Neonatal Resuscitation

Many of the procedures recommended for neonatal puppies and kittens immediately after birth are extrapolated from human neonatal resuscitation guidelines (1). These procedures are constantly changing and new updates are usually published every 5 years. Guidelines have been published for newborn dogs and cats (2). One of the most important factors in success of resuscitation is being prepared and having a team of trained personnel to help.

Swinging or shaking newborn animals (as previously described in veterinary literature) is no longer recom- mended as it may cause head and neck injuries or intracranial haemorrhage.

Body temperature
It is important to keep the mother warm during caesarean section as this benefits the offspring. In women, perioperative warming with forced warm air blankets prevented foetal hypothermia and improved acid-base balance (3). The newborn should be dried immediately with warm towels and either placed under a radiant heater or warm forced air blanket; alternatively, a hair dryer set on “warm” can be gently moved over them to provide heat. Neonates have poor thermoregulatory mechanisms and the ambient temperature where they are resuscitated and nursed must be high (27-32oC). Towelling and rubbing also provides tactile stimulation for spontaneous breathing. [...]