Hi all, I had my dobe scanned today,she's expecting at leat 8 puppies.It's my first time breeding, i have done lots of research.She is 35 days.I have been given lots of information about increasing her food intake.I have been advised its better to give her little and often but i have also been advised to just increase her 2 meals per day to 3 per day.I would be very grateful for any advice on this. thanks kay

Hi,
Congratulations on the promising litter!

Re feeding - what I do with mine is, feed twice a day (which I do anyway) with her normal quantities until 5 weeks, then slightly increase the total quantity but split it into 3 meals till 6 weeks or so, then up the quantity of high quality protein (but not carbohydrate), giving it in 4 meals as there won't be much room inside for a large amount, till she whelps. What you don't want is a fat pregnant bitch. They have far more trouble whelping generally. Keep up her exercise - not rushing madly about, but walks to keep her muscles in trim.

After she's whelped.....in a few days your food bill will soar!!!!

Hope this helps. :)

Jean

After they have whelped do they get a huge appetite ?

You'd better believe it!

It's usual for a bitch to be eating about 4 times her normal maintenance quantity by the time the pups are 3 weeks old (peak lactation).

Start saving! :)

When your bitch is feeding her litter, let her pretty much eat whatever she will take. Any early weight gain will vanish rapidly as soon as the pupsd are three weeks or so as previous poster has said. My min smooth dachshund bitch is eating three times the amount our bullmastiff does at the moment, and despite worming, with four larger pups now, the problem is keeping the weight on her.
Good luck and let us know how it all goes!

hi
I feed my pregnant bitches as normal for the first five weeks (twice a day) during the fourth week i slowly introduce a good quality higher protien food like a working mix . I then slowly increase the amounts but spread over three meals by the time they wwhelp they are getting at least three times the normal amount divided into six meals a day. but do be carefull all bitches and breeds are different do not let her get fat she needs to be fit and up to weight but not over weight else she may have problems whelping.After whelping my bitches are fed complete dog food (DRY) adlib and are given cooked chicken and beef three times a day
Anyway congratulations let us know when the babies arrive