A model of puppy growth during the first three weeks.

Isabel Alves

doi:10.1002/vms3.322

Abstract

Neonatal mortality in puppies is highly variable, with large scale surveys still reporting average values around 10% –15%. Weight measurement is the simplest way to monitor the development of the puppies, and a weight loss during the first 48 hr has been recognized as one of the factors that puts puppies at a higher risk of neonatal mortality. However, little is known about what constitutes optimum growth up to 3 weeks. In this study, a mathematical formula with the form P = P 0 exp (0.13084 x ‐ 0.001616 x2), where P is weight on Day x and P 0 is weight on Day 0, obtained by multiple linear regression, is presented and validated with data from 345 puppies belonging to 60 litters of 19 different breeds, from toy to giant size, showing that it appropriately describes maximum puppy growth rate during the neonatal period for all breeds. This formula is in agreement with previous studies and generic recommendations that can be found in the literature on puppy growth from birth to 21 days regarding relative daily weight gain. It can be easily introduced in a spreadsheet or used to build growth charts that can help the breeder or the veterinarian in monitoring and evaluating puppy growth during the neonatal period. Although deviations from the maximum growth rate can now be quantified, there is still a need to determine the limits beyond which supplementary feeding is advised/required.

Highlights

The neonatal mortality in puppies is highly variable, with large-scale studies still reporting average values around 10%–15% (Chastant-Maillard et al, 2017; Tønnessen, Sverdrup, Borge, Nodtvelt, & Indrebo, 2012) but increasing to 20%–30% in some breeds or kennels (Soares, Dourado, Alves, & Mateus, 2019; Tønnessen et al, 2012; Vassalo et al, 2015)
Mila et al (2015) showed that variation in weight during the first 48 hr was linked to the mortality between 2 and 21 days of age, with a birth weight loss of 4% or more leading to a higher risk of mortality
Nursing puppies have an estimated energy requirement that is a linear function of their weight ( (National Research Council [NRC] 2006)

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

The neonatal mortality in puppies (from birth to weaning) is highly variable, with large-scale studies still reporting average values around 10%–15% (Chastant-Maillard et al, 2017; Tønnessen, Sverdrup, Borge, Nodtvelt, & Indrebo, 2012) but increasing to 20%–30% in some breeds or kennels (Soares, Dourado, Alves, & Mateus, 2019; Tønnessen et al, 2012; Vassalo et al, 2015). Despite the interest of these generic limits to monitor early growth and identifying puppies at risk, a more detailed description of weight gain of puppies during the first three weeks, when they are exclusively milk fed, is needed. This kind of information is still scarce and often relative to a specific breed (Bigliardi, Di Ianni, Parmigiani, Morini, & Bresciani, 2013; Schroeder & Smith, 1994), with most studies being made on the period from weaning to adulthood (Dobenecker, Endres, & Kienzle, 2013; Salt et al, 2017). Such a model can help identifying the puppies that are growing below what is to be expected and to quantify that deviation, which can help the breeder/veterinarian to define the need for supplementary feeding

| MATERIAL AND METHODS

| Ethical approval

Findings

| DISCUSSION