10 Essential Tips for Feeding Pregnant & Lactating Bitches

Introduction

Feeding a pregnant and lactating bitch properly is crucial to ensure her health and the healthy development of her puppies. This guide covers 10 essential tips to support breeders and pet owners in providing balanced nutrition throughout pregnancy and lactation.

1. Pre-breeding Diet and Ideal Weight

Before mating, ensure your bitch is at her ideal weight, neither too slim nor overweight. This baseline condition sets the foundation for a healthy pregnancy and easier whelping. Good nutrition before breeding supports reproductive health and prepares her for the upcoming demands.

2. Gradual Increase of Food Starting Week 6

From week 6 of pregnancy, begin gradually increasing her food intake. Introduce a diet with higher energy density to meet increasing nutritional demands without giving excessive volume. This avoids digestive discomfort and provides concentrated nutrients essential for puppies’ development.

3. Continuity for Special Diets

If your bitch is on a specialised diet for allergies, intolerances or sensitive digestion, consult your vet and pet food manufacturer before switching foods. Often, continuing her current complete and balanced diet with increased portions is sufficient, supplemented by an extra meal if necessary.

4. Adjusting Calorie Intake According to Litter Size

Caloric needs increase gradually from about 10% above the normal intake at six weeks to approximately 60% more at whelping, based on average litter size. Monitor your bitch’s condition closely and adjust intake as needed. Hand-reared breeders often rely on experience and observation for these adjustments.

5. Calculating Calorie Requirements

To calculate exact calorie needs, find out the calories per gram from the pet food producer for all feed components including treats. Multiply this by usual feeding amounts then increase gradually to reach the required extra energy allowance week by week, ensuring you do not increase too rapidly to avoid digestive upset.

6. Avoid Supplementing Vitamins or Minerals

Do not add extra vitamins or minerals to a diet already balanced for pregnancy and lactation, particularly calcium, as it can disturb mineral balance and increase the risk of eclampsia—a dangerous condition from low blood calcium causing seizures.

7. Feeding During Appetite Changes Pre-Whelping

Many bitches eat less 2-3 days before whelping; encourage them to eat small amounts regularly to maintain stable blood sugar and energy for labour. Insufficient intake can lead to fatigue during whelping and reduced milk production postpartum, which may risk health complications.

8. Feeding During Lactation

Appetite increases significantly during lactation. Feed your bitch small, frequent meals, increasing food by 130-140% in week one, up to 250-300% by week three. Monitor weight carefully and adjust food accordingly. Larger litters demand more calories, so tailor feeding to litter size and bitch condition.

9. Weaning and Gradual Food Reduction

Begin weaning puppies around three weeks, gradually reducing the bitch’s food over two to three weeks. If the litter is large, early weaning might be needed to lessen the demand on the mother. By full weaning, the mother should return to her normal diet, unless she has lost weight, needing additional feeding for recovery.

10. Milk Substitutes for Puppies

If using milk substitutes during large litters or as a transition, avoid cow’s milk due to lactose intolerance risk causing diarrhoea in puppies. Goat’s milk is lower in lactose, but specially formulated puppy milk replacers are preferable for better digestibility and health.

Conclusion

Proper feeding throughout pregnancy and lactation ensures a healthy mother and optimal puppy development. Start with maintaining ideal weight before breeding, increase energy-rich food from week six, avoid unneeded supplements, and adjust feeding attentively through lactation and weaning. Monitoring and consultation with a vet during this period is vital for best outcomes. Responsible breeders and pet owners who focus on nutrition contribute to stronger, healthier dogs and happy litters.