Feeding pregnant and lactating female dogs correctly
If you are thinking of breeding puppies, you will also have to consider the correct feeding of the female dog. What is the best way to feed pregnant female dogs? And what should a mother eat when nursing the puppies?
For a good start - the right feeding before pregnancy.
Optimal nutrition of pregnant and lactating dogs is a responsible task. But it actually begins before the female dog is laid! Because she should be in a good general condition and have ideal weight. This means she should be neither too thin nor too fat.
Overweight dogs have more often problems with their fertility and suffer more often from weakness in labor or lack of milk. Female dogs that are too skinny cannot provide optimal care for the fetuses or their puppies, or subsequently suffer from deficiency symptoms and secondary diseases themselves.
What distinguishes normal food from that of pregnant or lactating dogs?
The most striking differences between normal feed and that of lactating or pregnant dogs are :
- Higher protein content
- Higher energy content
- Increased need for vitamins, minerals and trace elements
- Ensuring best digestibility
- Support of cardiovascular function by means of essential fatty acids
- Support of the musculoskeletal system and joints
Feed the pregnant dog properly
If the dog has now taken up, the type and amount of food should remain the same for about 3 - 5 weeks. Why only then? The embryos nest in the uterus only after just under 3 weeks and are then supplied via the mother's blood vessels.
At this point, rapid growth begins and only then does the female dog's energy and nutrient requirements actually change. From the 5th week, the increased storage of fat begins, which is especially important for milk production.
Feed changeover of the pregnant female dog
The time of transition also depends on the size of the dog :
- Smaller breeds often have a higher energy requirement during the gestation period - especially if a large litter is expected . In this case it makes sense to change the diet from the third week of pregnancy. In this case, a change makes sense from the 3rd week of pregnancy.
- All other female dogs can be switched to energy- and protein-rich special food from the 5th week .
The following applies to the change in feeding
- Always follow the manufacturer's feeding recommendations and ask for advice if you are in doubt. PERRO offers free veterinarynutrition advice .
- It is better to feed smaller portions several times a day (2 - 3 times).
- It is not unusual for the female dog to eat less during the last week of pregnancy. Some animals do not eat at all on the day of birth and the following days. However, this is not a reason for concern.
The most important nutrients for the pregnant female dog
Certain vitamins, minerals and trace elements are especially important for the development of healthy puppies. The prerequisite for this is, of course, always the correct dosage!
| Nutrients | Effect |
|---|---|
| Vitamins A, D, E | Puppies must be supplied with these through their first milk, as vitamins from the womb cannot be stored. |
| Calcium and phosphorus | Especially in the second half of pregnancy and when the milk is coming in, the need for these two trace elements is increased. However, the right balance of both nutrients is essential. |
| Iodine and selenium | Prevent goitre and muscle weakness in puppies. |
| Iron | Towards the end of pregnancy, iron is important to prevent anaemia in the female dog. |
"A lot helps a lot"? Quite clearly NO! Extreme caution is advised when it comes to nutrients, because too much can have just as negative an effect as too little.
Too much vitamin A, for example, can lead to malformations. A wrong calcium:phosphorus ratio interferes with the absorption of the respective other nutrient, etc.
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Feeding the lactating female dog optimally
As soon as the puppies have arrived, it is important to pay attention:
- A lactating female dog must be fed her energy-rich special food several times a day . As a guideline : Per puppy, the energy requirement of the female dog increases by almost ¼ (comparative value is the maintenance requirement).
- Large litters: For litters of 4 or more puppies and large female dogs, food can be given "ad libitum".
In other words: the female dog can eat as much as it wants. For she needs just about 3 times her maintenance requirement.
With more than 6 puppies it can be 4 times as much. However, it is absolutely necessary to monitor the weight when feeding ad libitum
.
- Small litters: For litters with less than four puppies, the food should be rationed.
Here too, however, monitoring the weight of the female dog is an advantage.
- Ensurecalm: female dogs should be able to eat their food without stress. Depending on the type, it may make sense to separate
them from the puppies for feeding.
- Enough water: Sufficient fresh water should be available to the female dog around the clock, because
water is essential for milk production.
- When the time has come for the puppies to start eating themselves, the amount of food given to the
female dog can be reduced again.
Feeding table for pregnant and lactating females female dogs
| Pregnancy phase | Feed type | Amount | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. - 4th week | normal dog food | as before | small breeds until 3. week |
| 5. Week | Change to PERRO Prenatal | according to the feeding recommendation on the label | depending on the sensitivity of the female dog slowly change from normal dog food to PERRO Prenatal |
| 6. Week until litter date | PERRO Prenatal | according to the feeding recommendation on the label - increase continuously if necessary | Do not feed the female dog fat under any circumstances. However, a light layer of fat over the ribs is desirable. |
| Litter day | pERRO Prenatal if required | very little to none | If evident - feed little on whelping day. Many female dogs refuse to feed on their own. This is normal. |
| 1.-5th week of suckling | PERRO Prenatal | depending on the number of puppies, ad libitum or portioned | Rule of thumb: per puppy the energy requirement increases by almost ¼ of the maintenance requirement |
| From approx. 6th week onwards release of the puppies | PERRO Prenatal | slowly reduce again | When the puppies cover approx. 50% of their energy requirements with supplementary food, the female dog can be reduced to a normal level. |
| After giving up the puppies | normal dog food | as before pregnancy | After the puppies are delivered, you can switch back to the regular dog food. If the physical constitution has not yet been restored, PERRO Prenatal can still be administered. |
