Puppy growth charts
Author(s):
Grant C.
Updated:
APR 15, 2022
Languages:
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Growth charts for children are nothing new, but recent work has resulted in the concept being developed for dogs, and they are now an essential part of the veterinarian’s toolkit.
Caitlin Grant
BSc, DVM, DVSc, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada
Dr. Grant attended the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), graduating with honors in 2014 and started her career as an associate veterinarian in a private mixed animal practice. She returned to OVC in 2017 and completed a nutrition residency through the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN), also earning a Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) degree in 2020. Dr. Grant recently joined OVC as Assistant Professor and holds the Nestle Purina Professorship in Companion Animal Nutrition.
Key points
- The Waltham Centre has developed charts as a tool for veterinary healthcare teams to help assess whether a puppy’s growth is correct for its age.
- Growth charts can be an integral part of routine checks for puppies and will help ensure that they are receiving the correct nutrition as they develop.
- Ten growth charts are currently available for dogs, organized by gender (male vs. female) and by estimated adult size.
- Generic growth charts are not suitable for giant breeds (>40kg), so the veterinarian should construct a unique chart for individual dogs in this category.
Introduction
Puppy and kitten consultations are a daily occurrence for the veterinary team, and they tend to be enjoyable for all concerned, but they are also hugely important when it comes to getting a new pet off to the best possible start. At least part of the consultation should involve a discussion on how to ensure the most appropriate diet for the new arrival – so before talking about growth charts, it is important to first review why conversations about nutrition are so important to incorporate into these initial visits.
Why talk about nutrition?
Socialization and habituation
Visits to the clinic every few weeks for weight checks can be a great way to not only monitor the growth of the patient, but also to socialize a new puppy. Pets may learn to have positive associations with the clinic if they get praise and treats for things like going on the scale or allowing a brief physical exam for assessment of body condition score (BCS).
Frequent visits
New puppies and kittens will visit the clinic a lot in their first year – for vaccine appointments, testing for heartworm and other parasites, and spay and neuter surgery. These are all great opportunities to check in with the pet owner and to assess how well their new family member is growing, and to see whether they have questions about what they are feeding (Figure 1). [...]
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