A puppy or kitten is born almost agammaglobulinemic. Ninety percent of immune cover arrives through colostrum in the first 24 hours, with peak absorption at 4 hours and the gut mostly closed by 12 to 16. New science on microbiome seeding, S. boulardii CNCM I-1079, and the action ladder for a neonate who cannot suckle.
Human NICU probiotic medicine has matured around one transformation: pick the strain, not the category. Same genus, different strain, very different result. Here is what the 2023 European position paper and the 2023 FDA alert could mean for puppies and kittens, eventually.
The 5-point whelping box audit every breeder should run before a litter. Why most setups fail on system design, not equipment.
Two 2025 canine studies show the last 6 to 8 weeks before whelping are not waiting time. They are an active programming window. The dam's chronic stress load in this period leaves a measurable signal in her puppies. Here is what to do with that, in real kennel practice.
Feline dystocia kills 40 to 44 percent of kittens in affected litters. The 2-hour rule, the 30-minute pushing rule, and the dark brown-black discharge before a kitten are your three non-negotiable triggers to call your vet. Observe, time, transport.
Neonatal isoerythrolysis kills kittens when a Type B queen's colostrum antibodies destroy Type A kittens' red blood cells. Blood typing before mating and 24-hour colostrum management prevent it entirely.
A veterinarian's protocol for natural dog breeding: how to time ovulation, prepare the environment, space matings, protect the stud's os penis, and spot the red flags before they cost you a litter or a breeding career.
Learn how daily weighing and breed-specific neonatal growth charts can detect puppy and kitten health crises 24 to 48 hours before clinical signs appear. Covers birth weight thresholds, the two-centile rule, hypothermia staging, and essential neonatal monitoring equipment for breeders.
The canine nomograph promises to predict when maternal antibodies fade using the dam's serum titer. Two biological realities break that promise: up to 20 percent of puppies experience failure of passive transfer, and antibody concentration varies from gland to gland. Your real leverage is upstream, in optimizing colostrum quality and maximizing intake in the first 24 hours.
Flushing your queen — sudden post-breeding calorie spikes borrowed from livestock — triggers progesterone drops and embryonic resorption in cats. The right approach: a gradual 10% weekly increase from day one, weekly weight tracking, and progesterone monitoring with your vet.
DR. EMMANUEL FONTAINE 