Nutrition for a pregnant dog? Breeders please answer!!!?

Question

So, since my dogs (maltese) mated a bunch of times when she was in heat I'm guessing that she is pregnant and want to treat her as if she is. If she's pregnant she would be between 7 & 15 days along (see my other post on dates). Problem is, I've read conflicting information on nutrition for a pregnant *****, I would like to get your advice and experiences on these things so that I can make sure my girl is getting all that she needs. I would like to know, in your experience and knowledge, what things are good, bad, and unnessasary. If you have a clear cut nutrition plan which you used and worked out great for you that I could follow, I would greatly appreciat that also.
First off, I switched her food from Innova Evo (because I couldnt find a puppy formula from Innova) to Wellness Super 5 Mix puppy formula (wet & dry because she wasnt wanting to eat for 1 1/2 days and I get worried about her not eating because she is small, 7 lbs, and when I mix wet food w/ dry she gets more interested and actually eats) I've been feeding her 1/4 cup dry mixed w/ 1/4 cup wet, twice a day, thats 1 cup total food per day(both wet and dry are the Wellness Super 5 mix puppy formula).
Next, I read to give them Nutri-Cal and Shark's liver oil twice a week while pregnant then 3 times a week after pups are born. I've been giving her Nutri-cal twice a week (an inch on my finger), but I cant find the shark oil in any stores so far.
Next, I read to give them about a tablespoon of cottage cheese every other day. This puzzles me because of the calcium, I also read that too much calcium is bad for them. So what's the deal with cottage cheese, benefit or risk???
Finally, a friend of mine said she gives her dogs a couple tablespoons of canned Makrel (fish, dont know if i spelled it right) 3 times a week. I've never heard this before so I want to know what the benefits from this are, if any, or dangers, if any. Once again, all of your experiences and advice are much appreciated. I would like to come up with a great nutrition plan to give her the best she can get. Thanks again!

Answer 1

So far it sounds like you're doing great. I would offer both the Wellness puppy and the Innova Evo (it's actually formulated for puppies AND dogs, there is not separate puppy formula) to give her the greatest nutritional value. Mixing wet food is good too. Not sure about the shark oil, I imagine any Omega fatty acid supplement would work the same- you should be able to find a fatty acid liquid supplement in any pet store with the vitamins. Nutrical is good too. Cottage cheese is actually very good for dogs, it will not cause an overload of calcum, and it's perfect for moms who need to form all those puppy bones. I gave cottage cheese to my puppy to help him through teething, and it did wonderfully. So go ahead and use the cheese, it won't hurt her a bit. As far as the mackeral, if you're using a fatty acid supplement you don't need to add any more fish to the diet- that's all the fish is really used for, to add fatty acids. You can also give her boiled chicken breast and boiled hamburger meat as special treats. And make sure you let her eat as much as she wants, from now until the pups are weaned- she needs everything she can get.

Answer 2

Why would you want the advice of a breeder over a vet's?

All these supplements should not be necessary. You should be fine with just a high quality, complete puppy food. Pregnant dogs require slightly more calories - lactating dogs require a lot more. But supplements are more likely to just create an imbalance - a complete dog food has all the nutrients required. Remember excess vitamins and minerals are just as dangerous as vitamin deficiencies - particularly where calcium is concerned, so lose the cottage cheese.

I personally would just stick with veterinary advice - thanks to the slogan of Pedigree Chum (worst dog food ever) - 'Top breeders recommend it' - I no longer have faith in the nutritional advice of breeders.

Chalice

EDIT: re: kneepdeep_inc's advice - you're not trying to fatten your dog up, she's not a thanksgiving turkey!! And unfortunately food is like everything - you get what you pay for. Low price = low quality.

Answer 3

Hon.. don't give your dog every supplement oyu hear of online or anywhere.. You'll just wind up with a pregnant momma with diarrhea. Too many supplements will take up room in her tummy for the great food she is on. If you are concerned about her health, then talk to a vet about supplements. But, Innova EVO and wellness are both great foods for whelping dogs, NO supplements required. If she gets too much calcium or other nutrients, it can actually HARM the pups!! Just stick to the puppy formulas/Innova EVO (which is actually good for pups/moms to be). Don't start increasing her food amounts until the second month, though, as you don't want to make her fat. The wet food is agood idea, just not too much of it!! Give her as small an amount as possible so that she will eat the dry kibble.

Answer 4

hey gorgeous. my female maltese recently had puppies. we kept her on a very nuitritious eating plan. We fed our mother to be Iams Puppy Chow. The vet recommended it and said it would be great on her puppies, another food she recommended was Science Diet. And if I remember correctly they actually have a brand of it that is specifically made for mothers to be to ensure proper nuitrition.

Your Nutri-Cal idea is PERFECT!
Every morning we would give her a half a cup of the puppy chow and would cook her up some steak and cut it up and mix it into her food to make sure the pups were getting protien. After her breakfast we would moniter her. We actually bought our baby Annie and her sister Jelly Jo. So after breakfast we would let her play with her toys but make sure there was no ruff housing or anything that would harm the pups. Every Tuesday and Friday we would give her a fingertip lengths worth of Nutri-Cal to make sure that she was getting plenty of nutrition and sugar too since she was eating for 5! (she had 4 pups). We would also give her some on saturday or wednesday or when she was starting to show.

And for dinner we would repeat the same thing; we would give her a half a cup of Iam's Puppy Chow (dry). Once a week for dinner we would give her the half a cup of Iam's, but we would also cook up some veggies, well mainly carrots, and some chicken and cut them into little pieces. and mix it in her food.

I have never heard of giving a pregnant dog cottage cheese. I know they are supposed to get extra calcium but we would give her a small cup of milk once a week.

Whatever you do dont give her fish! We were told by the vet that it may or may not hurt the puppies and the female but it is possible that it could. So they said not too.



Also, make sure your baby is getting plenty of naps in!


The result of our nutrition plan was 4 healthy, plump, puppies and one healthy, happy, mother.

Good luck with everything,
=]

Answer 5

Honestly, I see no need for Shark's liver oil and all of that. Just continue to feed her puppy food since it contains more nutrients and fat content. When my dog was pregnant, I also had to mix in a little bit of dry food or she wouldn't eat so continue to do that so the pups will mature well in the womb. Also, make sure you continue to feed her puppy food while the pups are nursing.
I asked my vet about all of the things people say to give pregnant dogs, but he said it really wasn't necessary and as long as you are feeding her puppy food then she and the puppies will do fine.

Answer 6

nutrition pregnant dog breeders answer

Answer 7

I use Canidae or puppy food (science diet) canned whichever I can get with maternalac powder sprinkled on it. I think they sell other puppy replacement powders at WalMart or Petsmart if you can't get Maternalac. I use canned food for the females and just leave dry puppy kibble down all the time for snacking. My females eat about a can or more a day each.

I would prefer Canidae, but it's hard to find in my area, so I have to special order it. If I can't get it in at the clinic, then I use the Science Diet puppy formula.

Answer 8

Sorry, I didn't have time to read your entire question, but I would ask your vet what he/she recommends. Definitely once the puppies are born you do want to keep her on a puppy food, the puppies will take a lot of nutrients from her. I usually start my pregnant females on puppy food a month or two before she is to deliver.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

well basicly anything with benificial fats like raw eggs,steamed cod and milk are a great way to pack on those pounds. Natural plain yogurts are great for diggestion as well.
You vet will usally tell you u need all this expencive name brand stuff that they just so happen to have on hand...lol But you dont realy need this stuff.
I dont buy expencive dog food and some times its as easy as giving her a few raw eggs on top of boiled rice (Biold in beef broth) Three main things are fats, starches and protien and never sugar.
At least thats what I followed when my dog had puppies. I just gave her lots of those three things and she was fine.