Monitoring optimal growth in dogs is essential for preventing obesity-related conditions and ensuring long-term health. Until recently, there was limited data on what constitutes normal growth across different breeds and sizes. To address this, Salt et al. (2017) analyzed bodyweight and age data from more than six million young dogs attending veterinary hospitals across the United States.
Using this extensive dataset, researchers developed evidence-based growth centile charts covering ages 12 weeks to 2 years. The charts were generated using advanced statistical modeling and displayed bodyweight development across a wide range of breeds. Importantly, the study found that growth could be effectively described using five size-based categories rather than requiring breed-specific charts.
Neutering was associated with minor shifts in growth trajectory, with early neutering (before 37 weeks) leading to slight upward changes and later neutering producing slight downward changes. However, these effects were small compared to overall variability, suggesting that separate neuter-based charts were unnecessary.
The growth standards provide veterinarians and dog owners with a practical tool to identify abnormal weight gain or stunted growth early. This can help in guiding nutrition, exercise, and preventive care decisions. The study highlights the potential for a universal growth monitoring system for dogs, similar to pediatric growth charts used in human medicine.
Source: Salt, C., Morris, P., German, A., Wilson, D., Lund, E., Cole, T., & Butterwick, R. (2017). Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLoS ONE, 12.
