Feeding Your Dog During Pregnancy

For you and your pet, having pups is both thrilling and draining.  Adorable furry bundles are a lovely addition to any home, but raising, caring for, and delivering a naughty litter is a lot of work for a new mother!

Making sure your dog is getting what they need from their diet is therefore more crucial than ever.  A good diet will ensure the happiness and well-being of both the mother and her puppies.  Even while adult-formula food is excellent for daily consumption, your dog will require more nutrition during pregnancy, particularly if they are expecting a big litter.

High-quality puppy food gives expectant mothers the extra energy and protein that pups require. Giving your dog puppy formula when they are pregnant will aid them both during and after their pregnancy.

Your dog’s body condition (as well as any additional medical needs) may influence the dietary needs of your pet during pregnancy. Use our body conditioning tool to learn more about your dog's physical health.

"WagMart assisted me in ensuring that my Labrador, Molly, was receiving all the nutrition she need to nurse her litter after she gave birth to puppies.  We now have a contented, healthy mother and a home full of active puppies."

 

Why should I feed a pregnant dog puppy food?

Puppy food is more energy-dense and higher in essential elements than adult-formula meals. It is also readily digested. All of these factors should be taken into consideration while feeding pregnant bitches.

Starting in week six of pregnancy, giving your dog puppy formula will keep her robust and provide nutrients to her offspring through the milk.

To give your dog's stomach time to adjust, offer the new food to them gradually. Over the course of almost a week, gradually include the puppy food into the regular formula until the formulas are entirely switched.

When choose which puppy food to offer your dog, consider her size and preferences.

Compared to wet food, dry food has more calories per serving.  To make sure your dog is getting the extra energy they require, especially if they are a bigger breed, offer them more meals or larger quantities if they are solely on wet food.  To offer your pet the best of both worlds, you may also try mixing some dry kibble with their wet food.

As always, if your dog is on dry-food formula during pregnancy, make sure they have easy access to plenty of clean, fresh drinking water so they can keep hydrated.

 

How much should I feed a pregnant dog?

For the first several weeks of pregnancy, feed pregnant dogs their typical meal proportions. Similar to our "morning sickness," your bitch may stop eating during these early stages or feel a little queasy and throw up. We understand that this can sound concerning, but don't worry—it's rather common. But if you're worried about your dog's loss of appetite or do get in touch with your veterinarian if they stay ill.

Starting in week five of pregnancy, gradually increase the amount of food consumed.  Increase the portion size a little bit each week until the meal size is around a third larger than usual by week nine.  Mother's weight should have grown by around 25% by now, or more if a big litter is anticipated.

To prevent your pet from overeating and getting fat, utilise portion control and measurement. This can lead to issues throughout your dog's pregnancy and labour. Speak with your veterinarian if you are worried about your pet's weight during pregnancy.

Because your dog won't have much place for food if their stomach is full of pups, it's best to feed your pregnant bitch little and often, especially in the later stages of pregnancy

 

How much should I feed a dog during nursing?

It is difficult for the mother to nurse the newborn litter since the pups need a lot of nourishing milk to grow up to be big and robust.  Dogs really generate more milk for their puppies than we do for our own children, in case you were unaware.

 Continue giving your dog the puppy formula they were given throughout pregnancy to provide them the extra energy they need to nurse the hungry litter.  Your dog will gain strength from its larger calorie content and additional nutrients, which will also assist the new mother produce milk of superior quality for the pups.

Increase mom's daily food intake from two to three during the first one to three weeks of breastfeeding. Increase to four meals a day by week four, when milk production peaks. During breastfeeding, each of these meals should have a larger portion size.

The breed of your dog and the size of the litter will determine how much and how frequently you feed them when breastfeeding. Your dog may want continual access to food if they are nursing a litter of more than four pups since they will require a lot of energy.

Puppies can be gradually given to solid food starting at age 3–4, although new mothers will continue to nurse their litter for around 6–8 weeks.  Reduce mom's food intake gradually as the puppies wean off the milk until they return to their pre-pregnancy level.

Consult your veterinarian on what to feed your expectant dog at every stage of pregnancy and lactation if you're not sure how to feed them during this crucial period.

 

WagMart brands for pregnant and nursing dogs

High-energy puppy food is available from a number of Purina brands to meet your pet's demands both during pregnancy and during nursing.

 Next, look at more helpful tips for a healthy dog pregnancy.