Any advice for getting a pregnant  bitch to eat,she was a bit nauseous in the first week or so,which I have experienced before,but she just will not eat a proper meal,she will accept a few pieces of ham or chicken if hand fed,but only a little,and as she is now about 4 weeks pregnant,really needs the nutrition.Our dogs get a good quality meat and mixer diet,and are not usually greedy eaters,but this one has me worried,she had a big litter last time,and I am concerned that she will sacrifice her own health to make strong babies.She seems happy and healthy,but just will not eat,I am at a loss what to try next.Help!

It's very common at this stage and lasts a week or ten days or so. I found with mine you have to offer a different type of food at each meal to keep them interested, that worked for me. (I literally went out and bought every can and pouch I could find.) Also not too large meals as it sometimes seems to put them off -"What, you expect me to eat all THAT?!" but rather several smaller meals. Also pretending to be handing out treats rather than a meal worked at times. Then once they feel like eating again I go back to what they should be fed. Gone through it twice just recently and both started eating again by 5 weeks.

Thanks Marianne.You are so right,she will eat a few mouthfuls of a new food,and then refuses to accept any more,she seems to want food but once she smells it she turns away and is very stubborn if you try hand feeding it. I wonder if there is a name for this,its a bit like post whelping when they sometimes have to be hand fed,this is quite common and is stress related I believe.I have spent 40 years  breeding   but worry a lot more about them now I am getting on a bit.I have ordered some multi-vits to try,but as you say she should be ok at 5 weeks ,so maybe I can feed her puppy food then.

Hi

I have exactly the same problem with my bitches (same breed) until the last litter I managed to get over it with roasting chickens on very frequent basis and adding to the dry puppy food.  My last litter was the hardest to get her to eat, have to say Butchers puppy meat in foil trays sometimes worked or lamb was very popular mixed in with RC junior food.  Also will she drink puppy formula milk?  I found the puppy formula goat's milk nutrolac worked quite well.  They are so ungreedy it can be a nightmare!!

Best of luck.

I have the same problem, my female will be 7 weeks pregnant on Friday and is just picking and grazing, today she hasnt eaten much yesterday she ate quite well, she usually is not a bad eater, she is fine in herself though, ye they do stress you out, i dont usually worry but when they are in welp i stress more, i too am feeding her cooked chicken, she wont entertain dry dog food now, even puppy food, another of our females hardly ate all through her pregnancy and went on to have a healthy litter of 10 puppies, she looked horrible though. will try some butchers puppy meat,

Forgot to mention raw mince worked quite well as well, I also resorted to lamb's kidneys and heart in an attempt to get her to eat.  Scrambled egg sometimes worked!

I had the same problem with my toy breed - she lived off Honey Pork sausages and ham - but only hand fed - refused to eat off plate, and was the same for 2 weeks after pup was born.  Vet suggested cat food - and to heat her food for the aroma to stimulate appetite.  Saying that she was healthier and got her figure back very quickly, and vet support helped as I was worried silly.

It is reassuring to know other people have the same problem,I will persevere with the little and often goodies,so far today  it has been mince beef,butchers puppy foil tray,and luncheon meat which she thought was my dinner.I never ever feed titbits from my  own plate,now all the others are queuing up for their bits.as well, so much for house rules!I did wonder about puppy milk,but did not want to risk upsetting her tummy,I will try it now.Thanks

Yes i have broke all the rules too, feeding her bits here and there, she even pinched a piece of raw bacon i was putting in the oven, i saw her doing it but didnt stop her ha ha!  i leave her food down all day now, (which i never normally do with my dogs) they either eat or i take it away, she finished her food in the middle of the night, so yesterday she didnt do too bad, she wont eat in the morning at the moment but as long as she eats at some point i'll be happy then. do we worry too much? probably.

Update on my pregnant bitch who refused all food,I followed all the advice,lots of little varied meals and she began to improove,but it was the introduction of the multi-vits that really made the difference.She is now queuing up with the others for normal meals,but knowing all sorts of goodies  were on offer she is underfoot every time I go near the fridge!I feel really mean, but do not want to overfeed her,but being pregnant will mean she still gets smaller  but more frequent meals

My female is eating well now, she is eating puppy food with cooked chicken and some minced tripe, she loves it, she has never liked tripe before, 10 days until her due date now, good luck with your litter Rhona x

One of my girls has just finished a season and got very reluctant to eat. Pretending food is treats helped, as did heating food up. Likewise she didn't want food first thing so left feeding till mid morn. I also find that she produces excess acid so gave her some digestive tabs from Denes for wind etc. and that seemed to help. she has also had from the vet Zantac in liquid form. I bought some in tab form from chemist, which also works as well.
maybe these expectant ladies are also producing too much acid as well?? Just a thought, as when I sorted out her acid problem she seems to have go her appetite back :o)

Thanx Andee, she likes to eat during the night at the moment, she is eating little amounts quite often so im happy with that.