3 Diet Tips During A Bitch’s Pregnancy
The arrival of new members to expand our family of pets is always good news. However, if you want to be sure that a female dog’s pregnancy will be healthy, one of the things you must ensure is that the animal has a proper diet.
We share some tips and advice on the topic below.
How is the pregnancy of a bitch?
The gestation period of a female dog lasts about two months, that is, about 63 days. During this time, your body and your physical and nutritional needs vary almost every week.
If after going to the vet the pregnancy is confirmed, one of the first things you’ll notice about your pet is that your daily activity level will go down a lot. They spend most of the day lying down or resting.
Another of the symptoms that indicate the pregnancy is happening is that the bitch will gradually lose her appetite. This, in addition to being completely normal, obeys a basic law: as the puppies grow, the mother’s stomach is compressed to create more space.
This, as we said, can make the bitch eat less and start feeling nauseous. However, it is important to emphasize that the bitch and puppies will need an extra nutritional contribution. Therefore, one of the first steps to be taken is to increase your daily intake.
Increase caloric intake during pregnancy
The extra supply of energy is essential during a female dog’s pregnancy. However, this extra dose should be administered with caution, as during the first few weeks nausea will be very present and the bitch will probably not have much appetite.
From approximately the fifth week, you can increase the dose in a controlled manner. For example, every week you can add 5% more to your daily ration. This will ensure that all puppies receive a balanced dose of nutrients.
You shouldn’t worry if you notice that your pet is starting to gain more and more weight, as this is normal.
Introduce puppy food into the mother’s diet
It may sound strange, but puppy food is an ideal complement for a pregnant dog. This food is specially designed to increase the level of energy and proteins, and has a higher proportion of essential nutrients.
You can start introducing puppy food as early as the third week. It is best that you do this progressively, until there comes a time when this feeding fully takes over the dog’s daily diet.
It is also interesting to maintain this diet until the puppies are past weaning, as this way we ensure that they all receive the necessary nutrients to grow strong.
Other useful tips during a bitch’s pregnancy
During the gestation period, the female dog tends to drink a lot of water. Therefore, it is best to place several bowls of clean water in areas of the house where your pet spends the most time.
In the last stages of pregnancy, the bitch will have more difficulty getting around, so ideally she has water always available and close by.
Finally, the relationship between nutrition and exercise is always present. That’s why moderate routine exercise is beneficial for the mother. Of course, you should avoid high-intensity activities and try to cut short walks as your pregnancy progresses.
