Investigation of mortality and pathological changes in a 14.month birth cohort of boxer puppies

Abstract

This paper presents puppy mortality and postmortem findings for a birth cohort of boxer puppies born in the Netherlands between January 1994 and March 1995. In all, 457 litters were registered, of which 414 (90.6 per cent) were involved in the study. The 414 litters contained 2629 puppies, a mean litter size of 6.4 puppies. Of the 2629 puppies 571 (21.7 per cent) died or were euthanased before they were weaned at 50 days of age; there were 147 (25.7 per cent) stillbirths; 102 (17.9 per cent) were euthanased because they were white; 269 (47.1 per cent) of the puppies died during the first 21 days of life and 53 (9.3 per cent) puppies died between days 22 and 50. The cause of death or the reason for euthanasia was assessed by either the breeder or the veterinarian in 176 of these 269 puppies but was not determined in the other 93 puppies. Three hundred and two puppies were examined postmortem; the most important cause of death or reasons for euthanasia were inflammatory disorders (102; 33.8 per cent), non-inflammatory disorders such as asphyxia and malnutrition (66; 21.9 per cent), euthanasia because they were white (51; 16.9 per cent), and congenital abnormalities (45; 14.9 per cent). No cause of death or reason for euthanasia could be found for 38 puppies (12.6 percent)

Canine neonatal mortality in four large breeds

“…The rate of stillbirth and neonatal death is known to be relatively high in dogs. The few studies that has been published indicate a mortality of 17-30% within the first 8 weeks of life [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Stillbirth and death within the first week post partum was responsible for the majority of the puppy losses in these studies.…”

“…The high mortality in canine neonates are related to many factors, including prolonged labour, maternal neglect or carelessness, lack of milk, plus congenital abnormalities and acquired disorders in the neonate [1,[3][4][5]. The immature status of the newborn puppies makes them vulnerable and totally depending on intensive care from the dam.…”

Kangal köpeklerinde dölverimi, yaşama gücü ve büyüme özellikleri

“…Ortalama yavru sayısı (5.9) Kangal ve diğer çoban köpekleri için bildirilen değerlerden düşüktür (7,8). Ana yaşının etkisi önemsizdir (7).…”

“…Ölü doğum oranı (% 6.7) Kangal ve iri yapılı ırklar için bildirilen değerlere benzer, yüksek veya düşük bulunmuştur (7,8,9). Ölü doğum oranının artmasında doğum tipi, mevsim ve ana yaşının etkisi önemli olmuştur.…”

“…Süt emme dönemindeki yavrularda yaşama gücünün düşük olduğu, farklı ırk köpek yavrularında yaşama gücü oranının %72 -%91 olduğu, beslenme, mevsim, barınak şartları, ana yaşı ve doğum tipinin önemli etkisi olduğu bildirilmiştir (7,8,9).…”