Should I change my dog’s diet when she is pregnant or lactating?
The nutrition of a pregnant dog is important during all stages of gestation in order to ensure optimal health and growth of newborn puppies. Although a dam’s nutritional requirements increase during the last trimester of pregnancy, nutritional deficiencies are most likely to occur after birth, when her body must cope with the stress placed on it by the demands of lactation.
The goals of feeding are to provide adequate nutrition so that her weight increases by 15-20 percent by the time of whelping and to help her maintain optimal body weight after parturition when she must produce sufficient quantities of milk and colostrum to support growth in the newborn pups until they are weaned.
Moving to a high-energy dog food such as a puppy formula for the period of pregnancy is beneficial as the additional calories and higher levels of other key nutrients are perfectly suited to the nutritional requirements of the pregnant or lactating dog. This is particularly advisable if she is quite lean, or you suspect she may have a large litter of puppies.
As with the transition to any new dog food, moving to a high-energy formula should be done on a gradual basis, from approximately the sixth week of pregnancy. Progressively substitute a little more of the new dog food for the old over a period of about a week, until she is only eating the new food. An expectant mother will require gradually increasing amounts of high-quality food to nourish both herself and the developing litter. For the first four to five weeks of pregnancy, a normal size serving should suffice. If your dog has a past history of weight issues, seek your vet’s advice about how to increase her intake of key nutrients without risk.
Here are some good–quality puppy foods we recommend:
Royal Canin Starter Mother & Babydog Dry Adult & Puppy Dog Food
- Perfect for weaning puppies
- Meets the needs of the mother and supports both immune systems
- Contains essential nutrients including protein, rice, animal fats, vegetable protein
- Specially manufactured kibble for smaller mouths
- Supports digestive health and immune systems
Hill’s Science Plan Puppy Healthy Development
- Specially developed for medium-sized dogs less than a year old
- Contains added omega-3 and DHA from fish oil to support joint and bone health
- Antioxidants help to support a growing immune system
- Nutritionally balanced
- Easy to digest
Canine Choice Puppy (Grain Free)
- 60% meat
- Energy content adjusted to the metabolism of puppies
- Cranberry, rosemary and rosehip to support the immune system
- Prebiotics, probiotics, chicory and camomile to improve digestion and relieve irritation
- A grain-free formula
- No soy, artificial colours or preservatives
Purina Pro Plan Opti Puppy Range
- Special OPTI blend of ingredients especially for medium-sized puppies
- Colostrum boosts your dog’s natural immune defences
- Great flavour your pet will love
- Natural ingredients
- Supports bone and joint growth
- Encourages and supports an active lifestyle.
Will my dog be likely to have any changes in appetite?
During weeks three and four, your dog may suffer from a little nausea and lose her appetite, similar to morning sickness in humans. If an upset stomach or loss of appetite lasts longer than a week, or is accompanied by listlessness, you should contact your veterinarian.
In the later stages of pregnancy, the space left in her abdomen may be very small, so feeding dog food little and often will make her more comfortable.
Should I increase her food intake prior to Parturition?
By the time the dog is ready to give birth, her calorie intake should have increased by 15 to 25 percent. She should be fed dog food free choice to ensure adequate food intake. Most dogs refuse food approximately 12 hours prior to whelping. It is important at this time to encourage water intake to prevent dehydration and weakness during labour. After giving birth, she must resume intake of highly palatable, good-quality dog food as soon as possible. If the mother is inexperienced she may be reluctant to leave the pups and it may be necessary for you to take food and water to her.
What effect does nursing have on her nutritional requirements?
Female dogs can suffer from nutritional deficiencies during lactation as their physiology will prioritize the utilization of nutrients. The top priority is lactation and puppy growth, and she will deplete her body reserves at the expense of her own health for that purpose, therefore, all nutrients are needed in increased amounts.
Many factors affect the caloric requirements of the lactating dog, including the number of pups, the size of the breed and the temperament of the dam. As a rule of thumb, at peak lactation you should increase food intake by 25 percent per puppy above what is usually required to maintain her body weight, although it is best to feed free choice.
Most commercial dog foods do not contain sufficient nutrient density, especially caloric content, to support lactation. The feeding of these products is the most common cause of malnutrition and therefore it is very important to provide your dog with high-energy dog food which has been formulated to provide all of the necessary nutrients to keep mum and pups healthy.
How is puppy food different from adult food?
Puppy foods are higher in protein (28%-30%), and enriched with higher amounts of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, minerals, fats, and other essentials a growing puppy requires.
