Care during Pregnancy

Diet during the first half of pregnancy should be at normal maintenance level. At five weeks the diet should increase about 20-30 percent in total kilojoules and 2-4 percent in protein. It is advisable to add liver, at the rate of 1 gram per kilogram of the dog's weight, eggs, dairy products or other good-quality animal protein daily during late pregnancy and lactation.

During the latter part of pregnancy, the nutritional needs of the foetus are provided by the bitch and if extra nutrition is not provided in her diet, foetal demands on her body stores will leave her in a depleted state to begin lactation. The bitch should gain about 10 per cent above the weight of the pups during pregnancy to be ready for lactation.

A fairly practical rule is to feed a maintenance level of high-protein, commercially balanced diet during pregnancy and increase the amount fed in proportion to the bitch's· increase in weight. Since most of the weight increase occurs in the last four weeks, dietary needs are easily calculated. Nervous bitches or toy breeds usually eat small volumes and therefore need a diet of high energy value to receive proper nutrition during pregnancy-this means high protein and fat compositions. For most dogs, except the small breeds, a litter of two or three is only a moderate stress during pregnancy; more than four pups can pose problems for the bitch.

If marginal diets, especially those relying on meat scraps as the protein sources, are fed, the results will be a reduced litter size, poor viability of pups and excess weight loss for the bitch. From the nutritional standpoint, a bitch can be rebred when she has recovered any weight loss and is once more in good physical condition.

Do not over feed a pregnant bitch; many over fat bitches have whelping complications. Exercise for the pregnant bitch is most important. This should not be too exhausting, but enough to keep her muscles in tone. Plenty of walking is ideal. 

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