Hello all. I hope everyone is well, whether looking after pups, waiting for pups, or waving them out of the door.

My bitch is on day 23 of her supposed pregnancy, and is showing signs that she's caught. Naturally, as this is my first litter, I'm eager to learn and be there for her as much as she needs me to be.

Are there any tips to care for a pregnant bitch that are rule of thumb? We're still exercising so she's fit for whelping, she isn't eating at the moment but I have read that's normal, and she's being kept stress free as much as I can. Very clingy still, and other signs (nipples, mammary glands, swollen vulva, etc).
However, nutritionally I have read so much conflicting advice; should I be feeding raspberry leaf and liver for iron? I've read that too much nutritional complimenting can result in eclampsia (sp), that too much calcium can result in similar, and that I shouldn't be adding food until I know she's pregnant for certain (scanning on the 6th) lest she become overweight.

What do you do for your pregnant bitches? Thanks in advance for your valuable advice.

I treat mine as normal until about the 6th week of pregnancy, then reduce the amount of carbohydrate in the diet and increase the protein. I exercise them as normal, but as they get larger they naturally slow down.

No change till day 42 when I start daily worming with Panacur 10% and feeding puppy kibble or RC reproduction starter.

No extra calcium till labour starts.

Allow as much exercise as they want.

No supplements at all.  Feeding a good quality food should provide everything your bitch needs.

Change to puppy food at 6 weeks.  I give white fish poached in milk and water daily after day 42 as it is so easy to hide the Panacur in it.  Apart from puppy food, I do get bitches used to soft food (apart from a quality kibble) as I know they are going to need something soft when their mouths are sore from cleaning pups.  Mine often won't eat dry food for this reason. 

I supplement with raspberry leaf tablets from about 5 weeks.  Quickens labour and I find the whole thing less messy/bloodier when I've used them.  It is herbal so will do no harm whatsoever to growing pups or mum.  I used them myself when pregnant as I had so much belief that they helped my girls so much.  And yes, I did have nice, short labours!
Also, I don't supplement anything else I just switch to good quality puppy food from 6 weeks.

Thanks everyone, much better idea now of what to do!

Where did you get your raspberry leaf pills from Cracar? And how often did you give them?

You can get raspberry leaf tablets at Dorwest Herbs, the dosage is on the website based on weight http://www.dorwest.com/Catalogue/Veterinary-Medicine/Raspberry-Leaf-tablets

I used them for my first litter, didn't for my second.  I've read good and bad things- so I'm not sure any more.

All I used this time was Folic Acid from about a month or so before breeding her till her 7th week of pregnancy.

I got them from holland and barret and I asked my vet to help me with the correct dosage.  I had to give 1 tablet, 3 times a day but I swear by them.