Everyone loves a good underdog story. Witnessing triumph over adversity and obstacles can inspire and encourage us. Fiction, whether on page or screen, is full of such stories. When it comes to the animal world, many of these inspiring underdogs start small—literally—as the runt of the litter. This term means “the smallest and/or the weakest puppy of the litter.”
Whether we associate the term “runt of the litter,” with a triumphant success story or picture a weak, sickly animal destined to live a short life, the truth is that neither of those descriptions is entirely accurate. In this article, we’ll discuss what the runt of the litter is, any health complications they may have, and answer some other frequently asked questions about these tiny, sometimes mighty animals.
What Is the Runt of the Litter?
By definition, a litter is a group of young animals born from their mother at the same time. The runt of the litter is a term generally used to describe the smallest or weakest member of that group.
This term isn’t a true scientific definition, as some would argue that a small puppy or kitten, for example, isn’t truly a runt unless they’re also weak and sickly. Any litter of animals is likely going to have some variations in size, especially if one parent is significantly larger or smaller.
What Causes the Runt of the Litter?
There are a few possible reasons that an animal might be born a runt. One could be that they’re just genetically wired to be small. Human siblings rarely end up the same size, after all, and animals are no different.
Consider some of the designer dog mixes like a Miniature Labradoodle, for example. Mixing a 60-pound Labrador with a 15-pound Miniature Poodle is bound to result in a litter full of different-sized puppies.
Another reason some animals are born small has to do with the amount of nutrition they receive from their mother in the womb. Some babies have a weaker attachment to the placenta than others, resulting in them receiving less nutrition. Without adequate food, these animals grow more slowly and may be born as the runts of the litter.
Sadly, some animals are born small because they are also born with a congenital health condition that causes them to be tiny and have trouble growing.
