Differential impact of birth weight and early growth on neonatal mortality in puppies1,2
Abstract
Breeding kennels face a high rate of neonatal mortality, on which the impact of nutrition remains to be determined. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of birth weight (reflecting intrauterine growth) and early growth rate (reflecting colostrum intake) on risk of neonatal mortality in puppies and to determine the critical thresholds of both parameters. Puppies from various breeds were weighed at birth ( = 514) and at 2 d of age, and the growth rate over that period (early growth rate) was calculated for all survivors ( = 477). Linear mixed models evaluated the effect of birth weight on mortality between birth and 2 d of age and the effect of both birth weight and early growth rate on mortality between 2 and 21 d of age. Birth weight was influenced by litter size ( = 0.003), with more low-birth-weight puppies (the lightest 25% within a breed size) in large litters compared with smaller litters. Mortality over the first 2 d after birth was associated with birth weight ( < 0.001), with 81.1% of dying puppies characterized by a low birth weight. Mortality between 2 and 21 d of age was not related to birth weight but was found to be associated with early growth rate ( < 0.001), with higher risk of death in puppies with growth rate at or below -4% after the first 2 d of life. This study demonstrates the differential effect of intrauterine nutrition impacting mortality during the first 2 d of life and that of colostrum intake impacting mortality until 21 d of life. Birth weight and early growth rate thresholds provided in this study allow identification of puppies at risk, whereby provision can be made for adequate nursing to increase their chances to survive.
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The birth bodyweights of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies in the present study are similar to the mean and median birth bodyweight of puppies of the group of large-sized breeds reported in previous studies.
“In these cases, the bBWs of BMD puppies of the present study are similar to the mean and median bBW of puppies of the group of large-sized breeds reported in previous studies [15,16,20].”
From Bodyweight at Birth and Growth Rate during the Neonatal Period in Three Canine Breeds (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
The reported early growth rate of puppies still alive at Day 21 (5.1% with a range of −2.2% to 13.2%) is closer to the study's findings.
“The reported early growth rate of puppies still alive at Day 21 (5.1% with a range of −2.2% to 13.2%) [15] is closer to our findings.”
From Bodyweight at Birth and Growth Rate during the Neonatal Period in Three Canine Breeds (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
Puppies of the present population greatly exceeded the average daily gain percentage reported by Mila et al.
“However, an important difference remains, with puppies of the present population greatly exceeding the ADG% reported by these authors.”
From Bodyweight at Birth and Growth Rate during the Neonatal Period in Three Canine Breeds (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
Weight at birth and early weight gain have been linked to the risk of neonatal mortality.
“Weight at birth (bBW) and early weight gain have been linked to the risk of neonatal mortality.”
From Bodyweight at Birth and Growth Rate during the Neonatal Period in Three Canine Breeds (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
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References 32 · Cited by 105
- Authors
- Mila, H., Grellet, A., Feugier, A., & Chastant-Maillard, S.
- Affiliations
- École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (FR)
- Venue
- Journal of Animal Science
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2015-09-01
- Volume
- 93
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 4436-4442
- ISSN
- 0021-8812 (ISSN-L)
- 1525-3163
- OpenAlex
- W2292413348
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 6.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Animal Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Royal Canin SAS (R3789 1/02/2012)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
- Keywords
- neonatal mortality, puppies, birth weight, early growth rate, colostrum intake, fetal growth, litter size, canine nutrition, risk thresholds
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Newborn, Birth Weight, Dogs, Female, Litter Size, Pregnancy
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