Chilling (Hypothermia)
Hypothermia, or chilling, is one of the biggest risks in the first two weeks of life for puppies and kittens. Newborns do not thermoregulate efficiently during their first two weeks.
A chilled animal will have a decreased internal body temperature, which will slow the body's metabolism. The digestive system will also slow down, and heart and respiration rate will also decrease. These combined effects may lead to a loss of reflexes and eventually death.
A chilled neonate may appear limp and may be located apart from his littermates. Normal healthy litters would generally lie together in a heap to conserve warmth. So, if a puppy or kitten is located apart from his littermates, this is one of the first signs that that animal may be chilled.
If a puppy or kitten is thought to be chilled, the best approach is to warm the animal very slowly and gradually using one's body heat. We should not use artificial heat sources like lamps or heating pads because these might heat the extremities of the puppy or kitty before the core and therefore cause tissue damage.
Another thing to remember with a chilled puppy or kitten is to not immediately feed the animal. Remember that the digestive system has slowed down, so the animal will not be able to digest in the chilled state. We should wait until after having gradually warmed the animal to try to provide it any nourishment.
The best way to prevent chilling is by keeping the animals' area warm and free of drafts.