Waiting for the arrival of young puppies is always an exciting time for pet owners. While your dog is pregnant, one of the greatest concerns would be to provide them with proper nutrition. A healthy diet for your pet is a crucial requirement for the puppies’ development while also ensuring that your dog undergoes a comfortable pregnancy period and birth.
Before we commence, it is significantly necessary for a dog owner to be aware of the signs of pregnancy among dogs. As an owner, this occurrence will seem like a wonderful journey as you will be waiting for the tiny, cute puppies to play around the house. But for your pregnant pooch, things will seem all the more difficult as they have to carry these babies inside their womb, give birth to them, and ultimately, take care of these mischievous litters.
You might be wondering what exactly would be an ideal choice to feed your pregnant dog. Well, worrying is not an option since we have provided you with detailed insight into the feeding recommendations for your pregnant pooch.
The Initial Weeks of Pregnancy
Just like in the case of human pregnancies, the initial few weeks are extremely critical for a dog’s pregnancy as well. This is because the first few weeks mark the development stage of the embryo where it resides in the Fallopian tubes. After about 17-18 days, they move forward and start producing placenta. From this stage onwards, they continue to grow and absorb nutrition.
The digestive tract of the pregnant dog breaks down these complex nutrients which are then absorbed into the bloodstream and then provided to her developing puppies. During this stage, ensure that the mother dog does not intake any harmful chemicals that are likely to harm her growing pups. For further information, it is advisable to consult your regular veterinarian to provide your dog with only those medications or products that are pregnancy-friendly.
Remember that whatever you choose to feed the mother will in turn affect the health of the newly developing pups. Therefore, in the first half of gestation, it is ideal to feed your dog with a well-balanced healthy diet.
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Different Stages In Pregnancy and Their Needs
The final stage of your dog’s pregnancy is when the pups grow to their full term. During this time, the growing puppies would have fully developed organs and would be ready enough to enter the world. Puppies tend to develop at a rapid pace due to which their need for nutrients from their mother too, increases critically. However, as most mothers might have experienced, it becomes quite difficult to continue eating so much once the pups have grown to their full capacity.
What Must You Feed Your Pregnant Pooch?
During pregnancy, it is recommended that pet owners feed their canines with a high-energy diet. This typically indicates having a sufficient amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake. Additionally, try relying more on premium-quality pet food manufactured by authentic companies during this period.
This is because, in comparison to homemade dishes, these items have a better nutrition balance that is of utmost priority to your pregnant pet.
The normal food available for adult dogs might work well under normal conditions but definitely not during canine pregnancy. The required energy levels can even skyrocket if your dog is expecting a large litter.
Check out the following factors to know the energy requirements for your dog:
- Physical health (level of obesity)
- Whether small or large litter (number of expecting pups)
- Dog Breed (Huge dogs will have more energy requirements)
- Certain medical issues faced by your dog
Puppy Feed Formula For Your Pregnant Dog
Finding it difficult to choose the right option? Pup food caters to all your nutrition requirements. It contains sufficient protein and energy levels making it a perfect option for your pregnant dog. This formula offers your dog rich nutritional support that will definitely come in handy during the pre as well as the post-pregnancy stage.
Not only does it contain extra energy in comparison to general adult food, but it also is highly rich in all the basic nutrients.
Keep the following points in mind while you feed your furry companion with pup food:
- Preferably feed your dog with this formula starting from the third or fourth week of pregnancy in order to pass all the required nutrients to the mother’s milk.
- Being nutritionally dense, this food can easily pass through the stomach.
- Puppy food provides nutritional support to your pregnant canine in the form of adequate levels of proteins, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and much more.
- Puppy diet must strictly be selected based on the size of the breed.
- Once introduced to puppy diet, start increasing the amount of food your dog eats gradually in proportion to its weight.
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Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
These supplements are not of much importance if you are already feeding your furry companion with a perfectly balanced diet. However, if you happen to notice problems such as dull hair coat, laziness, or lack of hunger, then you might want to consider giving them vitamin and mineral supplements.
The use of supplements on your dog can also have its downsides. Excessive intake of certain vitamins or minerals could cause harmful medical conditions. Therefore, it is advisable that pet owners recommend a veterinarian prior to feeding your pregnant dog with such supplements.
Diet Regime For Your Dog Before Breeding
It is observed that most dog owners do not opt for providing their pooch with a healthy diet prior to their breeding. It is crucial to realize that breeding is recommended only in healthy pets. Remember that your pregnant dog must always stay hydrated and you must provide them with clean drinking water and food from time to time.
Most underweight and obese canines are not able to handle pregnancies well and often experience miscarriages. Due to this reason, pet owners must take upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining a strict diet regime even before breeding.