Data di Pubblicazione:
2017
Citazione:
A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy / D. Groppetti, A. Pecile, C. Palestrini, S.P. Marelli, P. Boracchi. - In: ANIMALS. - ISSN 2076-2615. - 7:6(2017 May 30).
Abstract:
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.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
birth weight; dog; morphometry
Elenco autori:
D. Groppetti, A. Pecile, C. Palestrini, S.P. Marelli, P. Boracchi
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