Post-partum dam and neonatal failure to thrive/ fading puppy Flashcards
List 3 things to help prevent poor mothering behaviour in the bitch
preparation and familiarisation with the whelping area
restricting visitors
keeping a calm environment
How long does it take for uterine invoolution in bitch
12 weeks
How long does it take for uterine involution in the queen
6 weeks
How long is it normal for there to be vulval discharge after parturtion in bitch/ queen
3-4 weeks
should be non odorous, not associated with illness, but may be coloured
List 6 post-partum diseases in bitch/ queen in order of how common they occur
Suspected retained fetal membranes
Post partum metritis
Inadequate milk
Hypocalcaemia
Sub-involution of placental sites
Haemorrhage
How long after delivery of pup should the placenta be expelled
within 20 minutes
when should placental retention be suspected
if green/black discharge persists after parturition
List the clinical signs of post-partum metritis in the bitch
Depression, pyrexia, anorexia
Purulent vulval discharge
Neutrophilia with left shift
Uterine enlargement
Decribe how to treat post-partum metritis in dogs
Broad spectrum antimicrobial drugs
Fluid therapy
Ecbolic agents- Prostaglandins (synthetic naturally occurring)
List 3 things that can lead to metritis in the bitch
difficult or prolonged birth
placental retention
abortion
what is agalactia
no milk production
describe how to treat agalactia in the bitch
Dopamine antagonists are prolactin agonists = metoclopramide
Describe how to treat lack of milk let-down in the bitch
oxytocin
List 4 things that can cause lack of milk let down in the bitch
anxiety
pain
stress
cold
List 6 clinical signs of hypocalcaemia in the bitch
nervousness
panting
whining
hypersalivation
stiff gait
tetany
Describe how to treat hypocalcaemia in the bitch
calcium borogluconate slowly by IV infusion (see next slide), followed by same dose SC
feed pups artificially for 24 hours
Describe what is seen with sub-involution of placental sites in the bitch
Haemorrhagic vulval discharge for longer than the normal 4 to 6 week duration post-partum
Describe how to treat sub-involution of placental sites
can resolve itself
If blood loss significant- need regular observation- ovariohysterectomy may be needed
List 3 potential causes of post-partum haemorrhage in the bitch
physical injuries of the birth canal
lack of involution of the uterus
following a c-section
Describe how to treat post-partum haemorrhage in the bitch
Use of vaginal tampon
Ecbolic agents
If uterine origin and severe may need OVX
Also if severe in specific breeds may consider a coagulopathy
List 4 things you should do after pup born (and is alive)
record birth weight
monitor resp (15/40 bpm)
record temp
check for congenital abnormalities
List 5 ways that a neonate if different to an adult
Poor breathing
Limited ability to regulate body temperature
Poor regulation of fluid balance
Limited energy store
Immune system is immature
List 4 things that can affect colostrum / milk intake by puppy
weak pups
insufficient teats
inexperienced/ difficult dam
continual distrubance by humans
what is the easiest way to monitor hydration status in neonate
look at urine colour
What is the ideal environmental temp for neonatal puppies
28-30 for 1st week
26 for next 3-4 weeks
At what point should a neonate double its birth weight
in 8-10 days
List 9 signs of a sick puppy
Frequent crying or failure to gain weight early indicator
Feels cold to touch
Skin inelastic
Thin, bony appearance
Slack abdomen (empty stomach)
Dirty unkempt coat
Persistent crying
Loss of body twitching
Delayed development of neonatal characteristics
when should pups be able to voluntaryily defecate/ urinate
after week 2-3
Why do we give neonatal puppies Abs if they get a minor disease
because they are susceptible to commensal overgrowth
Describe what you should do if puppy is not feeding/ dehydrated
Reverse hypothermia
Reverse hypoxia
Treat / prevent dehydration
Prevent commensal organism overgrowth
Describe how to treat hypothermia in neonatal puppy
Slow re-heating (1C per hour)
Maintain environmental temperature 29-32C (slightly higher than normal)
Do not feed pup if colder than 34C
Add dextrose to fluids (as increased calorific demand)
what is the fluid demands for a neonatal puppy
general maintenance= 60-100 ml/kg/day
List 5 predictors of mortality in a neonatal puppy
low APGAR score
dehydration
no increased in BW
rectal temp less than 35
plasma glucose less than 100mg/dL
List the 3 most life threatening problems in a puppy 2-6 weeks of age
dehydration from D+
internal and external parasites
traumatic insults
List the 3 best predictors of wellness in 2-6 week old puppies
continued growth
normal behavioural development
normal rectal temp
List the 2 most life-threatening problems in puppies from 6-12 weeks old
infectious diseases
Disease associated with inquisitive behaviour (foreign bodies, biting electric cables)
If you see fitting in a puppy what should you consider
hypoglycaemia
porto-systemic shunt
ect
what are fading puppies
pups which were alive but then die
what is the principle problem in ‘true’ fading puppies
low surfactant concentrations
How does low lung surfactant lead to puppy death
-> Poor respiratory function
-> Respiratory distress
-> Inability to suck
-> Fatal cycle of hypoxia, dehydration, low blood sugars, hypothermia and death
