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Recognising and caring for premature neonates

02 December 2024
11 mins read
Volume 15 · Issue 10

Abstract

When a puppy or kitten is born prematurely, it is fragile and highly susceptible to hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and infections. Their organs are often underdeveloped, and most require human intervention to survive. Each day of prematurity in a kitten or puppy is equivalent to one week of prematurity in a human. Premature neonates often cannot nurse adequately, leading to a rapid decline in their condition. Following pre-term labour, dams are often less attentive and may experience little to no lactation. In some cases, neonates may be full-term but underdeveloped as a result of maternal factors that have stunted fetal growth. This article outlines methods for identifying and distinguishing these cases, while emphasising the importance of veterinary professionals recognising and adopting the most appropriate care procedures to improve the survival chances of the neonates.

Gestation length in dogs and cats is approximately 63 days from the day of ovulation (Rickard, 2011). In unneutered cats, promiscuous behaviour, coupled with unrestricted access to an outdoor environment, often leads to unnoticed matings and inaccurate due dates. In dogs, determining gestation length is further complicated by the variability in the window of fertilisation. In dogs, determining gestation length is further complicated by the window of fertilisation. As a result, a due date of 57-73 days post mating is not unreasonable to consider, and a seemingly late 70 days gestation could in fact be a normal pregnancy (O'Dwyer, 2015).

Progesterone testing is a useful tool when a breeder presents with a bitch thought to be overdue. Progesterone levels decline transiently towards the end of pregnancy, with a significant drop below 2 ng/ml occurring approximately 24 hours before whelping (Smith, 2011). A progesterone level below 3 ng/ml is generally considered safe for delivery, while a level below 1 ng/ml necessitates delivery within 24 hours to improve pup viability (Greer, 2014). Pregnancies with more than five days remaining typically have progesterone levels exceeding 5 ng/ml (Greer, 2014). Progesterone testing, alongside clinical examination, is an effective method for determining whether a bitch requires a caesarean section due to apparent delayed whelping.

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