My bitch is about to become a mum, 58th day of pregnancy, i'm nervous as hell just want to do the right thing. Can you all tell me what you feed your nursing mums on as I just want to make sure that I am doing all that I can to ensure her well being and the pups to be. Do I just keep the food flowing and let her eat whenever she can. She will eat and eat normally or will she know when to stop. Also when will I know when she has had all her pups. I have gone through everything with the vet but I am just so worried about everything at mo.

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First off, I feed mine Puppy food at this stage and by the time she is due to whelp she is on about 1/2 as much again as she would normally get.  Once she has whelped I feed Puppy food plus meat, fish or some such with it.  I usually feed about approx 1/2lb of meat with the food per meal.  Feed at least three times a day. No the food shouldn't be flowing all day and eat whenever she can.  As to knowing when she has finished whelping, no actual reply to that, just have to go with instinct, when the bitch looks comfortable and settled with her pups.  What I do do is take her through to the Vets for them to take a look at and if necessary give her a shot of Oxytocin to ensure all afterbirths have come away etc.  As long as you keep your Vet on standby everything should be alright. I also have a great Gruel recipe if you want it, is great for just after the bitch has whelped.

Hi, Alisongold thank you for your reply and yes I would love your gruel recipe.Thanks. Louise

Hi Louise
Once whelping is completed.
1 cup of porridge oats
2 cups of water
an egg
A big spoon of honey
A big spoon restorative milk powder (puppy milk powder)
A big spoon of glucose
Put in pan and bring to boil until thick. Dilute with a cup of milk, cool and feed to bitch. They love it.
Leave the egg out after that first meal.  I feed the gruel for a breakfast treat every morning for about a week.
Good luck with your girl.
Alison