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PETGOOD GIVES PUPPIES AN OPTIMAL GROWTH CURVE
Together with Kustmarken, we followed Labrador and Poodle puppies from pregnancy through to adulthood.
The mother dogs were fed Petgood during pregnancy and nursing.
The puppies then continued on Petgood Puppy.
The puppies' weight was monitored continuously throughout their first year of life.
The result - All puppies followed a healthy, age-appropriate growth curve according to the WALTHAM Puppy Growth Charts. This means that the puppies developed at the rate veterinarians recommend during one of the most important stages of life.
The aim of the project is to evaluate the growth curve of the participating puppies, from birth until 1 year of age.
The puppies participating in the study are eating Petgood Puppy, a complete and balanced diet developed for optimal growth and development, as their only food from weaning until the end of the project. The mother of the litter has also been eating the same feed during pregnancy and lactation.
Two litters of puppies of large breeds are participating, one litter of labradors and one litter of standard poodles. The puppies are weighed every week for their first 8 weeks of age, and after this they are weighed every month. At every weight, also other comments on their health and feeding is collected from their owners.
Their weights are plotted and compared to Waltham Growth Charts, a tool to evaluate healthy growth and development in puppies of different breeds and sizes.
Growth rates for puppies vary with breed and involve complex interactions between genetics, nutrition, and their environment.
A premium diet, providing the right nutrients in the right amounts, is essential to optimize the health and development of puppies during their important growth period. The goal is growth at the right pace based on the dog’s expected adult weight, in order to lay the best possible foundation for a healthy adult life.
How are the results?
The project has now been completed, and the results are very encouraging. All participating puppies followed the Waltham Puppy Growth Charts remarkably well, demonstrating steady growth towards a healthy adult weight.
We are proud to contribute to a greater understanding of puppy growth and would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all foster families and puppy owners who helped make this project possible.
THE FOUNDATION IS LAID DURING PUPPYHOOD
The study shows that puppies fed Petgood from pregnancy through to adulthood followed a healthy growth curve according to the WALTHAM Puppy Growth Charts - one of the most widely recognized methods for assessing puppy development.
Healthy growth during puppyhood may contribute to:
✓ Stronger joints and bones
✓ Lower risk of overweight and obesity later in life
✓ Balanced muscle and body development
✓ Better conditions for a long, active life
The Waltham Puppy Growth Charts were developed by a team of veterinarians, nutritionists and statisticians, to be used as a tool for growth monitoring during development. The set of 10 growth charts represents the standards for healthy growth of both male and female dogs, up to an adult weight of 40kg.
Data from 50,000 young healthy dogs was used to scientifically develop the centiles or growth curves on the puppy growth charts. In human healthcare, similar charts are used for careful monitoring of the growth of children.
