Puppy & Kitten Fading Syndrome: Survival of Newborn Puppies and Kittens

Frequently newborn puppies or kittens (neonates) fail to survive or live, from birth to nine weeks of age, referred to as fading puppy syndrome (faders 2) or kitten syndrome. 1 "About 20 to 40 percent of all puppies born do not survive past 12 weeks of age."2 Sometimes the severity of puppy syndrome affects a single newborn or many puppies in a litter. 4 Debatable whether to refer to the syndrome as a disease. 3 Puppy and kitten syndrome link to one of three causes: Genetic (congenital factors), infectious and environmental. 1

Genetic or Congenital factors during development in the uterus such as malformed heart or other defects (Malformation of the head, limbs, genital, anal area or cleft palate 6), survival of the newborn only viable few days after birth. Other less severe physical defects, such as Pectus excavatum (Puppies or kittens appearing having a flattened or widened chests, result of a deformity of the breast bone, compressing onto the heart and lungs. 5), prognosis is favorable upon early diagnosis. Normally after birth, puppies and kittens loss (some) body weight but regain their weight soon afterwards. However, those puppies unable to gain 5% to 10% birth weight daily or kitten failure to gain 0.25 to .035 oz a day, detrimentally affects their blood sugar (transient juvenile hyperglycemia). When a kitten blood type different from their mother, ingesting colstrum (milk) during nursing, contains antibodies destroys their red blood cells, leads to critical severe illness or death.1 A high neonatal mortality rate among those breeds of siblings.11

Infections or bacteria highly pragmatically linked to puppy or kittens deaths. Canine herpesvirus (CHV) deadly infection for puppies: One to three weeks of age. Puppies exhibit a lack of eating and onset of death is rapid. 7 Other symptoms common for canine herpesvirus include crying, failure to nurse, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing and weakness. 1 "The virus lives in the reproductive and respiratory tracts of male and female dogs (no apparent symptoms -- asymptomatic carriers) and can be sexually transmitted." Newborn puppies can acquire the virus different ways: Infected by the virus crossing the placenta during the time in the uterus, inhaling the virus from the airborne nasal secretions of the mother, virus spread from one puppy to another, and virus transmitted by eating infected materials. 7 Common kittens acquire herpsesvirus and calicivirus (Fairly mild flu -- like condition characterized by upper respiratory symptoms, pneumonia, sores in the mouth, and sometimes arthritis. "Vaccination has reduced the incidence of clinical disease, but it hasn't decreased the prevalence of the virus" 9) E. coli infection (Escherichia coli - name of a germ or bacterium 10) treatable when diagnosed early. Preferable once E. coli found in a vaginal culture, breeding should be prevented, until fully treated. Otherwise, puppies born with E. Coli within two or four days will die, unless treated with antibiotics. "If a puppy doesn't get colostrum (Either from the mother or an another bitch), it will be much more susceptible to infections." 8 Intestinal parasites (roundworm and hookworms) transmitted through the placenta, may be linked to fading puppy syndrome. 11

When puppies or kittens are born, preferable kept in a save and climate controlled environment, easily susceptible to cold (hypothermia) or hot temperature. Ability of newborns to pant in response to overheating develops within the first week of life. If hypothermia occurs, inevitably rapid decrease in heart rate and respiratory system collapse easily develop, treatable if immediate veterinarian care is provided. Large breeds (barrel -- bodied dogs) known to accidentally step or inadvertently crush puppies. Ensure bedding materials and other products used by newborns not chemically cleaned, because neonatal skin and lungs highly perceptible to adverse reaction than in an adult. 1 Dams who undergo Caesarean section, higher rate of fading puppies a result of maternal instincts not strong enough mother the newborns or the operation itself may detrimentally contribute cause of fading puppy syndrome. 11

Eliminating or preventing occurrence of fading puppy or kitten syndrome starts by ensuring pregnant dogs or kittens have a high quality nutritional food or diet: Decreases newborns incidence of weak, diseased or underweight. 2 Also, high quality nursing diet important, help nursing mothers provide adequate nutrition to her newborns. 6 "In very large litters, some puppies suffer from uterine malnutrition due to competition between other developing feti." 2 Frequently fading dog syndrome unfortunate outcome is preventable, when dog owners recognizes inevitable signs and being able to take immediate remedial action: When a mother of a litter does not lick or protect any one of her puppies instinctively, immediate attention is required, attempt to prevent puppy syndrome. If a puppy does not scurry back to it's mother after being released from absences, symptom of puppy syndrome. Fading puppy displays slow physical motion compared to healthy pulp busy and physically active. Syndrome puppy incapable to maintain ample supply of energy to keep warm during cold weather and does not want to eat. 3 When bacteria infection detected (confirmed by swab testing) in a bitch, usually course of treatment starts by administering symulox (Common veterinarian antibiotic, treatment for infections in the lungs, and nasal tract. "The drug is a compound of amoxicillin and Clavularic Acid." 14), stopping two days after mating and sometimes continuing treatment afterwards, preventing the bacteria from contaminating unborn puppies and preventing bacterial contamination of the milk. Also, preventing the disease from being transmitted to healthy bitches. 13

Diagnosis of fading puppy or kitten syndrome may not always be apparent immediately.1 When more then twenty percent of a litter circum to death, helpful to seek a post mortem examination of a recently expired puppy, confirm the diagnosis of fading syndrome.6 Treatment options for newborns include: Providing a source of warmth (maintain adequate body temperature), fluids (Dog owner must provide food by means of either bottle or stomach tube. 3), glucose (sugar), nutrition, blood transfusion (May be necessary) and oxygen. Also, medication may be administered including antibiotics or parasiticides (chemicals that kill parasities 12), and congenital defects may require surgery.1 .

References:

1.) Fading puppy and kitten syndrome: Do you know the signs? - http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/fading%20syndrome.htm

2.) Fading Puppy Syndrome - http://www.petplace.com/dogs/fading-puppy-syndrome/page1.aspx

3.) The 'Fading Puppy" Syndrome - http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dog-articles/Dog_Diseases/page_2/The_Fading_Puppy_Syndrome.html

4.) Fading Puppy Syndrome - http://www.wolfweb.com.au/acd/fadingpupsyn.html

5.) Pectus Excavatum - http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/pectus.htm

6.) Fading Puppy Syndrome - http://www.petplace.com/dogs/fading-puppy-syndrome/page1.aspx

7.) Herpes Virus Infection - http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=443

8.) 'Fading puppies' is not a diagnosis - http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/fading.html

9.) Calicivirus - http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/calicivirus/

10.) E. coli Infection - http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/e-coli-infection-topic-overview

11.) Fading Puppy Syndrome - http://www.samoyedhealthfoundation.org/diseases/fading-puppy-syndrome

12.) At the Vet - http://www.angelfire.com/realm/mypet/DogVet.htm

13) The Fading Puppy Syndrome - http://groups.msn.com/H-4-HPITBULLBOARD/healthissues.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=28465&LastModified=4675627516056215132

14.) Synulox - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synulox