In humans, scientific evidence emphasizes the role of birth weight on neonatal welfare, morbidity and mortality. In canine species, defining normal ranges of birth weight is a harder issue due to a great morphological variability in size, body weight and breed. The aim of this study was to correlate birth weight with litter size and mortality within 24h of life in 789 pups from 140 litters of purebred dogs and to investigate the aspects that might affect these factors. Birth weight was influenced by maternal size, weight and age (P<0.001). The lightest pups were from toy sized or weighing up to 10kg bitches. Conversely, bitches aged 2-8 years whelped heavier pups than younger and older mothers. Birth weight was also related both to litter size, with heavier pups in smaller rather than in larger litters from medium sized bitches, and breed (P<0.05). Unexpectedly, birth weight did not differ between live born and stillborn pups. However, birth weight was lower in pups dying within 24h of life (P<0.05). High mortality of pups was related both to short pregnancies (P<0.05), also showing lighter litters (P<0.001), and to dystocic parturitions (P<0.001). Litter size was associated with parity, type and number of mating, and length of pregnancy (P<0.001). Low birth weight appears to predispose to early neonatal mortality suggesting a predominant role of the breed rather than size and weight in determining birth weight in pups.

The role of birth weight on litter size and mortality within 24h of life in purebred dogs : what aspects are involved? / D. Groppetti, G. Ravasio, V. Bronzo, A. Pecile. - In: ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE. - ISSN 0378-4320. - 163(2015 Dec), pp. 112-119. [10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.10.005]

The role of birth weight on litter size and mortality within 24h of life in purebred dogs : what aspects are involved?

D. Groppetti
Primo
;
G. Ravasio
Secondo
;
V. Bronzo
Penultimo
;
A. Pecile
Ultimo
2015

Abstract

In humans, scientific evidence emphasizes the role of birth weight on neonatal welfare, morbidity and mortality. In canine species, defining normal ranges of birth weight is a harder issue due to a great morphological variability in size, body weight and breed. The aim of this study was to correlate birth weight with litter size and mortality within 24h of life in 789 pups from 140 litters of purebred dogs and to investigate the aspects that might affect these factors. Birth weight was influenced by maternal size, weight and age (P<0.001). The lightest pups were from toy sized or weighing up to 10kg bitches. Conversely, bitches aged 2-8 years whelped heavier pups than younger and older mothers. Birth weight was also related both to litter size, with heavier pups in smaller rather than in larger litters from medium sized bitches, and breed (P<0.05). Unexpectedly, birth weight did not differ between live born and stillborn pups. However, birth weight was lower in pups dying within 24h of life (P<0.05). High mortality of pups was related both to short pregnancies (P<0.05), also showing lighter litters (P<0.001), and to dystocic parturitions (P<0.001). Litter size was associated with parity, type and number of mating, and length of pregnancy (P<0.001). Low birth weight appears to predispose to early neonatal mortality suggesting a predominant role of the breed rather than size and weight in determining birth weight in pups.
Birth weight; Litter size; Neonatal mortality; Purebred dog
Settore VET/10 - Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia Veterinaria
dic-2015
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Groppetti, Birth weight.pdf

accesso riservato

Descrizione: online first
Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 411.03 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
411.03 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
1-s2.0-S0378432015300361-main.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 353.82 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
353.82 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
2434_342031.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Post-print, accepted manuscript ecc. (versione accettata dall'editore)
Dimensione 609.33 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
609.33 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/342031
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 15
  • Scopus 26
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 25
social impact