Hi was wondering what other people do with their bitch in the last two weeks of whelp...............I have just read this on another forum and wondered if anyone does it
"Give the dam NO calcium, no puppy kibble, no raw bones, no sardines, no cottage cheese or cheese, or calcium pills this week. they will get an ample amount in their regular kibble. If they are really fussy, and you feed Eukanuba kibble, try the canned version, but not the puppy version. Many dams in the last week are fussy, and will eat the canned food."

I have my girls on puppy food all through until pups are weaned and I do add cheese, sardines, chicken, beef mince and wet pouches of puppy food all the way through but I never ever give calcium supplements at any time.  What are other peoples experiences

I feed mine on puppy kibble from 7 weeks, they also have raw chicken wings and raw tripe. Never give calcium. No problems so far.

I give puppy kibble from 6 weeks when I start the daily worming, only start extra calcium in labour and whilst raising the pups.

To stop all those things from a dogs diet who is used to it could upset their metabolism and they are not in the best of condition to cope with whelping and puppy rearing.

I never switch to puppy food these days for pregnant bitches, as the last time I did so the bitch almost died. Once the pups were born she developed such dreadful diarrhoea she lost so much body weight it really was touch and go whether she'd survive. The one and only thing that helped that time was to feed her a chicken wing every hour, then she finally stopped having diarrhoea and started gaining weight. Since then I feed the bitch's normal food (which for the toydogs is only raw, for the large dogs about 75 % raw the rest CSJ), just give them extra meals. For the toys I then give extra calcium for the first few days after giving birth as they can be prone to eclampsia (not had it myself but very close relatives in same line) but for the large dogs I've ever given any calcium.

I never switch to puppy food these days for pregnant bitches, as the last time I did so the bitch almost died.

Can you put this down to the food? IMO mums -to -be need the extra protein that puppy food offers and I have never had a problem.

I think it depends on your bitch. My current Mum loves her food has never been underweight and is looking quite good at 5.5. weeks into rearing the pups.
I do increase her normal food and she does have extras and of course here and there she finishes up the pups food and if there is any puppy milk going she has had that,. I have restricted that to once a day now as they love it but thought poos were a bit runny.
I have had Mums who were on the lean side and then I switched to puppy. Throughout the time of having and the early dayys of feeding I give them anything that will tempt them to eat. Never given a calcium supplement before but have with a couple after on recommendation of the vet.

I have both breeds, large and small, on their usual raw food diet. That includes bones up until about two weeks before their due date. I never supplement with calcium until after they've whelped. As I wean the pups onto raw food too, there isn't any problem with weaning. It works for us.

Can you put this down to the food?

yes it was directly related as it was what set the diarrhoea off, before the pups were even born. we then could not get it to stop.

in my experience there is no need at all for puppy food, just more food.

My dogs can't cope with eating more in quantity whilst pregnant hence the higher calorie puppy food which reduces how much they take in but keeps them in good condition