raising orphan animals Flashcards
Rearing strategy groups
- young raised in pouches (marsupials)
- low fat, dilute milk, frequent, essentially continual nursing
- young continuously carried (primates, domestic ungulates)
- low fat, dilute milk; nursing available at all times
- leave young and return at intervals to feed them (deer, hooved stock)
- high fat, concentrated milk
- leave immature young in burrows or nests (rodents, carnivores, lagomorphs)
- high fat, concentrated milk
- cold, wet environments (marine & aquatic mammals)
- VERY high milk fat & concentrated
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- VERY high milk fat & concentrated
Initial issues in rearing a young animal
- decreasing contamination
- clean birthing areas
- bathing
- naval care
- 7% tincture of iodine for 1 minute; done ideally while umbilical stump still moist
- stabilizing temperature
- general rule: 85-90F & 50-60% relative humidity
- medications/vitamins
- only when needed
- colostrum
- GI permeability window usually 12-24h after birth
- try do deliver 10-20% of orphan BW in colostrum (rarely possible)
______________ can successfully determine whether an orphan has received colostrum or not
serum gamma globulin testing
Colostrum to use in order of preference
- from dam
- from same species
- from related species
- IV serum from dam or same species
Important initial assessments of animal
- Temperature-normally 0.5-1 C lower than adult
- do not feed a hypothermic neonate bc may get bacterial ovegrowth
- Injury assessment: airways, hemorrhage, fracture, CNS
- Dehydration: skin turgor, USG (near or below 10.10)
Is death more common due to overfeeding or underfeeding?
OVERFEEDING
Energy requirements equation & concepts
E = F x 70.5 x W0.73
E=energy req. kcals/24h
W=weight in kg.
F=species adjustment factor (2.1-3.0)
- for each 1/2 degree C fever, add 8% energy req.
- increase energy for high activity
- increase energy for infections
Hydration requirements
- fluid 10-15% of BW per day
- 125 ml water per 100 kcal
- decreases in large neonates and older animals
Hydration req. for neonate compared to adult dog/cat
- 125 ml water per 100 kcal vs. 60 ml per 100 kcal for the adult dog/cat
- (just over 2x!)
How to adjust formula if constipated
thicken the formula
How to adjust formula if stool is loose
add water to formula
Consequences of too concentrated diet
- indigestion
- diarrhea
Consequences of too dilute formula
- pot belly
- constipation
- no stool
Required daily assessments
- weight-daily or 2x daily
- stool consistency (freq., amount)
- activity level
- feed intake
How does the milk change in kangaroos and giant anteaters? why is this important?
lipid content rises acutely a couple weeks into lactation; need to shift formula of hand reared animals in a similar way or results in severe skin problems
