OK - So bitch is on RC HT42D From day 2 of season to day 40 of gestation - then onto baby dog from day 40 - my question is how much 'other stuff' do you usually add to the bitches food when they start needing more from week 6 ? Ive read not to add more than 10% of the whole intake - do you follow this rule ? I was thinking thing such as sardines / tune / scrambled egg / porridge with goats milk / farleys rusks / chicken / etc
Any advice welcome!

Leave all that until after pups are born if her appetite is good.

The bitch should only be on about 50% more food than her maintenance ration by the end of pregnancy.

A fat bitch is a bad whelping prospect, so save the food for when there are puppies, at which point I feed whatever they will eat, and as much as they want.

Thanks Brainless - that makes sense x

i find the last 2 weeks i give what every my girl will eat LOL mine have gone off there puppy foods but this time ,more so the last week so i feed chicken beef eggs fish cheese ,anything i can get them to eat :) xx

Hi -

I keep seeing the RC food "HT42D" mentioned, but I have no idea what this stands for and can't find anything it might, on the RC website - can someone tell me what it means?

Thanks!

I'm not 100% but think you can only purchase this food if you are a registered breeder with Royal Canin, this is what their website says about the product:-

Food for bitches from the 1st day of heat to the 42nd day of gestation.

Optimal energy level

An energy content which meets the energy needs of reproductive bitches from the 1st day of heat to the 42nd day of gestation. L-carnitine helps promote fat metabolism. It is recommended that daily feeding amounts be carefully monitored to avoid any risk of excess weight gain which could affect the animal's health.

Optimal nutritional profile

Nutritional profile optimised for the beginning of gestation in bitches: increased levels of vitamins A and E, tyrosine, folic acid and EPA & DHA.
Optimal digestive tolerance
Optimal digestive tolerance thanks to the use of very high quality sources of carbohydrate and protein and EPA & DHA.
Increased level of antioxidants
Vitamin E and C, lutein, beta-carotene, taurine: nutrients which contribute to neutralise free radicals.

Great, thanks!

I managed to find an analysis of it online, where it said that the protein % was 20%.  I'm reading a book called 'Canine Reproduction:  The Breeder's Guide' by Phyllis A Holst - who is a vet specialising in reproduction - she recommends that the bitch be fed a food containing at least 25% dry matter protein during pregnancy.  (For toy breeds, she says 28-30%.). So I'm left wondering why the HD42 RC food has only 20% protein??