Neonatals Flashcards
The whelping box
in the last few weeks of pregnancy in the cat and dog its worthwhile providing a nestling area for the parturient Dam/Queen
these are dedicated areas for birth and for rearing neonates for weeks following parturition
make notes on your post - it note as we proceed through the slides as to factors to consider in creating an ideal whelping box
Normal development
puppies and kittens should suckle from the mother every 2-3 hours for the first 5 days
they will spend the 80% of their time asleep in the first few weeks
they will wake to feed
by 3 weeks they should be able to stand
by 4 weeks they should be able to move around
their eyes, ears and nares should be free from discharge
they should gain approx 5-10% body weight/day
Neonatal killers
neonates are born
deaf and blind - altricial
immunologically incompetent - immune systems not fully formed
with compromised thermoregulation - especially first 2 days
compromised ability to manage blood glucose levels - poor glycogen stores
have limited surfactant. This makes it difficult for the alveoli to expand
with body water levels at around 80% - have extremely high demand for water
Congenital - condition present from birth
Hereditary - genetically passed from parents
Hypoxia - low oxygen levels in the body
Hypoglycaemia - low blood glucose levels
colostrum - first milk your body produces during pregnancy
Mentation - ability or result of using your mind to think
Septicaemia - blood poisoning
Neonatal killers
hypoglycaemia
hypothermia
hypoxia
dehydration
infection
Neonatal care - hypoxia
Hypoxia - low oxygen levels in the body
neonates have an imapired ability in the body for the first few days to manage their heart rate
also, have low levels of surfactant meaning their alveoli can’t fully expand
have very high metabolic demands
if the result of c- section, anaesthesia can depress respiratory function
supplementary oxygen should be provided till the animal is stable
Neonatal care - hypothermia
compromised thermoregualtion entirely dependant on fam and ambient temp to thermoregulate for first 48 hours
have normal lower temp than adults at birth 35-37
later rising to a degree higher
a body temp less than 35.5 associated with higher mortality
Neonatal care - hypothermia
the natural body heat from the dams/queens mammary glands will help keep the neonates warm
ambient temp of nesting area should be 25 - 30
heat pads and heating devices can be considered but should be used very carefully as neonates not able to move from heat sources
Neonatal care
fifty percent of all neonatal deaths occur within 3 days of birth, because of hypothrmia, hypoxia and malnutrition
neonatal care infection
first fluid from mammary glands is colostrum
must be consumed within first 24hours to cross intestinal wall
hygiene of paramount importance in these animals
their quarter should be treated in similar way to isolation ward - regular disinfection, dedicated equipment, regularly sterilised
neonatal resuscitation
NB - normal parameters for neonates are
200 - 250bpm
10-30rpm
Neonatal resuscitation
resuscitation commonly involves closer observations and oxygen therapy
mentation, temp heart rate, respiratory rate and quality should be assessed continuously
asystole ( abscence of heart)
if severely bradycardic or in asystole cardiac compression indicated at around 200bpm
Apnoea - if patient apnoeic, Jen Chung acupuncture point can be used to stimulate respiration
try to intubate - sometimes a wide-bore catheter will fit
close fitting mask can be used to attempt to ventilate the lungs
Neonatal resuscitation
if apnoea, asystole, persist the following drugs can be considere
adrenaline - stimulates the heart rate and increase the volume given IV
Doxapram - stimulates spontaneous respiration given sublingually/IV
use controversial as increases metabolic demands of brain
Hand rearing
Indicated if mother not producing enough milk, galactostasis has mastitis or rejects litter
very time consuming and intensive
surrogate mother can also be used- if she accepts them species specific milk formula must be used.
requirements
- puppy - 60kcal/500g bdyweight/day
kitten - 200kcal/500g bdyweight/day
regularity
every 2 hrs first 5-7 days
every 4 hrs thereafter
Hand rearing
can use a syringe but have to be very careful to not give too quickly - keep head lower than body
sterility is of paramount importance - all equipment should be sterilised between feeds
will need toileting after every feed
wipe beneath tail with warm wet cotton wool - will encourage to pass urine and faeces
