Is a runt more prone to illness?

Question

I just read a question "Dwarf puppy vs. Runt puppy" and one of the answerers was saying that runts are more prone to illness...Is this true?

I am kinda curious about this one...Because when growing up, my parents always tried to get the runt of the litter, because they tend to be a better dog out of the rest. And we never had any problems... One runt that we had was a fighter, meaning he was rat poisoned(accidentally) and he survived, and then he was running through the woods one day, and he poked his eye out. He went around with a button sewed to his eye for awhile...When it was taken off, he was still able to see. He finally died from a second rat poisoning...Our neighbor hated our dogs and poisoned them purposly...We tried to press charges, but there wasn't enough evidence...

Answer 1

In a sense yes, but also in a sense no.
A runt puppy is far more susceptible to "fading puppy syndrome", but then of course the puppy will at best only live a couple of weeks. A 8 week old runt should be just as healthy as it's littermates.

For the sake of interest,
3xNFTCH 2xNAFC River Oaks Korky (history's only 5x national champion) was a runt of the litter.

Answer 2

Thats what they say but usualy its not true, runts have more 'quirks' like extra dew claws maybe, the small claw thats half way up the front leg, I ve always tried to get the runt too they seem smarter, so who knows where that saying came from but from my knowledge its not true at all.

Answer 3

That's really sad about your dog.
Runts are more prone to sickness,especially when they're young,but once they are grown up,they are usually really healthy,unless it has been sick it's whole life or something and couldn't grow properly.
When they are smaller sometimes thay can't get enough milk so they are weak.If they are well taken care of they usually grow at the normal rate.

Answer 4

Well to my knowledge no they are not .I have a pomeranian and she was the runt of the group and she is just as healthy as her two sisters and tougher.