A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy
Despite increasing professionalism in dog breeding, the physiological range of birth weight in this species remains unclear. Low birth weight can predispose to neonatal mortality and growth deficiencies in humans. To date, the influence of the morphotype on birth weight has never been studied in dog...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2017-05-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/6/43 |
| _version_ | 1819291710140710912 |
|---|---|
| author | Debora Groppetti Alessandro Pecile Clara Palestrini Stefano P. Marelli Patrizia Boracchi |
| author_facet | Debora Groppetti Alessandro Pecile Clara Palestrini Stefano P. Marelli Patrizia Boracchi |
| author_sort | Debora Groppetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite increasing professionalism in dog breeding, the physiological range of birth weight in this species remains unclear. Low birth weight can predispose to neonatal mortality and growth deficiencies in humans. To date, the influence of the morphotype on birth weight has never been studied in dogs. For this purpose, an Italian census of birth weight was collected from 3293 purebred pups based on maternal morphotype, size, body weight and breed, as well as on litter size and sex of pups. Multivariate analysis outcomes showed that birth weight (p < 0.001) and litter size (p < 0.05) increased with maternal size and body weight. Birth weight was also influenced by the maternal head and body shape, with brachycephalic and brachymorph dogs showing the heaviest and the lightest pups, respectively (p < 0.001). Birth weight decreased with litter size (p < 0.001), and male pups were heavier than females (p < 0.001). These results suggest that canine morphotype, not only maternal size and body weight, can affect birth weight and litter size with possible practical implications in neonatal assistance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:42:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-018e5cb58d9e4cd0947967297cb49ea0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:42:57Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-018e5cb58d9e4cd0947967297cb49ea02022-12-21T17:16:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152017-05-01764310.3390/ani7060043ani7060043A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in ItalyDebora Groppetti0Alessandro Pecile1Clara Palestrini2Stefano P. Marelli3Patrizia Boracchi4Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Vanzetti 5, 20133 Milan, ItalyDespite increasing professionalism in dog breeding, the physiological range of birth weight in this species remains unclear. Low birth weight can predispose to neonatal mortality and growth deficiencies in humans. To date, the influence of the morphotype on birth weight has never been studied in dogs. For this purpose, an Italian census of birth weight was collected from 3293 purebred pups based on maternal morphotype, size, body weight and breed, as well as on litter size and sex of pups. Multivariate analysis outcomes showed that birth weight (p < 0.001) and litter size (p < 0.05) increased with maternal size and body weight. Birth weight was also influenced by the maternal head and body shape, with brachycephalic and brachymorph dogs showing the heaviest and the lightest pups, respectively (p < 0.001). Birth weight decreased with litter size (p < 0.001), and male pups were heavier than females (p < 0.001). These results suggest that canine morphotype, not only maternal size and body weight, can affect birth weight and litter size with possible practical implications in neonatal assistance.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/6/43birth weightdogmorphometry |
| spellingShingle | Debora Groppetti Alessandro Pecile Clara Palestrini Stefano P. Marelli Patrizia Boracchi A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy Animals birth weight dog morphometry |
| title | A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy |
| title_full | A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy |
| title_fullStr | A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy |
| title_short | A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy |
| title_sort | national census of birth weight in purebred dogs in italy |
| topic | birth weight dog morphometry |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/6/43 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT deboragroppetti anationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT alessandropecile anationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT clarapalestrini anationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT stefanopmarelli anationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT patriziaboracchi anationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT deboragroppetti nationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT alessandropecile nationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT clarapalestrini nationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT stefanopmarelli nationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly AT patriziaboracchi nationalcensusofbirthweightinpurebreddogsinitaly |