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FEEDING
DOGS DURING GESTATION AND LACTATION.
How
much and what to feed your dog changes throughout its life and is
dependent on age, body condition, activity level, breed, temperament
and environmental conditions. Each dog should be looked at on an
individual basis, increasing or decreasing the amount fed depending
upon their overall condition.
Prior
to breeding, your bitch should be in excellent physical condition,
and at her ideal body weight. Underweight bitches may become undernourished
during pregnancy, which can result in smaller pups that have a reduced
chance of survival. Obesity reduces the fitness of the bitch resulting
in increased difficulties whelping the litter. Bitches should receive
moderate exercise during their pregnancy.
What
to feed....
Optimal
nutrition is important during pregnancy for the health of your bitch,
and of her pups. Pregnant and lactating bitches should be fed food
that is of good quality, and is highly digestible. Whether feeding
commercial foods or a raw, natural type diet, pregnant and nursing
bitches should be fed “growth” (e.g. puppy formulations) or “high
performance” foods. These diets have higher amounts of energy, protein,
carbohydrates and minerals than are normally required for adult
maintenance, providing adequate nutrition without having to increase
food consumption. Increasing food supply of an inferior product
may require more food to be digested than a bitch is physically
capable of doing. A well balanced diet should supply all the nutrients
the bitch requires, and supplementing food with calcium is not recommended.
It
is normal for some bitches to have a short period of reduced appetite
during early to mid pregnancy. Many may also reduce their food intake
a day or two before whelping, or during the first stage of
labour
.
And
when to feed ....
During
the first half or about the first five weeks of pregnancy, although
the developing litter is growing, they are still relatively small,
being less than 30% of their size at full term. In a well-nourished
dam, normally no increase in feeding or nutrition is required during
this time.
From
the end of the fifth week the developing foetuses start to increase
rapidly in size. At this time, there is a great increase on the
nutritional demands of the bitch, and it is necessary to increase
her food intake. This should occur gradually. A rough guide is your
bitch should be eating approximately 25-50% more than her normal
maintenance requirements, by the term of her pregnancy. This varies
depending upon the size of the litter, and of the bitch. Because
the growing puppies expand into the available abdominal space, smaller,
more frequent meals should be provided over the course of the day
during these last few weeks. Always ensure fresh water is available.
A
general rule of thumb is that after whelping her litter, a dam should
weigh around 5-10% more than her normal body weight.
Whilst
a bitch is nursing her young, it is important to maintain her on
high quality, highly digestible food, and also to provide ample
water. Even when nursing a small litter, bitches should be fed a
premium food providing high nutrients (“growth” type diet). Insufficient
fluid will reduce her ability to produce milk, as will inadequate
calories. It is always essential that cool, clean water be available
for your dogs. During lactation, this cannot be stressed enough,
as the dam with a low fluid intake will have a reduced milk output.
As
a rough guide, during the first week of lactation, your bitch will
usually require about 1.5 times her routine food intake. This amount
increases as the pups grow, to around 2.5-3 times her usual amount
of food in the third to fourth weeks. Meals should continue to be
divided into several small portions and fed over the course of the
day, or offered ad libitum. Bitches nursing large litters may be
fed as much as they wish to eat.
As
solid/semi-solid food is introduced to the litter, the demands on
the bitch will decrease and her food consumption can be reduced.
Pups
can go to their new homes from 8 weeks of age, so weaning of the
litter is usually completed between 7 – 8 weeks of age. Bitches
who continue to produce much milk whilst the pups are weaning can
have this reduced by decreasing her feed intake. Weaning should
be undertaken gradually, so as to minimise risk of mastitis (inflammation
of the mammary glands).
Summary
.....
- Feed
your pregnant and nursing bitch a food that is highly digestible
and is high in nutrients (growth diet).
- No
increase in food required until 5-6th week of pregnancy.
- From
5-6th week, increase food intake. By the end of pregnancy, bitches
usually require between 25%-50% more than their normal intake
of food.
- Provide
several small meals per day during latter stage of pregnancy,
and during lactation.
- During
peak lactation time (weeks 3-4), bitches will require up to
3 times their routine food intake.
- As
solid foods are introduced to litter, reduce dam’s food intake.
- Always
ensure clean, fresh water is available.
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