The study aimed to define the standard growth curves in Labrador Retriever breed during the first 4 weeks of life, with the aim of optimizing the specific assistance postpartum. The definition of the physiological growth parameters of puppies in relation to the breed, such as weight at birth and average daily gain, represents the tool to monitor the daily development and to ensure neonatal survival in dogs . In our study we selected weight values of 147 healthy full-term puppies relative to 22 parturitions from Labrador Retriever breed bitches. Puppies were fed only with mother milk, no other food or liquids were added. A length of 63 ± 1 days was considered a full-term gestation from ovulation day (65 ± 1 days from LH peack). The pregnant bitches were fed under standard conditions with a dry maintenance feed 50% increased dose, referring to the normal daily requirement from the 28th day of pregnancy. The diet was gradually replaced from the 55th day of pregnancy with dry puppies feed until weaning. No pharmacological treatments were used to promote milk production. The puppies dead during the first two weeks were not included in the study. The puppies were weighted immediately after birth and every 24 hours for the following 28 days using an electronic scales. Statistical analysis of body weight was performed using a one-way analysis of covariance (male vs female), with the age of bitches as the covariate, by the GLM procedure of SAS. The bitches in our sample completed 22 pregnancies with an average of 6.7 weaned puppies. Males were 50% and females 50%. The growing was linear during monitoring time and no weight loss during the first three days after birth was registered. The average body weight at birth was 440.80 ± 81.62g, nearly doubled in 9 days (954.75 ± 188.81g), tripled in 17 days (1,369.67 ± 390.41g) and quadrupled in 21 days (1.794,75 ± 445.04g) after birth. The average body weight at initial weaning period (Day 28) was 2,682.31 ± 494.82g. No significant effect related to sex was recorded.
PHYSIOLOGICAL GROWTH PERFORMANCES IN NEW BORN PUPPIES OF LABRADOR RETRIEVER BREED. PRELIMINARY RESULTS
LIOTTA, Luigi;
2015-01-01
Abstract
The study aimed to define the standard growth curves in Labrador Retriever breed during the first 4 weeks of life, with the aim of optimizing the specific assistance postpartum. The definition of the physiological growth parameters of puppies in relation to the breed, such as weight at birth and average daily gain, represents the tool to monitor the daily development and to ensure neonatal survival in dogs . In our study we selected weight values of 147 healthy full-term puppies relative to 22 parturitions from Labrador Retriever breed bitches. Puppies were fed only with mother milk, no other food or liquids were added. A length of 63 ± 1 days was considered a full-term gestation from ovulation day (65 ± 1 days from LH peack). The pregnant bitches were fed under standard conditions with a dry maintenance feed 50% increased dose, referring to the normal daily requirement from the 28th day of pregnancy. The diet was gradually replaced from the 55th day of pregnancy with dry puppies feed until weaning. No pharmacological treatments were used to promote milk production. The puppies dead during the first two weeks were not included in the study. The puppies were weighted immediately after birth and every 24 hours for the following 28 days using an electronic scales. Statistical analysis of body weight was performed using a one-way analysis of covariance (male vs female), with the age of bitches as the covariate, by the GLM procedure of SAS. The bitches in our sample completed 22 pregnancies with an average of 6.7 weaned puppies. Males were 50% and females 50%. The growing was linear during monitoring time and no weight loss during the first three days after birth was registered. The average body weight at birth was 440.80 ± 81.62g, nearly doubled in 9 days (954.75 ± 188.81g), tripled in 17 days (1,369.67 ± 390.41g) and quadrupled in 21 days (1.794,75 ± 445.04g) after birth. The average body weight at initial weaning period (Day 28) was 2,682.31 ± 494.82g. No significant effect related to sex was recorded.Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
