Supplemental Feeding for Puppies and Kittens

1
Supplemental Feeding for Puppies and Kittens

• Dr. Randy Ackman

2
Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Reasons for supplementation
• Poor mother
• Poor milk production
• Illness
• Conformation
• Large litters
• Abandonment
• Death of bitch/queen

http//www.crcbullmastiffs.com/Dolly_s_Newborn_Pup
pies.jpg
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Assessment
• Pink mm
• No V/D
• Moving
• Squirming
• Nuzzling

4
Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• When to act
• Low body temperature
• Cannot regulate until 3 weeks
• Heat loss
• Convection
• Heat loss through currents in fluids or gases
• Conduction
• Heat loss through matter, contact higher to lower
• Radiation
• Surface of an object

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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)
Age Puppies (Temp in Fahrenheit) Kittens (Temp in Fahrenheit)
Birth -7days 85-90 88-92
8-14 days 80 80-85
15-28 days 80 80
29-35 days 70-75 75
36 days and older 70 70
Monson, WJ The care and management of orphaned
puppies and kittens. Vet Tech 8(9) 430-434,
1987.
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Normal temp
• Newborns
• 96-97 degrees F
• 1 week
• 100 degrees F
• Important
• Raise temperature before supplemental feeding
• Aspiration
• Further hypothermia
• GI Distress and decreased motility

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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Hypoglycemia
• Low blood sugar
• Why?
• Anorexia
• Low glycogen stores
• Stress
• May need to start with glucose (dextrose)

http//www.marvistavet.com/assets/images/ORPHAN2.g
if
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Hydration Status
• Dehydration
• SQ fluids
• IP fluids
• Warm
• 0.9 saline

http//www.leerburg.com/Photos/pupmed2.jpg
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• MAKESHIFT  FORMULA UNTIL  KMR/ESBILAC CAN  BE 
  OBTAINED
• PUPPIES KITTENS
• 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp. salad oil  1 egg yolk
• 1 drop multi-vitamins (if you have any)
• 2egg yolks 3 Tums (antacid) crushed
• Mix in a blender whichever formula you use.

http//www.marvistavet.com/html/body_orphan_kitten
s.html
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Supplementation
• Several brands
• Powdered
• Easier to store for longer periods
• Less expensive
• Liquid
• Ready to go
• Storage
• Short shelf life after opening

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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Weighing the animal
• Gram scale
• Less error
• More accurate
• Monitors
• Progress
• Failure

http//www.zimfamilycockers.com/Abbys2004Litter-Fr
eckles-OneMonthOld.jpg
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Feeding the puppy/kitten
• Initially feed half of requirement
• Diet change V/D
• More water added
• Dehydrated
• Warm to body temperature
• Warm water bath
• Avoid microwave

http//www.bibi.org/box/2005/marco/puppy_infrared.
jpg
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Feeding with a nipple
• Appropriate size
• Appropriate opening

http//www.leerburg.com/bottlefeeding.htm
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• How to feed
• Normal nursing position
• On stomachs
• Head elevated
• Head outstretched

http//www.leerburg.com/bottlefeeding.htm
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Feeding with stomach tube
• 5-8 Fr size tube
• Measure tube
• Last rib to tip of nose
• Remeasure weekly

http//www.leerburg.com/Photos/savepup6.jpg
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Post feeding
• Burped
• Rubbing back
• Head up
• Why?

http//rangeairevision.com/educational/puppies.php
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Elimination
• lt 3weeks cannot eliminate on own
• Stimulate anogenital area
• Warm wet cotton ball

http//rangeairevision.com/educational/puppies.php
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Weaning
• Start at three weeks
• Must teach to lap
• Supplement with high quality puppy food
• Switch to water
• Gruel consistency

http//rangeairevision.com/educational/puppies.php
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Care for Orphaned Puppies and Kittens
(Supplementation)

• Weaning
• Gradual decrease water
• Feed 3-4X day
• 10 minutes
• Provide adequate room
• Shallow pans
• Muffin tins

http//images.google.com/images?svnum10hlenlr
qpuppiesnewbornsorphaned
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• http//www.leerburg.com/bottlefeeding.htm
• http//images.google.com/imgres?imgurlhttp//www.
  marvistavet.com/assets/images/ORPHAN2.gifimgrefur
  lhttp//www.marvistavet.com/html/body_orphan_kitt
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• http//images.google.com/images?svnum10hlenlr
  qtemperaturepuppy
• http//www.zimfamilycockers.com/whelping.html
• http//images.google.com/images?svnum10hlenlr
  qpuppiesnewbornsorphaned
• http//images.google.com/images?hlenqnewbornpu
  ppies