The Savannah Signal Final Issue 2011 Groceries
Neonates have minimal body fat reserves and limited metabolic capacity to generate glucose from precursors. Glycogen stores are depleted shortly after birth, making adequate nourishment from nursing vital. Even minimal fasting can result in hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can also result from endotoxemia, septicemia, portosystemic shunts and glycogen storage abnormalities. Oral fluid and glucose replacement may be preferable if the puppy has an adequate swallowing reflex and is not clinically compromised. The canine neonatal caloric requirement is 133 calories/kg/day during the first week of life, 155 calories/kg/day for the second, 175– 198 calories/kg/day for the third and 220 calories/kg/day for thefourth. Kittens require approximately 20 kcals ME/100 g bw/day.
Commercially manufactured milk replacement formulas (Esbilac—Pet-Ag Inc, Elgin, IL; Puppy Milk Replacer Formula: Eukanuba, The Iams Co, Dayton OH; Veta-Lac Powder for Puppies: Vet-A-Mix, Shenandoah, IA, KMR—Pet-Ag Inc, Elgin IL) are usually superior to homemade versions. The use of milk obtained from the dam can be considered if available. An osmotic diarrhea (usually yellow, curdled stool appearance) can result from overfeeding formula, necessitating diluting the product 50% with water or a balanced crystalloid such as lactated ringer’s solution. The water requirement is 180 ml/kg/day. Tube feeding may be necessary in weak neo- nates, the gastric volume is approximately 4 ml/100 g bw. Feeding
should occur every 2–4 hours. Neonates should gain weight steadily from the first day after birth (a transient mild loss from birth weight is acceptable on day 1); puppies gaining 1–3 grams per day per pound (2.2 kg) of anticipated adult weight and kittens 50– 100 grams weekly. Neonatal weights should be recorded daily for the first two weeks, then every 3 days until a month of age. Healthy well nourished neonates are quiet and sleep when not nursing.
Normal neonatal weight gain: Increase of 5–10 % body weight per day.
Orphans’ Special Needs
Kittens and puppies under 3 weeks of age lack voluntary elimination and must have the micturition and defeca- tion reflexes stimulated using a cotton ball with mineral oil on the anogenital area. Sibling suckling can cause derma- tologic lesions, periodic separation of the neonates in an orphaned litter may be necessary until solid food is intro- duced.
Immunity
Incompletely developed immune systems during the first 10 days of life make neonates vulnerable to systemic infection (most commonly bacterial and viral). Adequate ingestion of colostrum must occur promptly post partum for puppies to acquire passive immunity. The intestinal absorption of IgG generally ceases by 24 hours after parturition. Colostrum deprived kittens given adult cat serum at a dose of 150 ml/kg sc or ip developed serum IgG levels comparable with suckling littermates, however colostrum deprived puppies given 40 ml/kg adult dog serum orally and parentally failed to match suckling littermate’s IgG levels. Neonates should be encouraged to suckle promptly after resuscitation is completed; this usually necessitates close monitoring after a caesar- ean section as the dam is still groggy from anesthesia. Maternal instincts (protecting, retrieving, grooming, nursing) usually return within 24 hours.
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