The Nutritional needs of a pregnant dog are not the same as in other stages of her life. To administer a correct diet we must know the energy requirements and give our dog a food specifically formulated for this physiological situation.
Offering a complete and quality diet is essential for our pets at all stages of their lives, but even more so during pregnancy, as it will guarantee that both the mother and the puppies enjoy a good he alth condition. Discover on our site how it should be feeding a pregnant dog
Characteristics of pregnancy in bitches
Gestation in bitches lasts about 64 days and is divided into two phases:
- First phase of pregnancy: This is the development of the embryo until day 42 and during this period the mother hardly gains weight.
- Second stage of pregnancy: Starting on day 42, fetuses grow rapidly and reach up to 80% of their birth weight by what the increase in the mother's weight is significant since her energy needs increase. The mother's weight gain at the end of pregnancy should not exceed 25% (large bitch) or 30% (small bitch) of her initial weight and after giving birth she should recover her weight without problems.
It is important to note that Fetuses are nourished through the placenta and it is very important that the mother receives adequate nutrition since pup losses may occur.
Nutrition in pregnant bitches
In the first stage described, the type of feed and the usual amount that we give to the bitch should not be modified. After a month and a half, that is, in the second stage, we must progressively introduce a very digestible and energetic foodthat allows to cover all the needs with small portions.
When bitches are pregnant, the abdomen distends due to the uterus and this causes a decrease in the digestive capacity of the digestive system. In addition, the ideal feeding guideline is to divide the necessary daily amount into several feedings to avoid overloading.
By increasing your portion size a little each week after week four, you'll be able to reach week nine with a portion one-third larger than usual.
- Energy needs: In the last third of pregnancy these needs are multiplied by 1.5, so the diet must provide a high caloric content.
- Protein needs: The protein needs in this last third of pregnancy, due to the beginning of the development of the breasts and about all of the growth of the fetuses, are also very high. It is estimated that they increase up to 70% compared to those of a female in maintenance. If the protein intake is not sufficient, it can result in a low birth weight of the puppies.
- Fatty acids: Essential fatty acids are important for the early stages of puppies' development, especially for their brain and retina., helping to improve your vision, memory and learning.
- Folic acid: Reduces the probability of cleft palate in brachycephalic dogs.
- Minerals: They are administered in balanced doses that are given by the feed. It is not necessary to supplement with nutraceuticals.
All these nutritional requirements that we have mentioned are found in food called "for puppies" or "puppy" and it is very important to acquire it high end. We can find specific feed for puppies in any pet store or online store.
Excess weight and other problems
As we have pointed out previously, the weight gain at the end of pregnancy should not exceed 25-30%, so we must control the weightthroughout the period. To do this, we will write down the weight of the bitch at the beginning of pregnancy in a notebook.
Ideally, our bitch should be at the right weight before becoming pregnant, since the excess of adipose tissue interacts with the reproductive function, giving rise to low quality embryos. In addition, the obesity of the bitch causes problems in childbirth because the fat infiltrates the myometrium, reducing the force of uterine contractions.
Many owners believe that the food needs increase in a pregnant dog from the beginning of pregnancy and we increase the amount of feed promoting obesity.
Finally, highlight that nutrient deficiencies cause puppies congenital malformations, alterations in the central nervous system and other pathologies.
