The Heat Is On - Tailored Temperatures for Newborn Puppies and Kittens

An incubator allows you to make these fine adjustments to their environment, thereby maintaining this delicate equilibrium which keeps this fine balance in order. The result? Far more control and reassurance over the temperature which means quicker recovery of new-borns, and more lives saved. I can 100% guarantee that I would not have the success rate of hand-rearing that I currently have without my incubators.

When I first started hand-rearing, I wasn't fortunate enough to have access to an incubator. In the past, a heat pad was the only option available to me, and this works for many. With that being said, once you use an incubator, you'll never want to use a heat pad for vulnerable new-borns again. I would always worry if they were warm enough; constantly making sure they were tucked up in blankets to protect them from draughts. This situation becomes more of a challenge when neonates crawl away from heat pad, which they may do if they are too warm. Though they can also do this when they are in the depths of hypothermia (almost as if their body has accepted its fate). An incubator prevents this occurrence in the first instance, ensuring the neonate will be warmed despite their physiological state telling them to give up.

As for heat lamps, I've never been a fan due to the drying atmosphere they create and the fact you can't tailor the temperature to suit your neonates requirements with the same precision s an incubator. New-borns rely on higher levels of 55-60% humidity in the first week L. Greer, M (2014), and the use of heat lamps effectively eliminates this crucial aspect of their care. Neonatal puppies and kittens also have roughly double the fluid requirements of adults. Unfortunately, this means the use of a heat lamp leads to dehydration in neonates as well as drying out their skin and mucosal secretions, all of which negatively impact their health. Premature neonates depend on even higher levels of humidity to prevent atelectasis (airway collapse) due to their underdeveloped lungs. Therefore, a heat lamp would not support a good prognosis for premature neonates which is why I tend to steer clear. Of course in an emergency, a heat lamp is better than no heat at all and does the job of treating hypothermia, but for long-term use I would seek an alternative that is more conducive in promoting neonatal health.

Certain incubator manufacturers, including Vetario, integrate humidity features into most of their incubators to address this vital aspect of neonatal care. I have been using these incubators for many years now due to this consideration of particular elements within their manufacturing process. This approach enhances the level of care I can provide in a professional capacity, as without the right equipment, I could not emulate the conditions necessary to enable critical ill neonate's to recover.

Hopefully you now understand why setting environmental temperatures for neonatal puppies and kittens is more complex than placing a pizza in the oven and checking the cheat chart on the box (who checks those anyway?). Between observing tell-tale signs and assessing their temperature, you can tailor their environment using a thermostatically controlled incubator and be certain that you have a contented, warm puppy or kitten, safely in your capable hands.