Optimal Diet Pre And Post Whelping

[dragonwoman]

Probably been done to death but what do others do?

[sandgrubber]

I doubt there is AN optimum. I think most of us have a few guidelines, but the best solution will vary depending on the bitch and her condition, the litter size, what you feed normally, and how things seem to be going with the litter in question. BARF feeders may do nothing other than change quantity. Most people feeding dry food shift to puppy food around the time of mating to up the calcium, protein, and fat amounts in a balanced way. Some add bones and/or dairy to further up Ca and protein. As with any diet question, it's essential that you adjust, depending on condition...and what seems to be working at the time. Eg, if poohs get too soft you may have to experiment a bit to find a balance that works better.

It's worth reading the thread on calcium....whatever one does needs to preserve balance.

Edited August 11, 2013 by sandgrubber

[Steve]

Depends what you already feed and what you intend to feed. Commercial dog foods are touted as having all you need and recommend that you feed smaller portions more often increasing the daily amounts by about 20%. If I wee feeding commercial food to a pregnant bitch I would add some enzymes such as thrive D because there are no live enzymes in commercial foods and I would add a childrens multi vitamin daily as vitamins are destroyed by storage and heat needed for the commercial foods. I would never feed canned food of any brand in any amount.

I feed my dogs a varied natural and raw diet which I've put loads of work into to ensure its a balanced diet for what the dog needs and I allow the bitch to decide how often she will eat it and how much . I always put the food down and remove anything that's not eaten in 15 mins - the big difference is that I offer her food 3 or 4 times a day instead of once a day but its the same diet she eats all of her life.

You have to take a long good look at what her diet is way before she gets near reproduction because during pregnancy and whelping and weaning the processes will take what is needed from her bloodstream - even if she has a really crap diet through her pregnancy the puppies will still get what is needed to survive but her condition will deteriorate and stop functioning as it should because what is taken from her body isn't being replaced if the diet is no good or not balanced.