Effect of age on survivability of pups eating a carbohydrate-free diet

Seventy-nine pups from 18 litters were changed to a carbohydrate-free diet between 7 and 19 weeks of age. It was found that if the diet change was made after pups were 17 weeks old, the pups remained clinically normal. If the change was made before pups were 17 weeks old, the survival rate was less than or equal to 45.5%.