Neonatal Management

Question 1

When the neonate is born, what should be done first?

Answer 1

make sure it is breathing

• get them sternal and use straw to agitate their nasal mucosa
• devices - hold off esophagus on the L to avoid air from getting in the gut
• CPR
• slinging - aspiration
• O2 - nasal tube with oxygen at a rate of 5-10 L/min
• Dopram - breathing stimulant, IV, IM, SQ, sublingual

Question 2

Do calves need to be dried off once they’re born?

Answer 2

not typically, only if hypothermic or in poor conditions

• want to let cow and calf bond –> can get rid of dam scent, leading to rejection

Question 3

What are 4 signs of premature birth?

Answer 3

1. short hair coat
2. teeth not fully erupted
3. small - relative to normal size of other calves at the farm
4. breathing issues - immature lungs and lack of surfactant

Question 4

What treatment is recommended in cases of premature birth?

Answer 4

• Dexamethasone (immature lungs)
• collect and administer surfactant via the trachea
• feed via nasogastric tube (typically have a poor suckle)

consider expense and prognosis

Question 5

In what ruminants is premature birth most common?

Answer 5

calves

• not common in small ruminants

Question 6

In what 4 ways is the udder prepped after birth? In what species is this necessary?

Answer 6

1. crutch - shear the rear to make it easier to clean and access
2. make sure the gland is functional
3. maker sure neonate is able to nurse
4. open up teats - milk each teat to remove the waxy plug that develops

small ruminants –> not needed in cattle

Question 7

When does edema in neonates most commonly occur? What does this commonly lead to? What treatment is recommended?

Answer 7

• head presented, but one or both legs are back
• both feet presented with the head

edema of head and tongue

• most resolve uneventfully, tell farmer of possible inability to nurse due to tongue edema
• diuretics (Lasix)

Question 8

How much do calves, lambs, kids, and crias typically weigh?

Answer 8

50-80 lbs

5-14 lbs (single tends to be heavier)

2-12 lbs (consider pigmies vs Boers)

LLAMAS = 18-35 lbs

ALPACAS = 12-20 lbs

Question 9

When do calves typically get on their feet? Lambs and kids?

Answer 9

30 min to an 1 hour following birth

within 30 mins

Question 10

When do calves and other small ruminants nurse?

Answer 10

shortly after getting to their feet

Question 11

How does suckling in camels compare to small animals?

Answer 11

short episodes (<30 s), up to 3-4 times/hr

• higher frequency or longer suckling indicative of hard bag

Question 12

In what species is navel dipping not done? How is it performed?

Answer 12

beef cattle –> out on pasture, separate themselves from herd at parturtition

dip navel 1-3 times within tincture of iodine or Novalsan (sprays not used, may not cover entirety of surface)

Question 13

How can you tell if a neonate has properly nursed?

Answer 13

• milk on muzzle or around the mouth
• weight gain is nostived
• neonate is active
• check dam’s udder - full vs slack
• does NOT nurse excessively

Question 14

If colostrum must be fed, how much is recommended in calves, crias, and lambs/kids?

Answer 14

IN GENERAL - 10-15% BW, more better than none

CALVES - beef = 2 quarts, dairy = 1 gallon (10-15% BW)

CRIAS = 10-20% BW

LAMBS/KIDS = 10% BW

Question 15

Over what period of time should the total amount of colostrum be given to a neonate?

Answer 15

the sooner the better –> 10% BW within 6-12 hours of birth

• first half of 10% given within the first 2 hours
• wait another 2-4 hours and administer the other half

Question 16

What is the minimum amount of colostrum given per feeding in beef and dairy calves?

Answer 16

BEEF = 2 quarts

DAIRY = 4 quarts

(consider more colostrum to valuble calves - 6 quarts)

Question 17

How much colostrum is given per feeding in small ruminants?

Answer 17

4-6 oz

(1 oz = 30 mL)

Question 18

Is there any reason to feed colostrum after 24 hours?

Answer 18

YES - although it will not be absorbed it is high in antibodies and proteins that are still useful in the gut

• freeze any first milking colostrum not needed for future emergencies

Question 19

What timing of milking gives the best colostrum?

Answer 19

first milking

• next milkings will be more dilute

Question 20

What cows give better colostrum? When is it typically the poorest?

Answer 20

older females - have created an immune response to more things

second lactation - sophomore slump, more stress compared to heifers and older cows

Question 21

Why is suckling the best option for feeding? What if they will not suckle?

Answer 21

milk is diverted directly to the abomasum (dam > bottle)

must tube - esophageal feeder or orogastric tube

Question 22

What is a dummy neonate? Do they show clinical signs?

Answer 22

neonate wont nurse or nurse on the wrong things –> attempts to bottle feed are frustrating, typically tubed (mortality >50%)

otherwise healthy, but may be acidotic and weak due to a lack of oxygen (dystocia related)

Question 23

What should be done if a neonate does not get colostrum within the first 24 hours?

Answer 23

failure of passive transfer –> administer plasma

• $300
• if frozen, shelf life of several years

Question 24

What are 5 tricks for fostering neonates to other dams? Specifically in small ruminants?

Answer 24

1. skin dead neonate and put the skin on the foster baby for 3-4 days
2. orphan-no-more - sprinkle on calf and cow’s nose
3. restrain foster mom
4. hobble foster mom (typically give up within 7-10 days)
5. distract foster mom - give high value feed, tranquilize, ensure neonate is hungry

small pen + head lock + smear foster baby with birth fluids

Question 25

A 10 y/o beef cow died after giving birth to a 90 lb Charolais bull calf. The cow had a uterine prolapse shortly after the calf was born and ruptured her uterine artery. What is the minimal amount of colostrum that you should feed to the calf to obtain successful passive transfer?

a. 1 quart
b. 2 quarts
c. 3 quarts
d. 4 quarts
e. 5 quarts

Answer 25

D

90lb/2.2 = ~40 x 10% = 4 L

Question 26

What causes meconium staining of a neonate?

Answer 26

in utero stress (lack of oxygen associated with dystocia) on the neonate causes the gut to contract and the calf defecated

• meconium mixed with uterine fluid

Question 27

What is the best environment for a neonate following birth? Why?

Answer 27

• clean
• warm
• dry

colostral immunity can be overwhelmed if conditions are poor

Question 28

What can complicate hypothermia in calves? How is this treated?

Answer 28

hypoglycemia

warm them up on the inside AND out –> administer warm fluids by a tube, commercial neonatal heaters, Beir Huggers, wheelbarrow filled with warm water, bath tub, alcohol

Question 29

How is hypothermia prevented in lambs?

Answer 29

• clean, dry shelter
• lambing jug
• provide heat lamp in a barrel (babies only, not the dam)

Question 30

Why are neonates susceptible to hyperthermia? How can it be avoided?

Answer 30

(104-106 F) –> poor thermoregulators, spend time laying around first few days of life

• shade access
• move to AC if possible
• alcohol/water bath with fans
• tube with cool water
• provide a birthing area with access to full day shade

Question 31

What are the 2 most common cause of hypoglycemia in neonates? How is it diagnosed? Treated?

Answer 31

1. bacterial septicemia
2. lack of nutrition

glucose meter (also expected)

50 mL/kg dextrose –> 5% BW in warm milk replacer, colostrum, or milk / 1 mL/kg 50% dextrose diluted to 5%

Question 32

What happens is a neonate is oversupplemented with dextrose when treating hypoglycemia?

Answer 32

lung edema –> death

Question 33

What can be used to treat hypoglycemia if dextrose is not available?

Answer 33

warm (102 F) corn syrup solution –> Karo

• 2 oz 50/50 corn syrup and warm water through a stomach tube –> provides heat AND glucose
• repeated hourly

Question 34

What is floppy kid syndrome? When does this most commonly occur?

Answer 34

muscle weakness, anorexia, and depression in a kid within the first 2 weeks of life –> normal at birth!

Question 35

How is floppy kid syndrome diagnosed? Treated?

Answer 35

metabolic acidosis with a high anion gap and NO dehydration on bloodwork

symptomatic + sodium bicarbonate

Question 36

What are some purposes of IDing calves?

Answer 36

• herd/flock health
• production decisions
• outbreak investigation