Recognising and caring for premature neonates

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.