Neonatology
• The first few weeks of a newborns’ life, the highest risk period for acquiring potentially life-threatening illnesses
• At risk for: hypothermia, hyperthermia, septicemia, & congenital defects
• Most births occur during daylight hours, and without assistance
• Births should occur within 30 to 60 minutes from the time that the 2nd stage of labor begins (water bag presented)
• The birthing process is usually done with the female standing, although some females will lay down to deliver.
• As long as the female is making progress during contractions, she should be left alone.
• The first few hours of the cria’s life should be with minimal human distraction, so that maternal bonding can occur.
• Standing—attempting within 30 min., successful at 1 hour
• Nursing—attempting at 1 hour, successful in 2 to 4 hours
• Birth weight—normal > 12# (alpaca) (>22#--llama)
• Passing meconium within 12 to 24 hours
• Weigh cria daily for the 1st 10 days, then weekly; if compromised, weigh 2 to 3 times weekly; should be gaining ¼ to 1# daily (after 2 to 3 days); If cria is not gaining, watch closely, at risk of illness. If cria has not gained weight in 2 to 3 days, or is losing, he/she needs attention!
• It is normal for the cria to lose weight in the first 24 hours of life, and may lose up to 1#. He/she should gain that back in a couple of days.
• Newborn exam: monitor vigor, assess health/ is cria “high risk”, check for congenital defects, IgG or TP, dip navel with nolvasan or iodine
• IgG blood testing is the best way to determine if the cria got enough colostrums (if not, they are more susceptible to infections)
• Common congenital defects (may or may not be heritable): choanal atresia, cleft palate, angular limb deformity, wry face, cardiac abnormalities, umbilical hernia, contracted tendons or tendon laxity
High Risk Crias
• Premature crias (suspect if low birth weight, silky coat, tendon laxity, floppy ears, non-erupted incisors)
• Dystocia crias
• Crias with congenital defects
• Excessive umbilical bleeding
• Previous high-risk cria from dam
• High risk crias are more susceptible to in utero sepsis, pulmonary immaturity, failure of passive transfer, postpartum sepsis, and subsequent complications
• These babies need careful monitoring, exams, blood work, IgG levels, +/- blood culture, etc.
Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) {Why is it important to measure IgG?}
• Caused by inadequate intake of colostrums (first milk). The newborn requires 10% of its body weight in the 1st 24 hours.
• Why? Dam factors & Cria factors
➢ Dam Factors: previous cria nursed too long, over/underweight, dam was a “wet nurse” for multiple crias, maiden produces less & lower quality colostrums, mastitis, premature birth, dam has low immune status
➢ Cria Factors: all high risk crias, weak, dystocia, premie, hypo- or hyperthermic, etc.
• Colostrum contains important antibodies or IgG to provide protection to a naïve cria. The newborn goes from a sterile womb to an environment full of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, toxins) ready to cause disease. The dam produces antibodies to those “bugs” in the environment she is exposed to as well as those she is immunized with.
• Antibodies are absorbed through the newborn’s intestine, but the ability declines over 24 hours. Virtually no absorption occurs after 24 hours.
• IgG levels should be checked after 24 hours; should be greater than 800 mg/dl
How to prevent or correct FPT?
• Bottle or tube feed if cria hasn’t nursed in 2 to 3 hours
• In the 1st 24 hours, the cria needs 10% of body weight, split into 4 to 6 feedings, fed every 4 to 6 hours. In the first 6 hours, he/she should get 5% of body weight, then the remaining over the next 18 hours.
Example: A 10 # cria needs 1# (or 1 pint) of colostrum; 1 pint = 16 ounces in 24 hours; The cria should receive 8 ounces in the first 6 hours. Feeding every 2 hours initially, the cria should consume about 2 to 3 ounces per feeding.
• If cria is weak or hyper- or hypothermic, probably needs more than just feeding colostrum. May need IV fluids laced with dextrose.
• Don’t attempt to tube feed cria until temperature is normal
• Where do you get colostrum? Dam is best, then other camelid; goat, sheep, or cow colostrums. Avoid commercial preparations. If colostrum other than camelid, IgG test will not work, use TP.
• After 24 hours, cria should consume 10% of body weight daily for maintenance, add another 2 to 5% for gain.
• If cria weak or sick, needs veterinary attention immediately!!
• Keep cria warm (stall/barn, cria coat, heat lamp)
• Crisis—karo syrup can provide energy until a vet arrives; oxygen
Plasma Transfusion
• May be necessary if cria older than 24 hours and weak/sickly
• FPT confirmed
• Source of plasma
• Given IV or IP
• Recheck IgG in 48 hours
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