We talked about colostrum in a recent blog and mentioned how important it was for newborn puppies & kittens to drink it right after birth. However, when you breed dogs and cats, I am sure you are aware that sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Sometimes we indeed have bitches and queens that will deliver a healthy litter… but will not lactate right away. As timing is so critical for colostrum, are there alternatives that can be used then ? Oral serum is often mentioned.
Serum is the component of the blood that does not contain white or red blood cells, and contain the antibodies. Serum from adults (the mother, or any other healthy/compatible adult from the kennel / cattery) could therefore technically be used as a source of antibodies, and be given those colostrum-less puppies & kittens. Technically again, it would make sense. But how is it in reality ?
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Recent published data gives us a better understanding on what to expect in those cases.
What to expect in puppies ?
There are two studies of interest on this matter :
– Poffenbarger et al, 1991 (Abstract here) :
In this study some puppies were allowed to drink the colostrum from their mother right after birth while others were not and received adult serum, orally or sub-cutaneously. The puppies that had been allowed to drink the colostrum from their mother had significantly more antibodies than the two other groups.
– Mila et al, 2014 (Abstract here) :
They did a similar kind of studies and the conclusions they reached were interesting : « The oral supplementation with hyper-immunized canine plasma neither decreased risk of mortality, nor improved IgG [antibody] concentration at 2 days of age in puppies ».
To sum it up : adult serum brings no real benefit for newborn puppies that were not able to drink the colostrum.
What to expect in kittens ?
Things are different in kittens. The following graph comes from a study performed in 2001 that showed that in this species on the contrary, oral serum could eventually be an alternative.
When newborn kittens don’t get the chance to drink their mother’s first milk, known as colostrum, they miss out on crucial antibodies that protect them from diseases.
Colostrum is their first form of immunization, but not all kittens can access it due to various circumstances, such as being separated from their mothers early on. Recognizing this challenge, a groundbreaking study explored an innovative solution to support these vulnerable newborns.
Newborn kittens that received adult cat serum, whether injected into the abdomen or under the skin, showed antibody levels similar to those who nursed on colostrum naturally. This was a significant improvement over kittens who didn’t receive any serum or colostrum, as they lagged behind in their antibody levels until about six weeks old.
This study presents a promising alternative for kittens unable to receive colostrum. Using adult cat serum can give these kittens a fighting chance by providing them with the necessary antibodies to protect against infections early in life. While further research is needed to determine the optimal antibody levels for maximum protection, this method shows great potential in supporting the health and survival of colostrum-deprived kittens.
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