Hi all.  My bitch is on day 46 and is absolutely starving hungry!!!  I am feeding her 3 meals per day and have increased her rations (she is fed raw) but she just cannot get enough!  This is her 2nd litter and she wasn't this hungry last time.  I know I need to be careful about how much I feed her and that there are many different opinions regarding feeding whilst pregnant.  She still feels a good weight, has a good covering on her bones but is not fat.  Just wondered what everyone does with their "starving" girls?  I would be particularly interested to hear from anyone who feeds raw.

>She still feels a good weight, has a good covering on her bones but is not fat.

Remember just how fast that good covering will fly off her once pups are on the ground.  I feed to appetite, so would give 4 meals a day if that is what she is saying to you.  And as she gets progressively bigger you may well find that she doesn't have room to have it all in one go.  So maybe think about this also.

I have always noticed that people seem to think that by not overfeeding, the whelping will be easier.  And the big one - the dreaded "singleton."  Well I have always overfed.  My bitches have usually put on weight by the time the pups are weaned.  I feel this means the horrible coat loss doesn't last so long.  I have had several singletons.  None have been unusual births.  So I have always ignored that argument.

>Just wondered what everyone does with their "starving" girls?

Feed them as much as they ask for.  I've never regretted it.  I hate it when bitches look skin and bone while feeding pups.  I always think that people will think I don't care. 

Pregnancy hormones will awaken those encysted worms.  Is she being wormed?

She looked brilliant whilst feeding her puppies last time, everyone kept commenting on how well she had kept her weight so maybe that is something I need to consider.  As you say if she is asking for more then maybe I should go with that.  I don't like to worm my girls when in whelp, they are on Verm-X but I don't like to use conventional wormers until after they have whelped.  I've never had a problem with worms with either the bitch or puppies though I do realise that doesn't mean I won't in future!  I think I may send off a faeces sample to see if she needs worming and can then eliminate that as a cause.  Thank you for your advice and response Jean :-)

Just to add:  she has been scanned with a minimum of 6 puppies so I don't have any worries about a singleton

> don't have any worries about a singleton

:-)  :-)  :-)

Just one thought, although I'm not trying to teach you to suck eggs!  I have heard over and over how people have been worried about the size of a bitch, and it has been irrelevant, as they don't carry the same amount of fluid every time.  So I agree that she is the best judge of what her body is telling her.  :-)

LOL.  She is bigger at this stage than she was last time (last time she had 9) but I know that doesn't mean anything as regards the number of puppies, especially as this is her 2nd litter so she may just be showing earlier.  I think you are right though Jean, I need to go with what her body is telling her.  I will give her a fourth meal and see how she goes with that.  Thank you again :-)