Dog pregnancy nutrition. A healthy, numerous and viable litter is the wish of anyone who wants to breed their dog or cat. However, this is only the result of a highly demanding course for the female, which must be managed as best as possible throughout the breeding cycle. Even before mating, it must be ensured that the mother-to-be is in the ideal condition to cope with this course. Therefore, this is the time to have her examined by our trusted veterinary surgeon, who will complete an assessment of her state of health.
How do nutritional needs change?
Gestation implies a considerable re-demand from a nutritional point of view for both mother and puppies. In addition to meeting the mother’s maintenance needs, nutrient requirements must be fulfilled to support the growth of the developing puppies. After the fourth week of pregnancy, energy requirements increase gradually to ensure the rapid growth of the foetuses, with up to 50% more than the maintenance requirement.
What food to choose?
The food used in this phase must contain high-quality, digestible protein, a good percentage of fat with the right amount of essential fatty acids, a proportion of carbohydrates and appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals. Providing a nutrient-rich, energy-dense food for small, numerous meals is necessary.
How to manage lactation?
Lactation can be a real nutritional challenge because energy demands have never been so extreme. The energy requirement is very high to ensure adequate milk production and can be up to three times that of maintenance, especially concerning the number of puppies.
Are supplements necessary?
The entire reproductive cycle can benefit, depending on the phase, from certain specific nutrients, in particular:
- Folic acid helps prevent specific foetus malformations and promotes correct prenatal development.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA: its supplementation is essential as it contributes to the correct development of the central nervous system and retina.
- Nucleotides are semi-essential nutrients but become indispensable in certain circumstances, such as during development and growth.
Some vitamins and trace elements include vitamin E, iron, zinc, and selenium. Their requirements increase during reproduction, and a deficiency can lead to miscarriages or premature births.
These supplements can help the mother-to-be have a successful pregnancy and improve milk production.
Remember that the starting point should always be a commercial breeding/growing food or a homemade formulation developed by the vet.
Thank you for reading the article to the end. Your reading contribution was significant to us.
Affiliate Disclosure: The Frenchie Breed website may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links at no cost to you.
Post a Comment