27/04/2021

 1. Palpation 2. Radiography
 during late pregnancy fetal heads are  28 days = calcification of fetal skeleton
occurs
palpable: firm, nodular structure in the
 At 42-45 days: skeletons detectable by x-ray
ventral posterior abdomen
 At 47-48 days: prominent skeletons (x-ray is
not teratogenic)
 Ideal is 55 days and above
 Things to consider in doing X-ray:
▪ No. of pups (big litter predisposes bitch to uterine inertia)
▪ Size of pups
▪ Position of pups

Signs approaching whelping

 3. Ultrasonography  External observation of teats – multiparous
▪ Gold standard  Weight gain & abdominal distention – not  Restlessness
▪ after 30-35 days obvious until the last 3rd of gestation &  Nesting behavior
could occur in the absence of pregnancy
▪ before 21 days = “false negative” results occur
(progesterone or false pregnancy)  Inappetence
▪ Doppler type instruments allow one to hear the
fetal heart, w/c beats 2-3 times faster than the
 Drop in body temperature
dam  pH of milk- 7.1  Milk letdown
 Doxapram I instilled in umbilical vein of
neonatal pups upon delivery (C-
sectioned)

1

DURING LABOR
 Abdominal straining
 Appearance of water bag
 Puppy must be delivered within
30 mins. from start of straining
 Gap between pups 1-2 hours
COMMON PROBLEMS
 More than 1 or 2 hrs between pups
 Partial delivery- puppy stuck in the
vaginal canal
 Green discharge and no pup
 Bitch is distress
 Slight contractions and not going
into full pushing mode
NORMAL DELIVERY
 Gentle rubbing of the back
 Keep warm and dry
 Ensure proper nursing
 Assist the puppy during nursing
 Nursing interval- 1-2 hours
C-SECTION
 Breed predisposition
 History of dystocia
 Dystocia
 Make sure signs of labor
is noted before conducting CS
 Lots of help
27/04/2021
SLOW….. WHELPING
 Xray to check fetal placement
 Oxytocin (5-10 IU/dog)
 Calcium injection (SC)
POSTPARTUM MONITORING OF
THE BITCH
 Monitor temperature
 Check for presence of milk
 Mammary glands should be
non painful, symmetric and soft
 Antibiotic
2

AGALACTIA
 Give oxytocin and calcium
 If no milk at all, go for milk
replacement
 Gastric tubing (Feeding tube)
PROGRAMS FOR PUPPIES
 Dew claw removal
(esp. in brachycephalic breeds)
 Tail docking (breed specific)
 Deworming and vaccination schedule
27/04/2021
PUPPIES
 Keep it warm and dry COMMON PROBLEMS OF NEONATAL
 Separate puppies while the dam is still on labor, PUPPIES
however, in well-behaved dam, puppies
delivered earlier may be allowed to suck milk (aid
 Dehydration (unable to suck milk,
in the release of oxytocin)
 Check for congenital abnormalities (cleft agalactia)
palate)  Hypothermia
 Make sure puppies receive milk/colostrum at  Laid down by the bitch
most 2 hours after it is delivered
 First week of life is the most critical
Puppies and kittens should be examined soon after birth
puppies and kittens should be plump & round
with no gross abnormalities in size or shape
congenital abnormalities should be looked for
specifically
head should be mobile
the puppy and kitten should exhibit a rooting
reflex
the skull should be inspected for evidence of
open fontanelle or harelip
3
 27/04/2021

Physical Examination continue

 ears should be checked for size and position &
the
nose for presence of fluid accumulation in the
nostrils
 the mouth should be inspected for evidence of
cleft palate, presence of cyanosis, evidence of
dehydration, and sucking reflex
 the skin is examined for wounds, state of
hydration, completeness of hair cover, and
condition of foot pads
 the hair coat should be should be shiny and free
of debris

Equipment used to examine the puppy & kittens:
 small digital thermometer,
 an otoscope with infant-sized cones,
 a penlight and hand-held lens or an indirect
ophthalmoscope
 a small accurate gram scale for recording
body weights
 a stethoscope equipped with a pediatric-sized
or infant-sized bell and diaphragm
 Body weight is one of the most important
aspects of the physical examination of very
young animals
 it should be recorded carefully with an accurate
gram scale
▪ at birth
▪ at 12 hrs after birth
▪ then daily for the first 2 weeks of life
 Failure of weight gain often is the first sign of
illness in a newborn animal
 Normal birth weight of puppies
 toy breeds, 100 to 400 g
 medium-sized breeds, 200 to 300 g
 large breeds, 400 to 500 g
 giant breeds, in excess of 700 g
▪ birth weights of puppies generally double by 10 to
12 days of age
 most kittens weigh about 100 + 10 g at
birth
 birth weight of kittens is doubled by 2 weeks
of age

4

 Vital signs (temperature, capillary refill
time, pulse rate, and respiratory rate) are
obtained
 heart rate- above 200 beats/ min
 respiratory rate from 15 to 35 bpm in puppies
and kittens younger than 2 weeks of age
 normal body temperature
▪ newborn puppies and kittens, about 96° to 97° F
▪ 1 to 2 weeks, gradually increases to 100° by 4 weeks
of age
 because normal body temperature is lower in
newborn puppies and kittens, they should not
be warmed to adult body temperatures, or at
least not above 99° to 100° F
 Breathing should be regular and unlabored
in a healthy puppy or kitten
 the thoracic area may be inspected for
symmetry, wounds, rib fractures, and
congenital sternal and spinal abnormalities
 because of their very rapid heart rate
newborn puppies and kittens are difficult to
auscultate
 Upper and lower eyelids separate about 5 to
14 days after birth in most puppies and
kittens
 the iris is blue-gray in color and will change to the
adult color in future weeks
 Vision is not normal until 3 to 4 weeks or age
 Flexor tone predominates during the first to 4
days of life
 resulting in the characteristic comma shape of
most newborns
 After 4 days, extensor tones become
dominant,
 the puppies and kittens lie on their side or thorax
with the head extended
 Muscle tone should be strong, but newborns
cannot support their own weight until about
16 days of age
 the limbs are inspected for position,
deformities or absence of long bones,
number and position of toes and foot pads
tendon fracture, and joint mobility
 examination of the nervous system of
puppies and kittens is difficult and generally
requires serial evaluations
27/04/2021
In general:
 Pain perception is present at birth;
 however, withdrawal reflexes are not well
developed until about 7 days of age
 Puppies and kittens begin to crawl at day 1
 by 16 days of age walking begins
 by 21 days of age, puppies and kittens exhibit a
relatively normal gait
 Following nursing, the abdomen is enlarged, and
the puppy or kitten should be in a restful state
 enlargement of the abdomen with restlessness
weakness and vocalization or complete silence
may indicate illness
 the umbilicus is carefully inspected for the
evidence of infection or abnormalities of the
abdominal wall
 the umbilical cord normally drops off by 2 to 3 days
after birth
rubbing the perineum with a moist, warm cloth or

soft tissue paper stimulates micturition & defecation
 evidence of hematuria, abnormal micturition, or
diarrhea is sought
 the anus is checked for patency, swelling, and redness
5

 Puppies and kittens should be allowed to
 Observe the animal at rest and at play
 Look for obvious abnormalities of gait or
orientation
 Does the animal react appropriately to the
strange environment or does it appear
disinterested?
 is the animal withdrawn or friendly?
does it come when called by the owner?
Careful note should be made on the animal’s
body condition, mentation, posture,
locomotion, and breathing pattern
Head and Neck
 Check the nares for obstruction, stenosis,
 The eyes should be examined with a
penlight
 look at the eyelids first
 note the clarity of the cornea &
color of the sclera
 the anterior chamber should be
clear and uniform thickness throughout
 note the color and texture of the iris
 look for irregular margins of the iris and persistent
pupillary membranes
 the fundus should be examined especially in
those breeds with known heritable eye defects
approach the examiner rather than
being seized and examined immediately
 friendly coaxing and rewards, in the form of
treats, may be helpful in gaining the animal’s
trust
 one must remember to keep this experience
as positive as for the animal
 gentle handling ensures that the puppy or
kitten will become a cooperative adult
 the pinnae should examined for evidence
discharge or abnormal shape
 the patency of the airways may be
determined by closing the animal’s mouth
and allowing the puppy or kitten to breathe
on a glass slide or metal table
 palpate the muzzle for any swellings or
abnormalities
 the skin around the nose, eyes, and muzzle
should be examined carefully for papules,
pustules, or alopecia that may be indicative
of dermatophytosis or mange
27/04/2021
 When beginning the PE, approach the
animal from the front, offer your hand for
the puppy or kitten to smell and become
accustomed to, and then grasp the
animal gently behind the head and
neck with one hand while gently holding
the nose with the other
 the head and face should be examined for
symmetry
of crusting or papular/pustular eruptions
 examine the external ear canals by pulling the
pinnae vertically and caudally
 smell and visually inspect each ear canal for
exudate
 in particular, black crusty exudate is suggestive
of ear mite infestation
 yeast infections of the ears typically cause a
brown soupy exudate
 bacterial exudates are usually white yellow or
green with foul odor
6

 The mouth is examined by placing the finger
of the left hand over the muzzle at the level
of the maxillary canines
 a young animal should be examined for
congenital abnormalities such as anomalies of the
tongue or cleft palate
 look for evidence of string or other foreign objects,
especially in kittens
 the color of the gingiva or hard palate should be
examined for cyanosis or pallor
 the pattern of erupted teeth should be noted
 the tongue and sublingual are should be
examined carefully for evidence of electrical cord
burns or foreign objects
 the forelimbs should be examined joint by
joint, beginning at the toes and proceeding
to the shoulder
 each portion of the limb should be gently palpated
and flexed to determine joint mobility or to detect
the presence of pain and clicking
 the long bones of the limbs should be firmly
grasped and pressure applied to the center of the
bone
 the distal radial and ulnar epiphyses and
metaphyses should be carefully palpated
 a complete orthopedic examination should be
performed on large breed dogs between the ages
of 2 and 6 mos
27/04/2021
 a cursory neurologic examination of the
cranial nerves may be done for testing for
menace reflex, which is not well
developed until 2 to 3 weeks or age
 Palpate the prescapular lymph nodes
 pupillary light reflex, jaw tone, facial sensation,
 lies in a groove created by the
and swallowing reflex
supraspinous and longus colli muscles
 the neck is examined for swelling
 pay particular attention to the left side of the  the lymph nodes should be symmetric and
neck palpating carefully for swelling or other barely discernible
evidence of megaesophagus  in very young animals, they may not be
 the mandibular lymph nodes should be palpable
examined for swelling, localized temperature
increase or ulceration
 The thorax should be inspected for respiratory  Examination of the cardiovascular system
rate, breathing pattern, and evidence of includes visual inspection of the peripheral
respiratory distress
veins and estimation of CRT
 palpate the thorax for abnormal rib and sternal
conformation  the jugular veins should be observed for
 carefully inspect the thorax for evidence of fistulous distention or the presence of a prominent pulse
tracts or other abnormalities that might indicate an  the heart rate should be determined by
underlying problem in the thorax listening to the heart with a stethoscope while
 auscultation is an important part of the thoracic palpating the femoral pulse with the free hand
examination
▪ listen to as many puppies and kittens as possible to obtain
an appreciation for the “normal” sounds of the heart and
lungs of animals of varying ages and breeds
▪ take time to listen carefully, and shut out the sounds of the
external world in order to concentrate
7

 The heart is auscultated in the left and right
sides of the thorax
 the small size of most young dogs and cats
makes it difficult to define the exact anatomic
locations of heart sounds
 Canine: Most critical period: first 2 wks
of life
 First 3-5 days: totally dependent on the
bitch (Adaptation period)
27/04/2021
 A rapid superficial examination of the skin  Finally, the hindlimbs, genitals, and
and musculature of the abdomen should be
performed perineum are examined for
 the abdomen may be palpated beginning at the congenital defects.
cranial aspect and proceeding caudally
 it is easier to palpate with both hands
 palpate for changes in size, shape, and texture
 palpate as many abdominal organs as possible
 palpation of the small and large intestine is very
important part of the physical examination of a
puppy or kitten
1 day old Sucking reflex
2-3 days Drying of umbilical cord & dropping of
3-4 days Do tail docking & dew clawing
4 days Rooting reflex begins to disappear – the puppy will orient toward &
push into any warm object (bitch or littermate) near its head
Flexor dominance reflex – flexing the spine, tail & limbs if suspended by holding
it at the base of the head  Effect of drugs on health and birth
5-18 days Extensor dominance reflex – puppy extends the vertebral
 1. Progestational compounds observed to
column & limbs (backbend)
Between 6 & 10 days The forelimbs can support the weight of the puppy cause masculinization of females
11 & 15 days Pelvic limb support is expected  2. Excess Vit. A (125,000 ug/kg); cleft palates,
12-15 days Eyes open kinked tails, deformed auricles, reduced litter
After 15 days Megnini function starts (vision) size, failure to whelp and mummified fetuses
15-18 days Pups start to stand & crawl
From birth to 21 days Magnus reflex - Normally seen in puppies only. To test:  3. Excess Vit. D: calcinosis, premature closure
hold the body of the pup and rotate the nose on the left. The limbs on the right of fontanelles, enamel hypoplasia,
side will extend & the limbs on the left side will flex supravalvular stenosis
2-3 weeks Pups double their weight & postural reflexes develop
3 weeks Chewing reflex, can give solids  4. Others inducing structural defects:
4 weeks All deciduous teeth erupted corticosteroids carbaryl, iazinon, griseofulvin,
2-4 months Shedding of deciduous teeth
6 months Permanent canines erupt amphotericin, chloramphenicol
8 months Permanent dentition complete
8
 27/04/2021

 Hemorrhagic syndrome: Vit. K needed

 Toxic Milk Syndrome: infection or
bacterial poisoning of one or more
puppies during feeding associated with
metritis or subinvolution of placental sites;
best prevented, observed in the first 2
weeks of life.
 Bacterial infection: (mostly due to poor
sanitation) neonatal dermatitis –
inadequate cleaning off of amniotic fluid
at whelping
 Puppy viremia – Herpes virus infection,
assoc w/ low environmental temperature