Physiological weight loss in newborn puppies of Boxer breed

Abstract

In the first days after birth is common to observe weight loss in puppies that should not exceed 10% of body weight at birth. The main causes of weight loss are urine and meconium issued followed by non-recovery of fluids expelled. The present study aimed to check and outline growth curves in boxer breed during the first two week of life. In our study, between the 3th and 5th day after birth, puppies have retrieved the weight and doubled their live weight in two weeks. We observed a mean weight loss of 11.26±2.3 g (2.27%) between the first two days of life. Subsequently they recovered the birth weight at day four and puppies with higher weight at birth regained earlier the birth condition and they still were the heaviest at day 13. © E. Bigliardi et al., 2013.