Neonatology Flashcards
Describe a healthy neonate
eats and sleeps
strong suckle reflex
full, soft abdomen
gains weight daily
dry and clean umbilicus
transparent urine
yellow, pasty feces
no nasal or ocular discharge
good body tone
no congenital defects
A puppy’s body temp increases within the first ______ weeks of life. It starts at 95-99 and raises to 99-101. For this fact, we must provide a heat source and adequate humidity during the neonatal period.
4
what are the 5 parameters of Apgar viability scoring (test that is performed 60-120 minutes after birth)?
- activity, muscle tone
- pulse, HR
- reflexes when stressed
- MM color
- respiratory rate
In regard to the Apgar viability score, what score indicates a weak vitality?
Moderate vitality?
Normal vitality?
weak = 0-3 total points
moderate = 4-6 total points
normal = 7-10 total points
Midline defects, atresia ani, polydactylia, hydrocephalus, and anascara are all …
common congenital abnormalities in neonates
If neonatal reflexes are strong, describe how the following would be:
nursing
rooting
righting
nursing – when you insert your finger into their mouth, they should suckle strongly
rooting – circle thumb and forefinger around muzzle and they should attempt to find and suckle
righting – place the puppy on its back and it should get back into upright position
A healthy/normal neonatal puppy and kittens HR should be?
pup = 200 bpm
kitten = 220-250 bpm
a healthy/normal respiratory rate for neonatal pup and kitten should be?
What RR is considered pathologic?
pup = 10-18 (day 1), 15-35 (week 1)
kitten = 15-35
pathologic = >40 bpm
Weight is the best way to assess health and normal condition in neonates. You should weigh them 1-2x/day. A puppy should gain ______/day and a kitten should gain _______/day.
pup = 5-10% / day until 5 months
kitten = 10-15 grams/day(450g by 1 month, 900g by 2 months)
the umbilical cord should dry and fall off within ___ days post birth in SA.
2-3
the extensor dominance should take place within _____ days post birth in SA
5 days
eyes and ears open around ____ weeks post birth
2
walking, urinating, defecating spontaneously (without assistance from dam) in SA occurs ______ weeks post birth.
2-3
teeth eruption in SA occurs ____ weeks post birth
5-6
________ is the major source of passive immune transfer in small animals. 25% in kittens and 5-10%.
colostrum
kittens and puppies should receive colostrum within ____ hrs of birth before intestinal closure.
16-24 hr
If neonates cannot get colostrum, what is the next best source of passive transfer?
serum IgG within 8-12 hours (PO) or if after 8-12 hours (SQ) but it does not replace colostrum.
You just diagnosed this lady’s cat with neonatal isoerythrolysis. She asks you to explain the cause of this condition to her, what would you say?
incompatability between B blood type and A or AB blood type (ie. type B queen was bred to type A or type AB tom)
anti-A alloantibodies in colostrum will destroy RBCs of kittens and cause sudden death, icterus, hemoglobinuria, anemia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and death.
You are presented with a newborn british shorthair cat that is icteric, has tachycardia, and tachypnea. After performing blood work and seeing results that include hemoglobinuria and anemia, you diagnose this cat with neonatal isoerythrolysis. What is the treatment protocol?
separate the kittens from dam for 24-48 hrs (to avoid colostrum intake) and use supplemental feed or surrogate, ensuring you provide a source of IgG
blood transfusion if severe.
how can you prevent neonatal isoerythrolysis in exotic cat breeds?
only breed type B queens to type B toms
what does the weaning process look like in small animals
gruel – 3-4 weeks
weaning complete at 6-8 weeks
puppy food or all life stages
Neonatal puppies up to 8 weeks of age commonly have heart murmurs and/or bradycardia. What is the cause of this?
their cardiovascular system does not mature until 8 weeks of age. Immature regulatory mechanisms and decreased cardiac contractility lead to hypoxia and murmurs.
Neonatal small animals have a sterile GI tract at birth that begins to colonize within the first few days. Their defense against infection is low due to what factor?
they have higher gastric pH and decreased gastric emptying and motility
The SA neonate liver is immature and has decreased gluconeogenesis and glucose storage, decreased albumin and protein synthesis, and decreased drug metabolism. At what age does the liver mature?
4-5 months
The SA neonate kidney is immature until about 9-11 weeks of age. What are the consequences of an immature kidney during the period before that?
decreased urine concentrating ability – lower USG
decreased glomerular and tubular secretion
decreased renal clearance (medications)
Why do neonatal SA need IgG?
their immune systems are immature
at what age does thermoregulation in SA neonates mature?
> 4 weeks
T/F: when doing blood work on neonates, you can use adult reference values for the neonatal patients
false – they have different reference values.
what is a typical USG for a SA neonate? UPC ratio?
1.006-1.017
increased UPC ratio
and its normal for them to have proteinuria and glucosuria for up to 3 weeks
When feeding milk replacer to ophaned, sick, or hospitalized SA neonates, you must…
use specially formulated puppy and kitten milk replacer, follow prep and storage instructions, use clean utensils, and use orogastric tube or bottle to feed.
what are indications for orogastric tube instead of bottle to feed a neonate?
cleft palate – to reduce aspiration risk
weak neonates - no suckling reflex
What must a neonates temperature be before you can attempt to feed them via orogastric tube or bottle?
> 96 F
what is the max stomach capacity of a SA neonate?
4 mL / 100 g
be sure not to overfeed them
An owner found a 2 week old kitten and is planning to bottle feed. They call to ask you the amount they should feed and the frequency. What would you tell them?
2-3 mL / 100g / feeding
if 0-2 weeks –> feed every 2 hours
once 2-4 weeks –> feed every 3-6 hours
if they are gaining well, you can do a night break
describe a sick SA neonate
cries
weak or absent suckling reflex
insufficient or no weight gain, or weight loss
apathic, flaccid, no body tone
hypothermic
diarrhea, vomiting
dyspnea
rejected by the dam
SA neonates have no thermoregulation until 4-6 weeks of age which puts them at higher risk for hypothermia. This is because they have: (choose one for each)
- increased temperature loss d/t (small/large) body surface area to body mass ratio
- (small/large) body fat
- lots of body water
- low blood flow to extremities.
large body surface area to body mass ratio
small amount of body fat
What are the clinical signs of hypothermia in SA neonates?
decreased activity
bradycardia* –> hypoxia
anorexia
hypoglycemia (from not eating)
paralytic ileus, bloat, aspiration pneumonia
decreased nursing reflex
pale MM, coma
You have a 2 day old puppy in your clinic because its not doing well, likely due to being hypothermic. You take its temp and it reads 95. What can you do to resolve the hypothermia?
warm up SLOWLY (1 degree/hr)
use incubator, warming pad, heat lamps, etc.
careful not to burn!
feed warm milk once temp > 96 F
give warm fluids
SA neonates have immature glucose regulatory function for 10 days post-parturition. They will experience bradycardia, hypothermia, decreased suckling reflex, and anorexia as a result of developing __________.
hypoglycemia
How should you treat hypoglycemia in SA neonates?
- dextrose/glucose bolus (IV or IO)
- dextrose/glucose on gums (if circulation good and not too weak)
- regular feeding every 2 hours*
Why/how do SA neonates develop hypovolemia?
their compensatory mechanisms to circulatory changes/fluid homeostasis are not mature until 8 weeks of age. they have decreased cardiovascular responses and cannot increase their HR, they have decreased contractility of their heart, and immature autonomous innervation of the heart.
AND
renal concentrating ability is immature (tubular function and GFR is lower, so renal clearance is decreased) this does not mature until 9-11 weeks
You have a 4 day old puppy in your clinic that is unwell and has dark yellow urine. You tell the owner that this puppy is hypovolemic. What is your treatment plan for this puppy?
isotonic fluids – IV, IO, or SQ
do shock bolus (30-40 ml/kg)
maintenance (3-4 ml/kg/hr)
feed – orogastric tube or bottle
monitor BW, urine output, urine color, USG, and MM
what are the 3 possible areas to do intraosseous catheter palcement?
- trochanteric fossa of femur**
- tuberositas tibiae
- greater tubercle of humerus
Which period is neonatal mortality highest?
during the first week of life
(~50% puppies die within first week)
what are the risk factors of neonatal mortality before 1-2 days?
- low birth weight
- low apgar score (<6)
- low colostrum intake and blood IgG
- low growth rate
what are common infectious causes of neonatal mortality in puppies?
- parvovirus
- distemper virus
- adenovirus
- herpesvirus
- septicemia (E. coli, klebsiella, proteus, strep., staph.)
- respiratory: viral, bordetella, mycoplasma
what are the common infectious causes of neonatal mortality in kittens?
- panleukopenia (parvo) virus
- calicivirus
- herpesvirus
- leukemia virus
- immunodeficiency virus
- coronavirus
- septicemia (pasteurella, strep, e coli)
- respiratory: viral, chlamydia
What is the most common cause of a ‘fading puppy’?
infectious* often due to sepsis
Maternal infection, contaminated environment, inappropriate feeding and husbandry, and stress are all predisposing factors for what?
fading puppy
what are the clinical signs of a fading puppy?
crying, anorexia, weak, hypothermic
pale or hyperemic MM, necrotic extremities (hypoxia, vasculitis)
dyspnea, vomiting, diarrhea, painful abdomen, hematuria
sudden death
how do you diagnose a ‘fading puppy’?
physical exam
bloodwork (remember, you can only collect 1 mL/100g/week)
UA with c/s (esp. if you suspect septicemia)
necropsy*
how do you treat a ‘fading puppy’?
aggressive therapy!
antibiotics – IV, IO, or PO (amoxi-clav or other beta lactams, cephalosporins), then based on c/s
fluids – IV, IO, or SQ
symptomatic therapy – dextrose, feeding, warm
what is the deworming protocol for SA neonates and the dam?
deworm starting at 2 weeks of age and then every 2 weeks until you start year-round prevention
fecal testing should occur 4x/year in puppies
what is the heartworm and flea/tick prevention protocol for SA neonates and the dam?
start no later than 8 weeks, give year round
what dewormer is used in SA neonates?
pyrantel pamoate
Why are the first few minutes/hours after birth considered a “profound adaptive period” for a neonate?
Because all of their systems are transitioning from being in a protected intrauterine environment to the harsh, external environment
T/F: the fetal neurologic system is fully developed in large animals
true – they are precocial species meaning that they must be born ready to live.
How is the fetus of a precocial species able to maintain a “sleeping” state in-utero even though their neurologic system is completely developed?
physical factors – warmth, bouyancy
chemical factors – inhibitory neurosteroids
In utero, the lungs are collapsed and fluid-filled. During birth, the thorax undergoes compression when passing through the birth canal. Rupture of the umbilical cord leads to what 2 things that stimulate respiration?
bonus if you can say which of the 2 things is actually most important for respiration
- hypoxia
- hypercarbia ** most impt
When the lungs inflate, _______ contributes to clearance of the airway fluid and maintainence of lung inflation
surfactant
Increased oxygenation during birth leads to decreased ___________.
vascular resistance
Pulmonary vascular resistance decreases shortly after birth which leads to increased pulmonary blood flow. When this occurs, right-sided intracardiac pressure decreases, but left-sided increases. What does this result in?
closure of the fetal bypass structures (foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus) and blood no longer being shunted from right to left.
The entire cardiac output will goes through the lungs to be oxygenated.
Activation of _______ in foals happens about 5 days before birth. Fetal cortisol rises as a result and continues to rise after birth before decreasing to normal values by ~1 day of age.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)
Would you expect a mare who has placentitis and delivers her foal prematurely to have a vital foal?
Yes, the placentitis provided a source of “stress” to the fetus, which helped in the development of the HPA axis.
You are called to a farm to examine a pregnant mare who has colic symptoms. You have to deliver this foal prematurely because her due date isnt until next week. Do you expect this foal to live? Why/Why not?
No, this foal will be born premature and there was no stress that could “mature” the fetus in-utero like in cases of placentitis, etc. This fetuses HPA axis would not be mature.
In-utero, the fetus gets its glucose from the placenta (maternal source), but after they are born, nutrient intake becomes intermittent. They have relatively limited energy reserves of both glycogen and fat, so its not uncommon for them to develop what condition?
hypoglycemia
During the 1st 12-24 hours after birth of a LA neonate, the small intestine remains permeable to _____________.
macromolecules (immunoglobulins)
Separation and sealing of the ___________ takes place at birth. It can be normal to have small leaks, but it is considered abnormal if this structure becomes patent again later after secondary infection or inflammation.
umbilical stalk
The ________ are pretty quiescent in-utero, however after birth, the elimination of waste and retention of water and electrolytes by this organ becomes critical.
kidney
What 3 factors make thermoregulation challenging for a neonatal foal?
- wet hair coat
- large surface area to body mass ratio
- minimal stores of fat or glycogen
Neonatal foals rely on __________ and behavioral approaches (snuggling mom, seeking less drafty areas, and nestling into straw) for thermoregulation.
shivering thermogenesis
If a foal is born with cranial nerve abnormalities, what is your first concern?
they will have impaired nursing activity
nursing requires successful standing AND intact cranial nerves (II, V, VII, IX, X, XI, XII) as well as an intact cerebrum for awareness.
Neonatal foals will stand within 1 hour of birth and should nurse unassisted within ____ of standing. They should have their first bowel movement 3 hours post birth.
1 hour post-standing / 2 hr post birth
T/F: a draft horse will require more time to stand post-birth
true
A neonatal foal should be rapidly responsive to manual stimulation post birth. They should be responsive to visual stimulation by _____ minutes and auditory stimuli by ____ mins.
20-30
40
Neonatal foals should be attempting to stand within ___ min of birth and standing within ____ min post birth. After this time frame, they should gain rapid improvement in coordination
30
60-120
What is a normal temperature for a neonatal foal?
99-101.8
How does a neonatal foals heart rate change post birth?
initial bradycardia (60-80 bpm)
then tachycardia (150-175 bpm)
then once they are a day old, 80-100 bpm
How does a foals respiration change during the neonatal period?
immediately post birth, foal will be gasping
then the RR will go to 50-75 for 20-30 minutes
then 30-40 bpm during the first 2 days
What is considered a “premature” foal?
born less than 320 days
normal gestation = 334-344
Describe the physical appearance of a premature or dysmature foal.
small body size + low birth weight
rounded forehead
silky haircoat
floppy ears
entropion
flexor and articular laxity
incomplete ossification
generalized weakness
impaired physiological responses
why is identification of a sick foal SO important?
- ensure you are picking appropriate treatment
- determine prognosis prior to treatment
- foals deteriorate rapidly even if they are normal at birth
- delay in treatment may worsen severity of disease or the prognosis.
History of placentitis, prenatal vulvar discharge, premature or delayed parturition, induced parturition, maternal illness, recent medical or sugical event, premature lactaction or agalactia, recent transport, or history of previous NI, septic foal, or dystocia are ALL …
MATERNAL risk factors for having a sick foal
List some peripartum risk factors for having a sick foal
dystocia
c-section
premature/dysmature
twins
meconium staining
death of dam
FPT
failure of foal to stand and nurse within 2-3 hrs
Name 4 environmental risk factors for having a sick foal
- foal in cold or wet conditions
- foal in contaminated conditions
- infectious disease on the farm
- disruption of foaling process
If only one risk factor is identified in a equine case, what risk categorization is this?
medium