Fading kitten syndrome: Factors predisposing to 'faders' and treatment options

Neonatal hypoglycemia in dogs-pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment

Hypoglycemia is the most common metabolic alteration in the clinical routine of newborn dogs, acting as a predictor of mortality in these patients. The neonatal dog shows hepatic insufficiency and homeostatic mechanisms not yet fully developed, with limited glycogen reserves and limited capacity to perform glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. These physiological particularities make newborn dogs particularly susceptible to hypoglycemia when of fasting, even for short periods. Several maternal and neonatal factors may be related to a higher risk of developing hypoglycemia in neonates. This paper reviews glycemic homeostasis, the pathophysiology of neonatal hypoglycemia, the main causes involved and the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this condition.

Neonatology: Topics on Puppies and Kittens Neonatal Management to Improve Neonatal Outcome

The productivity of kennels and catteries is directly linked to maternal prolificacy and neonatal survival. During the neonatal period, mortality is high, not only due to environmental factors after birth but also with regard to gestational fetal life, complications during delivery, and management errors. Neonatology is an area of veterinary medicine where having a strong knowledge base of applied physiology and common clinical presentations for newborns can often favor better outcomes and greater neonatal survival. The teaching of animal theriogenology topics, particularly neonatal medicine, in the veterinary curriculum has evolved significantly in recent years. It is essential that the veterinarian understands the maternal and neonatal particularities and the main aspects involved in the handling of puppies and kittens for the instruction of the correct handling to the breeders and better medical conduct. The breeder of dogs and cats, experienced or not, must count on the help of a veterinarian in their breeding. Proper management, constant monitoring of the litter, and prompt assistance are the keys to successful breeding.

Reproductive Management in Catteries: Optimising health and wellbeing through veterinarian-breeder collaboration

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE

Many veterinarians - even those engaged in small animal reproduction - are uncomfortable with taking care of cat breeders or being in charge of catteries. Likely reasons for this are that feline reproduction is largely under-represented in undergraduate and graduate reproduction teaching, as well as in postgraduate education and science, whereas cat breeders themselves are often well informed and actively share knowledge with other cat breeders via the internet and social media.

CLINICAL CHALLENGES

A variety of problems can exist within a cattery, and collaboration between veterinarian and breeder to solve these is ultimately beneficial for the breeder, for the veterinarian, and for the health and wellbeing of the individual cats and of the cattery as a whole.

AIM

This review presents a comprehensive overview of aspects of cattery management that might negatively impact reproduction, including sanitation, hygiene and infectious disease control. It also discusses monitoring of reproductive performance, breeding recommendations, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to some common and specific problems.

EQUIPMENT AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

Reproductive management in the cattery requires no specialised equipment, as such. What it does need is an open mind, in terms of seeing how things are done, an open ear, for listening to the breeder, and the veterinarian's clinical skills in palpation, auscultation and, where required, further examination of the animals. Keeping abreast of the latest information on infectious diseases, disinfection and genetics ensures proper advice is provided.

EVIDENCE BASE

Current knowledge of reproductive management in catteries is summarised in order to apply an evidence-based approach, whenever possible. Notwithstanding, much of the information remains empirical.

Artificial Insemination in Queens in the Clinical Practice Setting: Protocols and challenges

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE

Despite substantial advances in assisted reproductive techniques having been recently reported in cats, the use of these is limited and routine application is still far from being a reality in veterinary clinics. Nevertheless, there is an increasing demand from domestic cat breeders for artificial insemination (AI) techniques that are already commonly used in dogs. Where natural breeding is not possible in tom cats and queens of high breeding value, AI could offer a solution. Clinical challenges: AI in cats is more difficult than in other species - both in terms of semen collection/handling and oestrous cycle management given that ovulation must be induced.

AIM

For practitioners wishing to perform AI in queens, there are challenges to overcome, and a good understanding of the techniques and procedures involved is pivotal. This review aims to contribute to improved knowledge by providing an overview of AI protocols, encompassing choice of breeding animals, procedures for semen collection, oestrus and ovulation induction, AI techniques and equipment.

EQUIPMENT AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

Depending on the animals involved and the specific AI technique chosen, essential equipment may include an artificial vagina, electroejaculator, endoscope (sialendoscope, which can be fairly expensive) and special catheters for transcervical insemination. Other instrumentation and materials needed are typically readily available in a veterinary clinic. In general, no particular skills are needed to perform the procedures described in this review, with the exception of endoscopic transcervical catheterisation, where the ability to use an endoscope is required.

EVIDENCE BASE

The information and advice/recommendations provided are based on specific feline research and reviews published in scientific peer-reviewed journals, animal reproduction textbooks, and presentations at national and international congresses. The authors also drew on their own clinical experience with regard to the choice of protocols and procedures presented in this review.