Page 404 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
23

VetBooks.ir

Feeding Nursing and

Orphaned Kittens from Birth

to Weaning

Kathy L. Gross
Iveta Becvarova
Jacques Debraekeleer

“Kittens are angels with whiskers.”
Author Unknown

tus of kittens (i.e., orphaned, fostered and normal) and the
INTRODUCTION
reproductive performance of the queen. Records should include
Kittens usually depend on the queen to provide food during the food intake, body weight, body temperature and stool charac-
neonatal or nursing period. Proper nutrition of the queen dur- teristics, especially during the first two weeks postpartum.
ing gestation and lactation, the behavior and health of the Changes in kitten behavior, activity and other indicators of nor-
queen and good neonatal care are important to achieving a suc- mal development (e.g., opening of eyes, eruption of teeth and
cessful transition from fetal life to the nursing period.The tran- coat quality) may prove useful as well (Table 23-1). In some
sition from queen’s milk to solid food (weaning) is a gradual instances, it may be helpful to differentiate individual kittens
process and is an integral part of the nursing period.This chap- (Box 23-1).
ter includes feeding normal nursing kittens, feeding orphaned It is particularly important that good records be maintained
kittens and integrating the weaning process. for orphaned and foster kittens. Orphaned kittens are hand-
Kittens are considered orphaned if they lack sufficient mater- raised kittens, whereas foster kittens are those raised by a queen
nal care for survival from birth to weaning. Several physiologic other than their mother. Successful management of these kit-
needs normally provided by the queen must be met to ensure tens depends on the quick recognition and correction of health
survival of neonates: heat, humidity, nutrition, immunity, elim- and management problems. Parameters such as weight gain,
ination, sanitation, security and social stimulation. A foster daily food intake, stool characteristics and kitten vigor (i.e.,
queen or the caregiver must meet these needs for orphaned kit- muscle tone, activity and alertness) should be recorded. Kittens
tens (Box 23-1). should be observed for suckling activity in addition to the above
parameters.
PATIENT ASSESSMENT Orphaned kittens should have consistent weight gains simi-
lar to those of suckling kittens (Figure 23-1) (Remillard et al,
History 1993). Orphans, in particular, should be examined for common
Clients should be encouraged to keep logbooks of all data that problems such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, dehydration and
may provide information about the health and nutritional sta- congenital defects.The current nutritional and hydration status