Reproduction

Question 1

T/F: Overweight cats and dogs are an increasing problem with about 20% dogs and 50% cats being overweight/obese.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

T/F: An over-conditioned animal is likely to be more fertile as they have excess stored energy to promote ovulation and fertilization.

Answer 2

False - obesity can have negative impacts on fertility and reproductive performance (studied in humans)

Question 3

__________ BCS is needed in breeding animals. If an animal has a poor BCS, they should not be bred.

Answer 3

Optimal (5/9)

Question 4

Folic acid

Answer 4

That’s it. That is the card.

Question 5

Common congenital abnormality

Answer 5

Cleft palates

In humans, folic acid is highly studied for its prevention of cleft palates

Question 6

Data extrapolated from a human study has shown that folic acid introduction during gestation can decrease cleft palate occurrence by _____

Answer 6

76%

Question 7

Supplement folic acid @ _____mg/kg for the first ______ days of gestation

Answer 7

0.5mg/kg

40 days

Question 8

Why is it important that folic acid is supplemented at the beginning of gestation?

Answer 8

Neural tube closes around 35-40d

Question 9

What are the potential effects of oxidative stress on female reproduction?

Answer 9

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) affect oocyte maturation to fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy

Question 10

Puppies will gain ______ % of their final birth weight in the last 20 days of gestation

Answer 10

70% - WOWZA

Question 11

As puppies begin to pop off during the last 20 days of gestation, the dam will require a _____ increase in energy per week

Answer 11

10%

Question 12

How much weight should a bitch body weight increase by the time of parturition?

Answer 12

15-25%

Question 13

How do queens differ from bitches when it comes to weight gain throughout gestation?

Answer 13

Cats start putting on weight early as they increase their fat reserves (helps get them thru lactation)

Dogs increase mostly towards the end of gestation (as the puppies grow) b/c they rely more on diet to get them through lactation

Question 14

As demonstrated in a human study, how does uterine contractility change with body condition?

Answer 14

Obese patients had decreased contractions and increased difficulty giving birth b/c fat infiltrates myometrium

Underweight patients had more spastic, uncoordinated contractions

Question 15

What are some ways to get a bitch to eat, even when it’s unappealing b/c preggers and uncomfy?

Answer 15

Give smaller, more frequent meals

Use wet food

Question 16

T/F: the way you feed a dam will influence the gut microbiome of her offspring

Answer 16

True - study showed that incorporating Saccharomyces into the maternal diet improved the microbiome in newborn puppies

Question 17

How should dams be fed during lactation?

Answer 17

Free feeding

Question 18

T/F: Colostrum quality is standardized and uniform between a dam’s mammary glands

Answer 18

False - no idea quality of colostrum in each teat b/c varies between glands

Question 19

T/F: supplementing gestating female dogs with folic acid is advised to reduce dystocias

Answer 19

False - used for cleft palates

Question 20

T/F: in the final 20d of gestation, puppies will acquire 70% of their eventual birth weight

Answer 20

True

Question 21

T/F: the feeding strategy for gestating female dogs and cats can be uniformly applied

Answer 21

False - cats require increase in energy early!!!

Question 22

What are the three big causes of neonatal mortality?

Answer 22

Hypoglycemia
Hypothermia
Hypovolemia

Question 23

Why is it important to check a puppy’s body temperature before feeding?

Answer 23

Hypothermia leads to ileus
Ileus leads to bloat
Bloat can lead to aspiration pneumonia
Also puppy isn’t getting food then so hypoglycemia and death

Question 24

Body temp during 1st week of life

Answer 24

95-97F

Question 25

Body temp during 2nd week of life

Answer 25

97-100F

Question 26

Kittens require _______kcal/kg/d; puppies require ________kcal/kg/d

Answer 26

200; 130-150

Question 27

What does it mean if puppies/kittens are nursing on each other? What can you do about it?

Answer 27

Tells you they are hungry

Instead of increasing amount of food, increase the number of meals

Question 28

How to go about nutrition at weaning?

Answer 28

4 weeks of age
4 weeks time
4 meals per day

Question 29

Describe how to go about weaning

Answer 29

1st week - 1:2 kibble to liquid (water or milk replacer)

2nd week - 1:1 kibble to water

3rd week - 1:0.5 kibble to water

4th week - dry food only