Can anyone please advise me on giving folic acid to a pregnant bitch (CKCS).  I've searched the internet for folic acid for bitches and can't find any so I'm assuming that it is the same as what's bought from the chemist for people?  Can anyone please advise regarding dosage and frequency and also any useful links with information about any research done into giving folic acid to pregnant bitches would be greatly appreciated. 
Many thanks in anticipation.

I have Rhodesian Ridgebacks and studies have suggested that folic acid can reduce the likelihood of dermoid sinus in the puppies if pregnant bitches are given it.  My RRs weigh about 35-38 kg and I give my breeding bitches (when I have any!) 1 human type folic acid tablet a day.  I would be tempted to give a significantly smaller dog a smaller dose, but perhaps you could ask your vet?  May I ask why you are thinking of using it?

Folic Acid is safe to use during pregnancy, what the body doesn't needs gets passed through in their wee, so no chance of overdosing them.

A few years ago on this site it was stated that 6 folic acid tablets per day was the dose for pregnant bitches, to be given from the first day of the season to prevent cleft palettes.  It has now been found that folic acid also has a protective element against cleft palettes in pregnant women, as well as the traditional prevention of spina bifida.

Since then I have always given 6 per day, but a couple of months ago I had a pup born with a hare lip, even though the bitch had taken folic acid.  So who knows if it works or not.

pja

I daresay it depends on the strength of the dosage - when pregnant I only took a single folic acid tablet (the recommended dose for an adult woman). To give 6 a day seems a little high - is that the dosage on the pack?

No, but if you do a search on champdogs you will find the posts that say a bitch should have 6 per day because she has more than one fetus.  I just buy the standard ones from a chemist or supermarket.  I have to say I have given 6 for the last 3 years and had no cleft palettes at all (not that I did for 30 years before that without using them!!!)

pja

A bitch usually has more than one foetus, but the total weight of a whole litter is unlikely to be that of a single human baby. ;)

The risks of folic acid overdose are listed here.

Thanks Jeangenie, I read the link and it seems to only be a risk to epileptics.  Other than that it says the usual 4mg dose is probably too low and people can safely take 20mg per day.

pja

>if you do a search on champdogs you will find the posts that say a bitch should have 6 per day

Remember that (to my knowledge anyway!) nobody on here is a vet, so any medical advice should be verified by a qualified person. :)