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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Feeding a pregnant Bitch
- By Laurad [gb] Date 26.08.16 10:02 UTC
Hi my girl is 5 weeks pregnant. I have been reading up a lot of info. I have read to change her on to puppy food now but she's on canagan kibble which is a high protein kibble. I've read on their website and they don't do puppy food, it's says that the kibble is so high in protein there is no need to change a pregnant dog over and that I can also feed the puppy's on the same kibble.
Does anyone feed canagan? Have u continued on this rather than changing to a puppy food?

Also I have read to add egg and cottage cheese to her diet, has anyone done this? I don't want to give her a upset tummy.
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 26.08.16 12:00 UTC
I don't know where all this feed a pregnant/nursing bitch PUPPY food has come from.   Puppy food is FOR PUPPIES - living puppies, not before being born for remotely for the bitch.   Any bitch who is intended to be mated should be on a good quality adult food (and be wormed) prior to being mated, and throughout pregnancy in any case.   Fact is the puppies will take what they need from mum before birth in any case.   There's no point getting a bitch overly fat before whelping and way better to wait until you see what numbers she has, before upping the amount she eats.   Dogs in the wild stay lean through their pregnancy - there's no need for our domesticated bitches to be any different.   A fat bitch can have more problems with whelping too.

Again with the egg and cottage cheese - why?    Our puppies might have that once weaning starts, but never have we had to supplement our pregnant bitches.
- By hen [gb] Date 26.08.16 13:39 UTC
Hi Laurad

I haven't used Canagan so I can't help with that I am sorry. I use Purina Pro plan food I move my bitches onto Puppy food at about 4 or 5 weeks If I feel she is carrying a big litter (she is a small breed and average litter is 4) I have left them on adult food if they are carrying a small litter and they are fine. I usually give an egg every other day which they love and is a good source of protein, I was told by my mentor that it helps make good strong membranes (birth sacs) I do not know if this is true but she knew more than I did! for a larger breed it is recommended an egg a day. I have never had any upset tummies with the eggs.

I don't bother with cottage cheese as the puppy food should have an increase in calcium. Also in the last two weeks to 10 days of pregnancy I will move my Bitches back onto adult food to try and prevent Calcium storage which can actually increase the risk of eclampsia.

This is a link to a website that has a week by week guide to pregnancy

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/breedingpregnancyguide.htm

Everyone does it their own way this is the way I have found works for me, hope it helps.
- By tooolz Date 26.08.16 15:02 UTC
I keep my bitches on the same diet just adding a bit more protein in the way of meat, cheese or egg as soon as pregnancy is confirmed and as it  progresses.
Up to one third/ a half as much more.... in total ....by whelping date.
With a good size litter the mother will need many more calories whilst lactating in any case and this seems to seamlessly prepare her for that.
- By Laurad [gb] Date 26.08.16 15:28 UTC
Hi Hen thank you for your reply. When you say a egg every other day do mean a raw egg on the kibble?
- By Laurad [gb] Date 26.08.16 15:30 UTC
Thank you for all your replies. She's a small Girl, we had her scanned this week and they could see 3 pups. : )
- By hen [gb] Date 26.08.16 16:13 UTC
I cooked mine, scrambled in the microwave - personal preference, I think my girls preferred them that way, even now when the microwave pings they all look hopefully at me (everyone gets a little bit just to be fair!) The egg is extra to their daily allowance and I follow the guidance for the amount of food from The book of the bitch. I scan at 5 weeks and alter the food accordingly, I have never had a fat girl yet! Although they really would eat anything by 8 weeks and stealing the other girls dinners is definitely worth a try!

good luck!
- By Laurad [gb] Date 26.08.16 17:14 UTC
Thank you hen : )
- By drover [gb] Date 26.08.16 21:33 UTC
I feed millies wolfheart and they also don't do puppy food. My bitch is 5 weeks pregnant and will just have the amount increased in the last couple of weeks (she is carrying a large litter).
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Feeding a pregnant Bitch

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