Hi, do any of you give your bitches calcium (liquid) for the last 2 weeks of pregnancy? I put my bitch onto puppy food for the last 2 weeks, but her breeder disagrees and says leave her on adult food and give calcium daily.

Just after other thought on this.

I don't give additional calcium at all until after the pups are born. I have found that supplementation during pregnancy causes problems, not prevents them. I personally give them more high-quality protein and lower the carbohydrate level in the last weeks - so I guess changing to a puppy food would be the equivalent.
Hope this helps.
:)

You have to be very careful giving calcium. You should give something else with it, can't remember what - I'm sure someone else will be along to tell you!
if a bitch is having a properly balanced diet, she shouldn't need any supplements - JMO!

Phosphorus

Thanks (senior moment!) :D. I think Vit. D as well

Hi I have given cal D before but only in the last week of preganancy 5ml twice a day, it helps with contractions well my vets recommened it and i have never had any problems giving it.

Have you asked your vet for his recommendation?

Mine says not to give any calcium until the bitch has whelped, then to give extra as prescribed , but I start to feed puppy feed about 3 weeks before whelping, then give calcium pills after whelping . I currently have a litter of 5 weeks and have followed this with no problems.

I nearly lost my bitch after her first whelp because of a lack of calcium with preclamsia, only recognising the condition early and a dash to the vet saved her . The vet advised Hills feeds which I have now fed for the last 4 years.

best of luck

Thanks everyone for you replys. I did ask the vet and she said if dogs are fed correctly the dont need any suppliments at all at any time, why did I not swap to feeding Hills which they convieniently sell!

Tell me I'm wrong if you want, but I feel happier with advice and infor from people who have bred and raised pups for many years and have practical experience of whelping and rearing not just the medical side. I'm not condeming vets they do a fantastic job and have vast knowledge, I just feel sometimes there is another way/point of view.

Many yrs ago I had a bitch who suffered from eclampsia which, of course, is life threatening. This was her 2nd litter, which I planned would be her last. She had a mistake litter a year later , no probs at all. She had no supplementary feeding (because I didn't know she was in whelp until she was 7 wks!) & whelped 5 pups (4 with the planned mating)
She was fed exactly the same for all 3 of her litters - the important thing is to be aware of the signs - which aren't always what the books say! I just knew she wasn't "right".
Sometimes, it just happens.
I think your vet is right - but not about the Hills!

I have read that calcium given whilst pregnant has no effect whasoever.

I have never given calcium at all, just a varied balanced diet, higher in protein & fat to provide extra nourishment and I have bred 3 litters of 14 puppies without 1 hitch. The only time I have had to give calcium was to a youngster who had a dietary imbalance, too much phosporous and not enough calcium, so she was given calcium carbonate from the vet. But I definitely wouldn't tamper with a very healthy bitch's diet and if she isn't 100% fit & healthy you shouldn't be breeding from her in the first place.