Neonatology

Abstract

Average reported neonatal puppy and kitten mortality rates (greatest during the first week of life) vary, ranging from 9-26%.1 8 Prudent veterinary intervention in the prenatal, parturient and postpartum 9 periods can increase neonatal survival by controlling or eliminating factors contributing to puppy and 10 kitten morbidity and mortality. Poor prepartum condition of the dam, dystocia, congenital malformations, 11 genetic defects, injury, environmental exposure, malnutrition, parasitism and infectious disease all 12 contribute to neonatal morbidity and mortality. 13 Neonates that fail to survive to weaning are most commonly stillborn or die within the first three 14 days of life. Factors implicated in perinatal deaths include prematurity, in utero infection with viruses such 15 as canine distemper, canine parvovirus, feline herpes, feline infectious peritonitis, panleukopenia, and 16 feline leukemia virus, as well as anatomic birth defects, birth trauma/dystocia, low birth weight, 17 inadequate nutrition, maternal neglect, and environmental stresses. Optimal husbandry impacts neonatal 18 survival favorably by managing labor and delivery to reduce stillbirths, controlling parasitism and reducing 19 infectious disease, preventing injury and environmental exposure, and optimizing nutrition of the dam and neonates. Proper genetic screening for selection of sires and dams minimizes inherited defects.1-4 20 The 21 neonatal period here is defined as the first 4-6 weeks of life.