Influence of different factors on mortality in dog pups (Beagle breed)

Investigations of 772 total and 715 alive born dog pups (Beagle breed) show ed a rate of mortality of 9.8 per cent. 69.2 per cent of all pup losses occ urred during the first three days of age. It was shown a highly significant influence of teat position, birth weight, sex, farrowing, vitality and lit ter size on dog pup mortality. Dog pups with teat position at cranial two t eat pairs had together with lower vitality and lower birth weights a much h igher mortality (up to 40 %) compared with litter mates at caudal teat pair s (0 %). Percentage of losses was 83.3 per cent in dog pups with birth weig ht < 200 g and 0 per cent in litter mates with body weight at birth > 451 g . Rate of mortality in dog pups from farrowings with disturbances was 16.4 per cent compared with 7.8 per cent in pups from normal farrowings. Mortali ty in male dog pups (12.0 %) was higher than in female pups (6.6 %). Dog pu p losses were 4.8 per cent in litters with up to 5 alive born pups and 12.1 per cent in litters with a size of 9 to 12 alive born pups.