Practical Canine Reproduction and Pediatrics

Dr Dennis Lawler is an authority with over 20 years of experience in neonatology and pediatric care. As attending clinician and research veterinarian at the Nestle Research Center St. Louis, he has managed the health and welfare of thousands of young dogs and cats. He has published extensively in journals and textbooks in the areas of veterinary nutrition and animal health. His areas of academic interest include population biology, reproduction, and pediatric medicine.

Section 1: Unique Aspects of Canine Neonatal and Pediatric Medicine.1.1 Introduction to the Reproductive Component.1.2 Introduction to the Pediatric Component.1.3 Text Format.Section 2: Organogenesis.2.1 General Considerations of Fetal Loss.2.2 The Female and Reproductive Success.2.3 The Male and Reproductive Success.2.4 Genetics and Early Fetal Loss.2.5 Drugs and Canine Pregnancy.2.6 Microorganisms and Pregnancy Loss.2.7 The Reproductive and Puppy Rearing Environment.2.8 Parasites and Fetal Loss.2.9 Dam Health and Fetal Loss.2.10 Nutritional Aspects of Early Pregnancy Termination.2.11 Endocrinopathies.2.12 Summary of Responses to Apparent Fetal Loss.Section 3: Parturition.3.1 General Considerations.3.2 Apparent Gestation Length.3.3 Supporting Evaluations.3.4 Monitoring for Parturition.3.5 Dystocia.3.6 Common Periparturient Problems that Affect Puppy Survival.Section 4: Puppies in the Neonatal Period.4.1 General Considerations of the Canine Neonate.4.2 Evaluation of the Canine Neonate.4.3 General Supportive Care for the Neonate and its Environment.4.4 Growth, Development, and Nutrition.4.5 Practical Feeding Support.4.6 Drug Therapy and the Neonate.Section 5: The 21 - 28 Day Maturation.5.1 Appendicular Neurological Maturation.5.2 Sensory and Thermoregulatory Maturation.5.3 Psychosocial Maturation.5.4 Interactional Maturation.5.5 Longer-Term Effects of Abnormal Maturation.5.6 Nutritional Considerations.5.7 Clinical Monitoring.Section 6: Weaning.6.1 Primary Events.6.2 Nutrition and Feeding.6.3 The Post-Weaning Dam.6.4 Clinical Monitoring of Post-Weaning Puppies.Section 7: Wasting.7.1 What is "Wasting" (Fading)?.7.2 Causes for Wasting.7.3 Approaches for Correcting Wasting.Section 8: Postmortem Evaluation.8.1 General Considerations.8.2 Supportive Information.8.3 The Necropsy.8.4 Economics of Postmortem Evaluation.8.5 Stillbirth.8.6 Live Birth.Section 9: Environments For Young Dogs.9.1 General Considerations.9.2 The Shelter Environment.9.3 The Retail Environment.9.4 The Stable Population.9.5 The Household, Neighborhood, and Community.9.6 Construction and Sanitation.9.7 Food Management in Kennels and Households.9.8 Avoiding Unnecessary Stress-Associated Diseases.9.9 The Animal Component of the Environment.9.10 Managing Risks.Section 10: Adolescence And Beyond.10.1 Population Control.10.2 The Changing Understanding of Proper Growth and Development.10.3 Diet Restriction and Health From Puppy Hood Through Adolescence and Beyond.10.5 Data Collection.10.6 Lifespan.10.7 Body Weight, Body Condition Score, and Body Composition.10.8 Growth-Critical Metabolism.10.9 Immunological Evaluations.10.10 Immunity and Nutritional Supplementation During Growth.10.11 Hematology and Clinical Chemistry Variables.10.12 Diseases