RECOVER Guidelines: Newborn Resuscitation in Dogs and Cats. Clinical Guidelines

Objective

To present evidence- and consensus-based guidelines for resuscitation of newborn puppies and kittens.

Design

Prioritized clinical questions pertaining to newborn resuscitation and in the Population–Intervention–Comparator–Outcome (PICO) format were used to inform systematic literature searches by information specialists, to extract research findings from relevant publications and synthesize them into evidence, to assess this evidence for quality, and, finally, to develop draft treatment recommendations. These steps were followed by a consensus process and a community commenting period prior to finalization of the project. These RECOVER Newborn Resuscitation Guidelines are a concise summary of the newborn resuscitation process to provide clear and actionable clinical instructions to veterinary professionals.

Setting

Transdisciplinary, international collaboration in university, specialty, and emergency practice.

Results

A total of 28 PICO questions pertaining to resuscitation of puppies and kittens at birth were addressed in this project. This resulted in 59 treatment recommendations that delineate an iterative approach to newborn resuscitation starting with airway clearance, tactile stimulation, and temperature control, as well as positive pressure ventilation, and instruct on more advanced measures such as CPR. An algorithm displays the flow of assessments and actions over the course of the resuscitation process.

Conclusions

These RECOVER Newborn Resuscitation Guidelines present a concise and comprehensive framework for resuscitation of puppies and kittens at birth. These works serve to support veterinary professionals and breeders, educational systems, and research initiatives in conducting, implementing, and advancing newborn resuscitation in puppies and kittens.