of a bitch with mastitis
bloodwork: leukocytosis with left shift; may be septic
cytology: degenerative neutrophils, bacteria, macrophages
when should the puppies stop nursing from a bitch with mastitis
if gangrenous or abscessed
what are analgesia options for a bitch with mastitis
tramadol and opioids
when is surgical debridement and honey bandaging of mastitis needed
gangrenous or abscessed
what is a natural option to help mastitis (3)
cabbage leaf bandages, hot packing, cold packing
agalactia is more common in _________ bitches
primiparous
if pups are not gaining weight, what should you suspect
agalactia
what are some causes of agalactia
asynchrony between whelping and milk production; mastitis; metritis; endotoxemia; nutritional deficiency; stress; premature whelping
what drug can we use to treat agalactia
dopamine receptor antagonist (inhibits prolactin, so if we block it we get increased prolactin)
we treat agalactia with _____________ but galactostasis with _______________
dopamine receptor antagonists; oxytocin
T/F lochia should resolve in bitches within 3 weeks postpartum
T
besides dopamine receptor antagonists, how do we treat agalactia
find and treat underlying cause; supplement pups
when does metritis typically occur
1 week postpartum
what causes metritis
reprodutive track bacteria invade the uterus through the cervix
how does vaginal discharge from metritis look
thick, creamy, reddish-brown, stinky, sometimes copious
what are clinical signs of metritis
- discharge (copious, creamy, smelly, thick, reddish-brown)
- anorexia
- poor mothering
- decreased lactation
- fever
- lethargy
what is most commonly cultured from the uterus of a dog with metritis
E. coli
how can we diagnose metritis
- culture of fluid
- radiographs (distended soft tissue structure, may see retained fetus)
- ultrasound (uterus dilated; RFM)
- CBC (leukocytosis w left shift)
- cytology (neutrophils, engulfed bacteria, RBC)
what is NOT likely to work to fix metritis
oxytocin (receptors are not there reliably after 24h postpartum)
what are treatment options for metritis
- fluids
- antibiotics
- prostaglandins
- spay if severe
RFM are more common in what types of dogs
toy breeds
if discharge is black/green longer than 12 hours, we should suspect
metritis
how can we prevent RFM in dogs
oxytocin within first 24h post-partum
what are risk factors for hypocalcemia
- first litter
- large litter
- small or medium breed
- diet supplemented with calcium during gestation
- 2-4 weeks postpartum
when diagnosing hypocalcemia, it is important to measure (3)
ionized calcium, protein levels, acid-base status
how do we treat hypocalcemia
IV administration of 10% calcium gluconate slowly; give oral elemental calcium (tums)
T/F to prevent hypocalcemia in bitches you can supplement during gestation but should not supplement during whelping
F; other way around
what is SIP
subinvolution of placental sites
when do we consider SIPS
when there is serosanguinous discharge > 6 weeks post-partum
what might we find on vaginal cytology of a bitch with SIPS
trophoblast cells (polynucleated and heavily vacuolated)
how do you treat SIPS
supportive unless severe, in which case you should spay
what are the 3 biggest threats to neonates
hypoglycemia, hypothermia, dehydration
when do most neonatal deaths occur
1st week of life
what is important about the causes of neonatal mortality
most are preventable (i.e poor management and poor husbandry practices)
what are the adaptations of the neonatal heart? how does this change at birth
1) ductus arteriosis: shunts blood from pulmonary artery to aorta
2) foramen ovale: shunts blood from R to L atrium
At birth: lungs inflate; R side of heart becomes a low pressure system; shunting stops as pressure in L side greater than R; foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus closes
what causes neonates to take the first breath
when umbilical cord is cut it induces hypoxia, which increases vascular resistance resulting in dyspnea and reflex contraction of the chest -> the negative pressure in the chest suctions air into the lungs
what is the most common prenatal condition and what are some reasons
hypoxia; maternal stress, dystocia, compromise
neonates cannot compensate well for ___________, ____________ or ____________ due to poor ____________________
hemorrhage, hyperthermia, acid-base imbalances; myocardial contractility
why do neonates have poor myocardial contracility and BP control
incomplete autonomic innervation of the heart and vasculature
what are some reasons why neonates are sensitive to temperature fluctuations (7)
- cannot shiver
- cannot pant
- high water content
- low fat content
- cannot vasoconstrict
- poor blood flow to extremities
- high surface area to body mass ratio
what are 4 considerations with neonate GI systems
1) require colostrum
2) pass meconium
3) born with a sterile GI
4) higher stomach pH makes them more susceptible to bacterial infections
when does dog colostrum transition to milk
2-3 days postpartum
when does gut permeability start to decrease and when is it virtually gone
starts to decrease 8h after birth; basically gone after 24h
what is colostrum a source of
Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA)
Nutrients
what is the main immunoglobulin found in colostrum
IgG
the risk of neonatal mortality depends on (2)
- success of transfer of passive immunity
- growth between birth and 2 days
how should you go about colostrum replacement?
use plasma/serum from a vaccinated adult (ideal if pooled from multiple of the same household) -> oral if < 12h old and subQ if >12h old; can give as 3 boluses or all at once
T/F it is best to use the mothers serum for colostrum replacement
F
T/F it is normal for weight to decrease in the first 24h of life
T (less true if natural whelping)
puppies should gain what % of their body weight daily
5-10%
puppies should double their weight within the first ____ days of age
7-10 days
What is usually the first sign that something is wrong in puppies
weight loss (after the first 24 hours)
why are neonates predisposed to hypoglycemia
1) born with limited glycogen stores
2) poor gluconeogenesis
3) increased demand for and loss of glucose and decreased ability to produce it
what does APGAR stand for
A: appearance
P: pulse
G: grimace
A: activity
R: respiration
APGAR scores of close to 10 indicate:
APGAR scores of less than 6 indicate:
fetal viability; increased risk of neonatal mortality, should receive supportive care
what is assessed by APGAR (not the acronym but actual things you assign the scores to)
- response to pinch
- spontaneous respiration
- mucous membrane colour
- muscle tone
- heart rate
what other parameters can be added to APGAR
- rooting behaviour
- righting reflex
- suckle reflex
what are 2 common causes of neonatal dehydration
- inadequate feeding
- GI disturbance
what is the most reliable way to assess hydration status in neonates
urine color (dilute yellow if well hydrated)
how can we give neonates fluid therapy
- oral (if GI working)
- subQ
- IV or IO
what are causes of hypoglycemia in neonates
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- infection
- decreased intake
how long does it take a neonate to become hypoglycemic if not nursing
< 24h
what are some signs of hypoglycemia in neonates
weakness, tremors, seizures, coma, crying, anorexia
how do we treat hypoglycemia in neonates
oral or IV glucose or dextrose
how should you rewarm a puppy
should not be warmed up more than 1C per hour
puppies should never be colder than
35C
why should you NEVER feed a cold puppy
hypothermia causes the gut to slow down -> previously ingested food ferments -> gas -> bloat -> circulatory collapse and death
an increase in what blood parameter is a sign of hypovolemia in puppies
lactate
how do you treat hypovolemia
- blood transfusion (plasma from well vaccinated adult)
- warm fluids
- broad spectrum antibiotics
what are the 3 causes of fading puppy syndrome and which is most common
- infection -> sepsis
- environment
- genetics
Infection most common
what are the 2 manifestations of fading puppy syndrome
1) born weak/small/birth defects -> cannot nurse -> dehydration, hypoglycemia, hypothermia -> death within first few days
2) born healthy but weak in first few weeks of life -> depressed/anorexia -> hypothermia and dehydration
what is pathognomonic for canine herpes virus
petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhage on major organs
what age group of puppies is most likely to be affected by canine herpes virus -> necrotizing disease
less than 3 weeks; typically best growing pup
what are clinical signs of canine herpes virus in puppies
- acute
- stop nursing
- continuous vocalization
- death in 1-3 days
what is the best way to prevent canine herpesvirus
warm environment
when does neonatal isoerythroloysis occur in cats
when a kitten with type A blood has a dam with Type B blood
what are signs of neonatal isoerythroloysis in kittens
- anemia
- icterus
- hemoglobinuria
- weakness
- tachypnea and tachycardia
- tail tip necrosis
- sudden death
how do we prevent neonatal isoerythrolysis
do not mate type B queen to type A tom; blood matching; blood type kitten before allowing to nurse
what is the cause of the following congenital defects:
- cleft palate
- midline deformities
- tooth and bone deformities
- cerebellar hypoplasia
cleft palate: corticosteroids given during certain stages of gestation
midline deformities: excessive vitamin A
tooth and bone deformities: lack of vitamin D
cerebellar hypoplasia: feline parvovirus
what are 3 ways to feed neonates
bottle feeding, sponge feeding, tube feeding
newborn puppies should be fed once every ___ hours
2
typically, you should aim to feed neonates ___ ml of milk per ___ of body weight
1ml per oz
