Neonatal Nursing Care

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to neonatal nursing care in veterinary medicine.

Neonatal Period

First 2 weeks of a puppy or kitten's life, where they depend entirely on their mothers for nutrition and care.

Ectopic

A condition where an organ or tissue is located in an abnormal position.

Fading Puppy/Kitten Syndrome

A condition caused by poor management, malnutrition, or infections, leading to anorexia, lethargy, and emaciation.

Isoerythrolysis

A condition in kittens caused by incompatibility between the mother's blood type and the kittens' blood type, leading to hemolytic anemia.

Pectus excavatum

A condition where the sternum is deformed, which may cause respiratory distress in severe cases.

Strabismus

A condition where the eyes are misaligned and do not properly work together.

Hypothermia

A medical emergency in neonates, defined as a body temperature less than 94°F at birth and can lead to severe complications.

Hypoglycemia

A condition where blood glucose levels fall below normal, often due to immature liver function or failure to suckle.

Patent Urachus

A congenital defect where the urachus, a tubular structure in fetal development, does not close properly.

Developmental Landmarks

Key milestones in the first weeks of a neonate's life that indicate growth and development.

Orphan Care

Care procedures for puppies or kittens without a mother, including feeding, maintaining temperature, and sanitation.

Juvenile Period

Developmental phase for dogs (6-12 weeks) and cats (6-12 weeks) where socialization, teething, and learning begin.

Spay/Neuter

Surgical procedure to remove reproductive organs to prevent unwanted pregnancies and certain health issues.

Hypotonia

A condition characterized by decreased muscle tone, which can affect motor skills in neonates.

Clinical History

A thorough account of a patient's medical background, crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Fluids Administration

Providing fluids, either intravenously or subcutaneously, to manage dehydration in neonates.

Nutrition

Essential dietary provisions needed for proper growth and development of neonatal puppies and kittens.

When born neonates have

eyes closed- blind

ears closed- deaf

no teeth

neurologically underdeveloped

immature physiological systems.

NEONATAL APPOINTMET

obtain accuate clinical history of parents and litter mates

how many puppies

how many ill

raised

environment

behavior mom and dad

body weight curves

and growth of the neonate, assess general health and any abnormalities.

Queen mother questions

past vaccine dates

estrous cycle

breeding practice

medications/ supplements

any problems during birthing?

Kitten BPM

220-260 bpm

Canine BPM

200-250 bpm

Feline BRPM kitten

10-18 brpm

Kitten BRPM

10-18 brpm

Kitten temp

97-98 F

Puppy temp

95-97 F

Nutrition for neonates

calories required 20 kcal/ ME/100g / day

stomach 4-5 ml/100g

neonate PE

MM

Body hair- cover all but ventral abdomen

lack of hair is genetic abnormality

premature birth

Ventral abdomen- dark pink

Body Confirmtion

Cleft palate/ buldging eyes

neck- gas in espohagus/ eptopic heart- in wrong area

throax- pectus excavatum- swimmer syndrome

tail- muscle tone, length , curliness and kinks

Patent urachus

Unbillicus with urine coming out

Spinal bifida

Malformation of spine

common in no tail cats

Week 1 landmarks neonate

sleep 80% of ime

nurse every 2-4 hours

motor skills- lift head 3 days

crawls 1 week

suckel/ vocalize

Neonate landmark week 2

Begin to crawl

body temps get to adult levels

doube weight

eyes open

check for strabismus- eyes misalighned- boston terrier eyes

ear canals open

Neonate blood samples

250 gram puppy 2.5 ml blood/week

1 drop of blood 0.1 ml

Ultrasound neonates

7.5 mHz transducer

single emulsion screens

reduce KV to half of adult

Owner information

Nutritional

preventative vaccines and important fatal diseases

2 week deworm

6-8 week wellness exam and vaccines

recheck every 3-4 weeks

Neonatal dieseases

rewuire immediate attention

Hypothermia

Dehydration

hypoglycemia - low blood sugar

neonatal isorythrolysis

malnutrition

Neonatal hypothermia

6-8 days chivering vasoconstriction

6 -weeks similar to adults

1-3 days 96 F

1 week 99F

Symptoms of neonatal hypothermia

HR drops

Gi motility slows down unable to move waste

dont feed under 94F

tube feeding

Treatmetn hypothermia

provide oxygen

provide heat support

no meds till hear gut sounds

Neonatal dehydration

fluid embalance

immature renal system

fluid requirement high

warm flids to 98-99 F

matience 6 ml/kg/hr

Neonate dehydration treatment

matinence 6 ml/kg/hr

50% maintenance

BWX % dehydrate) /2

bolus- 3.3 ml/100g over 5-10 mins

Hypoglycemia in Neonates

Immature liver and poor glconeogenesis

can have seizres

termors crying irritability increased appetite and dullnes stupor

Treatmetn hypoglycemia neonates

0.5 - 1 g /kg dextrose in 5-10% solution or saline slowly Iv/IO

1-2 mls 5-15 % detrose solution on MM of mouth

sq causes tissue dmage

minitor BG levels

Normal Adult canine glucose levels

60-111 mg/DL ( 52-127 mg/Dl 1-3 days)

Adult cat glucose levels

80-120 mg/ dL ( 75-154 mg/ dL 1-3 days)

Neonatal Isoerythrolysis - RBC

feline with Type A= low titers of antibodies against type B RBC

cats with type B= higher titers antibodies against type A

Type a is

95-99% every dsh and longhair in US

Queen type B colostrum

type A / AB kitten time is incompatible

Neonatal isoeythrolysis treatment

test kittens at birth

remove incompatable kitttens during day 1

foster and hand raise then return

Neonatal Malnutrition

Milk replacemtn - mothers milk is best

bile salt activated lipase

bottle replacement

stimulate urination and defication

tube feeding - beware aspiration and bloat

Neonatal tube feeding technique

Normal bosy temp 94F

5 fr tube

measure distance from nose to last rib

mark at 75%

insert tube till mark and upright kitten position

check negative pressure

5ml / feeding 160g puppy

Fading/ puppy/ kittten syndrome CAUSES

poor management/ hygene

temperature/ humiditty

overcrowded

bad enviornment conditions

congenital defects

Sypmtoms of fading pup/kit syndrome

anorexia

lethargy

emaciation

stillbirth, weak at birth

death- necropsy

Orphan kitten puppy care supplies

warm clean bedding

milk botles nipples

feeding tubes syringes

gram scale heat sorce

Orphan pup/ kit care

weigh daily- keep record

maintain temperature

cant reguale till 28 days old

forst week- 84-90 F

second week- 73-84F

third week 73.4-79 F

Common pitfals puppy/ kitten care

Over/ under feeding

homemade diets

commercial diets

housing sick animals

over crowding

heigene and hand washing between puppies

Infant period canine

2-6 weeks

socialize with moma nd siblings

ears and eyes open

first steps

teeth eruption

begin weaning

eatig solid foods

bladder/ bowel control

Duckings

watch while swimming will drown

Pediatric period canine

6-12 weeks

5-8 weks 28 baby teeth

8-10 weeks ideal age adoption

Feline pediatric period

6-12 weeks

6 weeks all 26 baby teeth

7-9 weeks ideal age adoption

temp regulation and male testicles drop

Canine development timeline

3-5 mons adult incisors

4-6 premolars

5-7 months adult molas

all 42 teeth 6 months

Feline development timeline

1-6 mos gain 1 lb / month

14-16 weeks rabies vaccine

3-4 months incisors

4-6 premolars molars

30 permanent teeth 6 months