{"topic_id":"evidence_puppy_pediatric_growth_diet","category":"evidence","context":"---\ntopic_id: evidence_puppy_pediatric_growth_diet\ncategory: evidence\ntitle: \"Evidence cluster — puppy (pediatric) growth & development nutrition (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC + PubMed)\"\nlang: en\nsource_file: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_puppy_pediatric_growth_diet_2026-07-22.txt\nsource: Europe PMC REST search (first-hand PMIDs) + PubMed efetch verbatim abstracts, pulled 2026-07-22\ndate_parsed: 2026-07-22\nmodel: codebuddy\nbatch: P0-EVIDENCE-7\nverified: 2026-07-22 substring_match 24/24 claims passed\npath: evidence/evidence_puppy_pediatric_growth_diet/01_puppy_pediatric_growth_diet.md\n---\n## Representative peer-reviewed studies (verbatim abstracts)\n\nThe following studies were retrieved from Europe PMC / PubMed and are reproduced verbatim. Interpretive synthesis is left to the API user.\n\n### PMID:41852679 — Accelerated early weight gain of neonatal puppies from overweight bitches compared to lean dams in spite of similar milk macronutrient composition.\n- Source: Front Nutr 2026\n1. Front Nutr. 2026 Mar 3;13:1747221. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1747221. eCollection\n 2026.\n\nAccelerated early weight gain of neonatal puppies from overweight bitches \ncompared to lean dams in spite of similar milk macronutrient composition.\n\nMcCarter SJ(1), Werre SR(2), Power ML(3), Balogh O(4).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, United \nStates.\n(2)Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of \nVeterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, United States.\n(3)Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, \nWashington, DC, United States.\n(4)Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of \nVeterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, United States.\n\nINTRODUCTION: Lactation is the final pathway for the maternal metabolism to \ninfluence the neonate. Studies in women and animals have shown maternal body \ncondition affecting milk composition and/or offspring growth and adiposity. The \neffect of the body condition of the dam on neonatal puppy growth rate has never \nbeen examined, despite a growing population of overweight breeding dogs. This \nstudy aimed to compare the milk macronutrient composition and puppy growth rate \nduring the neonatal period between overweight and lean bitches.\nMETHODS: A total of 16 litters from 15 medium- to large-breed client-owned dogs \nwere enrolled after whelping. Dams were classified into lean (LE, body condition \nscore [BCS]: 4-5/9, n = 8) and overweight (OW, BCS: 6-7/9, n = 8) groups. Milk \nwas collected from bitches at 5 timepoints (0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of \nlactation). Growth curves of a total of 106 puppies born alive to LE (n = 58) \nand OW (n = 48) mothers and exclusively nursing on the dam were analyzed until \n21 days of age. Birth weight, daily body weights, average daily weight gain \n(ADGg), average daily percent gain (ADG%), average daily percent gain from birth \n(ADGB%), and total percent gain from birth (TGB%), as well as milk dry matter, \ncrude protein, sugar, fat, ash, and calculated gross energy, were analyzed using \na mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA); the significance level was set at a \np-value of <0.05.\nRESULTS: Puppy birth weights were unaffected by litter size and the dam BCS. \nPuppy growth curves and TGB% were significantly different between the two \nmaternal groups. ADGg, ADG%, and ADGB% were significantly higher in OW dam \npuppies on day 2 and day 4 after birth. Puppies born heavier remained heavier, \nwhile ADG% and ADGB% were inversely related to birth weight. Litter size had no \neffect on these growth parameters. Swimmer puppy syndrome was observed in eight \npuppies from three OW dam litters. Dam BCS had no significant effect on milk \nmacronutrients in the first 4 weeks of lactation.\nDISCUSSION: In conclusion, despite the similar day-to-day neonatal body weights \nbetween the maternal groups, puppies from OW dams grew differently, gaining more \nweight in the first week of life. Factors other than milk macronutrient \ncomposition are likely responsible for these differences.\n\nCopyright © 2026 McCarter, Werre, Power and Balogh.\n\nDOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1747221\nPMCID: PMC12994540\nPMID: 41852679\n\nConflict of interest statement: The author(s) declared that this work was \nconducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could \nbe construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author OB declared that \nthey were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. \nThis had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:Front Nutr 2026\n1. Front Nutr. 2026 Mar 3;13:1747221. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1747221. eCollection\n 2026.\n\nAccelerated early weight gain of neonatal puppies from overweight bitches \ncompared t\n\n### PMID:41487487 — Exploratory analysis of nutrient composition of adult and senior dog diets.\n- Source: Front Vet Sci 2025\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2025 Dec 18;12:1717409. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1717409. \neCollection 2025.\n\nExploratory analysis of nutrient composition of adult and senior dog diets.\n\nGerman K(1), Melgoza C(2), Torres-Henderson C(1).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, \nUnited States.\n(2)Rising Sun Animal Care, Denver, CO, United States.\n\nINTRODUCTION: Senior dog foods are often marketed as distinct from adult \nformulations, yet no specific nutrient profiles exist for this life stage. This \nstudy evaluated nutrient composition of over-the-counter adult and senior canine \ndiets in relation to Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) \nadult maintenance requirements.\nMETHODS: Sixty-one dry and canned diets were purchased from retail stores and \ncomplete proximate analysis with minerals was performed. The diets selected \nconsisted of 25 brands (companies), including 30 diets marketed for adults (21 \ndry, 8 canned, and 1 freeze-dried) and 31 diets marketed for seniors (25 dry, 6 \ncanned). Diets were randomly selected using a random number generator from the \ncomplete inventory of dog foods available at two pet food stores in Fort \nCollins, Colorado (one national retailer and one locally owned store). Nutrients \nwere expressed per 1,000 kcal metabolizable energy, and descriptive statistics \nwere generated. Adult vs. senior, dry vs. canned, and combined categories were \ncompared using parametric or non-parametric tests depending on distribution. \nWithin each company, paired adult and senior products were also evaluated for \npercent change in nutrient content.\nRESULTS: Eighteen percent (18%; 11/61) of products did not meet at least one \nrequirement for AAFCO adult maintenance, and differences between adult and \nsenior diets were inconsistent. Fiber, fat, and energy density showed the \ngreatest variability, especially among canned diets.\nDISCUSSION: As a descriptive exploratory analysis, no power calculation or \nadjustment for multiple comparisons was performed, and results should be \ninterpreted as hypothesis generating. Overall, senior dog diets demonstrated \nwide variability and did not consistently differ from adult products, \nunderscoring the challenge with not having defined nutrient profiles for this \nlife stage, and the need for further research linking diet composition to \nclinical outcomes in aging dogs.\n\nCopyright © 2025 German, Melgoza and Torres-Henderson.\n\nDOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1717409\nPMCID: PMC12757753\nPMID: 41487487\n\nConflict of interest statement: The authors declare that the research was \nconducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could \nbe construed as a potential conflict of interest.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:Front Vet Sci 2025\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2025 Dec 18;12:1717409. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1717409. \neCollection 2025.\n\nExploratory analysis of nutrient composition of adult and senior dog diets.\n\n### PMID:42309750 — When physiology fails: Endocrine and clinical perspectives on complicated pregnancy and parturition outcomes in dogs.\n- Source: J Reprod Dev 2026\n1. J Reprod Dev. 2026;72(3):390-397. doi: 10.1262/jrd.2025-133.\n\nWhen physiology fails: Endocrine and clinical perspectives on complicated \npregnancy and parturition outcomes in dogs.\n\nBalogh O(1).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of \nVeterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.\n\nIn this review, metabolic, endocrine and molecular dysregulation of canine \npregnancy and parturition complications are discussed in a clinical context. The \nfocus on metabolic and hormonal abnormalities of pregnancy includes gestational \ndiabetes mellitus, pregnancy toxemia, hypocalcemia, luteal insufficiency and \nhypothyroidism, all with potential negative maternal and fetal outcomes. \nGestational pseudo-Addisonian crisis, a rather infrequent but severe \ncomplication of canine pregnancy with yet unexplained pathophysiology is also \npresented. While most of these pregnancy complications have long been known, \npotential gaps in our understanding of their pathophysiology are shown. \nComplications during parturition affect 5-37% of all canine whelpings, posing a \nsignificant risk to the newborns and the mother. This review discusses recent \nadvances about the pathophysiology of primary uterine inertia (PUI), which is \nthe most frequently diagnosed type of dystocia in the bitch. A multifactorial \norigin of PUI is supported, although clear conclusions applicable to all cases \ncannot yet be drawn. Lower than normal maternal peripheral oxytocin and blood \nionized calcium concentrations, as well as placental dysfunction resulting in \ndecreased prostaglandin F2α production may be involved in its development. \nFurthermore, PUI has been linked to changes in the expression of several \ncontractility-associated genes and proteins in the uterus, which may cause \naltered contractility, or alternatively and simultaneously reflect the \ntime-dependent progression of labor. Future studies should focus on the \ninterplay between the placenta, uterus, and the cervix to elucidate the \nunderlying mechanical, endocrine and molecular mechanisms of PUI.\n\nDOI: 10.1262/jrd.2025-133\nPMCID: PMC13286665\nPMID: 42309750 [Indexed for MEDLINE]\n\nConflict of interest statement: None.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:J Reprod Dev 2026\n1. J Reprod Dev. 2026;72(3):390-397. doi: 10.1262/jrd.2025-133.\n\nWhen physiology fails: Endocrine and clinical perspectives on complicated \npregnancy and parturition outcome\n\n### PMID:40984628 — Periostitis Ossificans in a Litter of Belgian Malinois Puppies.\n- Source: J Vet Dent 2026\n1. J Vet Dent. 2026 May;43(3):262-277. doi: 10.1177/08987564251376607. Epub 2025 \nSep 22.\n\nPeriostitis Ossificans in a Litter of Belgian Malinois Puppies.\n\nBar Giora Y(1), Mann O(2), Kachtan I(1), Bar Am Y(1).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rishon \nLezion, Israel.\n(2)Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht \nUniversity, Utrecht, the Netherlands.\n\nPeriostitis ossificans (PO) is a subtype of chronic osteomyelitis characterized \nby subperiosteal bone formation as a reaction to mild infection or irritation. \nIn the veterinary medicine literature, it has been described in large breed \ndogs, aged 3 to 5 months, and was postulated to be caused by mild inflammation \nrelated to tooth eruption. This report describes 3 Belgian Malinois puppies from \nthe same litter diagnosed with PO at 3 months of age. The puppies presented with \nnon-painful distal mandibular swellings. Diagnostic procedures included \nintraoral dental radiographs, a computed tomography scan of the head, and bone \nbiopsies submitted for histopathological examination. PO is typically a \nself-limiting condition and likely caused by inflammation due to tooth eruption. \nTherefore, treatment focuses on pain management and monitoring until the \npermanent teeth emerge. Long-term follow up until two and a half years of age \nshowed a significant decrease to total resolution of the swelling, with minor \nbone changes evident on advanced imaging. Histopathologic findings are not \npertinent for the diagnosis of PO and imaging shows pathognomonic features of \nthe condition. Mandibular PO, craniomandibular osteopathy, and calvarial \nhyperostotic syndrome are all self-limiting proliferative bone diseases of the \nskull in juvenile dogs with an implied genetic component. The authors' findings \nsupport grouping them as a single disorder called \"Idiopathic Canine Juvenile \nCranial Hyperostosis\" with predilection sites that vary between breeds.\n\nDOI: 10.1177/08987564251376607\nPMCID: PMC13044283\nPMID: 40984628 [Indexed for MEDLINE]\n\nConflict of interest statement: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors \ndeclared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, \nauthorship, and/or publication of this article.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:J Vet Dent 2026\n1. J Vet Dent. 2026 May;43(3):262-277. doi: 10.1177/08987564251376607. Epub 2025 \nSep 22.\n\nPeriostitis Ossificans in a Litter of Belgian Malinois Puppies.\n\nBar Giora Y(1), Man\n\n### PMID:42195398 — Development of the Urogenital Microbiota in Healthy Beagle Puppies: A Longitudinal Comparison with the Dam.\n- Source: Life (Basel) 2026\n1. Life (Basel). 2026 May 19;16(5):841. doi: 10.3390/life16050841.\n\nDevelopment of the Urogenital Microbiota in Healthy Beagle Puppies: A \nLongitudinal Comparison with the Dam.\n\nSomville M(1), Taminiau B(2), Gronsfeld V(1), Egyptien S(1), Brutinel F(1), \nHamaide A(1), Daube G(2), Van de Weerdt ML(3), Deleuze S(1), Noël S(1).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Department of Companion Animal Teaching and Clinical Practice, \nFARAH-Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, \nUniversity of Liège, Avenue de Cureghem 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium.\n(2)Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of \nLiège, 10 Avenue de Cureghem, 4000 Liège, Belgium.\n(3)Labforvet, 18 Rue Tienne aux Grives, 5300 Andenne, Belgium.\n\nCharacterizing the microbiota is essential to improve the understanding and \nmanagement of urogenital disorders. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, this study \ninvestigated the urogenital microbiota, including urine, vaginal, and prostatic \ncommunities, in a litter of 10 healthy beagle puppies from 4 months of age until \nthe completion of the first estrous cycle in females and 18 months in males. A \nfurther objective was to compare these microbial profiles with those of their \ndam. Significant differences were observed between urinary and genital \nmicrobiota in both sexes, evolving over time. Notably, in females, puberty and \nthe first estrous cycle were associated with marked changes in the vaginal \nmicrobiota, outweighing individual variability. In contrast, urinary microbiota \nremained stable during female growth. In males, microbiota showed time-dependent \nand individual-specific progression, with distinct microbial communities \nidentified in the urinary bladder and prostate. Shared genera between the dam \nand her offspring were observed, but inter-individual variability suggested a \nlimited maternal influence. Further investigation is needed to clarify vertical \ntransmission patterns. In conclusion, the urogenital microbiota of healthy dogs \nundergoes dynamic and distinct site-specific changes during early life.\n\nDOI: 10.3390/life16050841\nPMCID: PMC13208289\nPMID: 42195398\n\nConflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:Life (Basel) 2026\n1. Life (Basel). 2026 May 19;16(5):841. doi: 10.3390/life16050841.\n\nDevelopment of the Urogenital Microbiota in Healthy Beagle Puppies: A \nLongitudinal Comparison with the D\n\n### PMID:42063421 — The perinatal microbiota in dogs and cats: a narrative review from human research to veterinary practice.\n- Source: Front Vet Sci 2026\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2026 Apr 15;13:1817504. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1817504. \neCollection 2026.\n\nThe perinatal microbiota in dogs and cats: a narrative review from human \nresearch to veterinary practice.\n\nBanchi P(1), Mila H(2), Selma-Royo M(3), Tal S(4)(5), Péron F(6), Gaillard V(6).\n\nAuthor information:\n(1)Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.\n(2)NeoCare, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, Toulouse, France.\n(3)Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-Spanish National Research \nCouncil (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Spain.\n(4)Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University Veterinary \nTeaching Hospital, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.\n(5)Tel-Hai Academic College, Upper Galilee, Israel.\n(6)Royal Canin Research Center, Aimargues, France.\n\nErratum in\n    Front Vet Sci. 2026 Jun 10;13:1866749. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1866749.\n\nEarly-life microbial colonization is increasingly recognized as a key \ndeterminant of host development and health. While the perinatal microbiota has \nbeen extensively studied in humans, comparable knowledge in dogs and cats \nremains limited. The present review synthesizes current evidence on the \nperinatal microbiota in dogs and cats, placing it in the context of advances \nfrom human microbiome research while emphasizing biological and management \nfactors relevant to veterinary medicine. The prenatal period represents a window \nof exposure to the maternal microbiota, which is a key contributor to fetal \ndevelopment, while the occurrence of viable microbial colonization of the fetus \nin healthy pregnancies is not supported by evidence neither in humans nor in \ncompanion animals. After reviewing the features of the maternal gut and vaginal \nmicrobiota, particular attention is given to the birth process as a major \necological transition, with delivery mode and birth environment shaping early \nmicrobial exposure in species-specific ways. The postnatal period is \ncharacterized by rapid microbial succession driven by physiological maturation, \nearly nutrition, and environmental factors. We examine the role of colostrum and \nmilk in shaping neonatal gut microbiota assembly, integrating evidence from \nhuman studies with emerging data in dogs. We also discuss how maternal care and \nother environmental exposures contribute to early microbiota development. \nFinally, we evaluate microbiota-oriented interventions in veterinary settings, \nincluding maternal probiotic supplementation, and discuss their potential \nbenefits and limitations based on available evidence. Throughout the review, we \ndiscuss current clinical approaches to the perinatal microbiota in companion \nanimals and identify major research gaps. We conclude by emphasizing the need \nfor well-designed longitudinal and ideally multicentric studies integrating \nmaternal, neonatal, and environmental microbiota data and aimed at developing \nevidence-based microbiome-informed strategies in veterinary practice.\n\nCopyright © 2026 Banchi, Mila, Selma-Royo, Tal, Péron and Gaillard.\n\nDOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1817504\nPMCID: PMC13124624\nPMID: 42063421\n\nConflict of interest statement: FP and VG are employees of Royal Canin SAS, a \nMars Inc. company. PB, HM, MS-R, and ST received fees for their participation to \na symposium organized during the EVSSAR congress 2025, whose main insights are \npresented in this review.\n- Abstract (verbatim excerpt): \nJOURNAL:Front Vet Sci 2026\n1. Front Vet Sci. 2026 Apr 15;13:1817504. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1817504. \neCollection 2026.\n\nThe perinatal microbiota in dogs and cats: a narrative review from human \nres\n\n","sources":[],"tokens_estimated":3474,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}