My girl is on day 57 today and for the past week she has not wanted to eat much at all. She has eaten well up until this point. I'm really worried about her, in fact over the past two days she has only wanted dry biscuit. I have tried everything I can think of as well as her usual dog food - chicken and rice, cheese, rice pudding, red meats, toast!, tinned meat ie corned beef, pasta, goat's milk, scrambled or boiled egg etc. I'm worried about the pups as well if she isn't eating. HELP! Has anyone else experienced this?

Do you know if she is carrying a large litter? My bitch stopped eating about a week before she was due her last litter. She had 13 pups You really need to give her small handfulls at a time if she will eat it. I found raw minced chicken or tripe was a favourite. She didn't have to chew these. They just went down without touching the sides ;) She also loved yoghurt. Hope everything is ok. She could go anytime now if she does have a large litter :)

Edited to add: I forgot about the tinned tuna and tinned sardines :D In oil or tomato sauce, not brine though. The brine isn't good for them :D

my sisters shih tzu was a really good eater up until she was in pup she was about 3 wks into pregnancy and she refused to eat almost every thing scrambled eggs she liked and sometimes my sister had to pretend to eat what she was giving her girl then throw it to her and she would eat it she wouldnt eat out of her dish which she as had for ages she went on to have a good litter of pups dont worry she will eat when she wants too

Two of my girls stop eating when 3 weeks in whelp and don't start again until after they've whelped.  I was really worried about them, but my vet said to make sure she has food down over night as this is the time they normally start to eat, but no, neither would eat a thing.

They both went on to have healthy litters of 7 & 8 pups, as your girl is so close to whelping I shouldn't worry too much, she's feeling very full,and as long as she's ok in herself just keep an eye on her, not much longer now.

You mean your bitches don't eat anything for 6 weeks? I confess I find that very hard to believe.

Hi

My bitch with her two litters hardly ate anything for 6 weeks. She is a small breed bitch and doesnt have a big appitite at the best of times. I gave her what she wanted and worried my self sick she wouldnt be able to carry a healthy litter and be skin and bone when they were born. Both times she had 3 big strong pups and looked ok after the delivery. The last litter she drank pints and pints of Lactol per day rather than anything solid. She gradually started to eat properly when the pups were about a week old.

Wendy

Thanks to everyone for your replies. My girl is only a small breed and from her scan at 33 days I was told there are 4 pups, so not a large litter. Today she has managed only a few pieces of puppy biscuit and a slither of ham but she is drinking ok. I feel better that 'fasting' in pregnancy does not just apply to my bitch! I have tried the fish menu as well, but forgot to add it to my original list. Hopefully things will improve when the puppies arrive soon.

One of my girls virtually lived on rice pudding for a fair lump of her pregnancy. She was ravenous and wanted to eat, but as she put her head near a dish with any proper food (i.e. meat) in it, you could almost see her turn green in front of your eyes. I just fed her what she could cope with, and she whelped and reared 8 healthy pups with no issues.

M.

one chicken wing every other day and that's it, that's why I worried so much!  I keep a daily diary of everything during their pregnancies.

My bitch didn`t eat much in last two weeks she did eat chicken breast and a pint of puppy milk on Sunday morning and gave birth with ease on Sunday afternoon ,all puppies are good weight and healthy.

Hey Beverley ,she probably has not got a lot of room left to fit food in,she is probably feeling really heavy and uncomfortable,my brother breeds dobes,and one of his bitches does not eat very much at all for the last 2-3 weeks of her pregnancy,she almost only eats small amounts of cottage cheese

Thank goodness! That's much more believeable, Sharon. :) Although think how economical it'd be to only have to feed a dog every 6 weeks and for it to remain in perfect health. ;)