It can be a commercial weaning formula or slushy kibble. Feeding a nursing dog the right food, in the right amount, is vital to the health of the adult dog and her pups. In the end, it’s not about the length of nursing the puppy. A nursing dog needs more nutrients than usual in order to produce more milk for the litter. This can be fixed through supplementation and proper treatments of a vet. You could also add some fat to the diet. Nursing will take up a lot of fluids so your dog needs to double or even triple its hydration. The food of choice for all pregnant or nursing dogs regardless of breed is Science Diet® Puppy food in varieties listed above. How Much to Feed a Nursing Dog? Regular vet visits will let you know how your dog is faring in the lactating department. What to Feed a Lactating Dog. And because dog mommies can have over ten babies at a time, a whole bunch of lives depend on that milk being top quality. To help her get enough calories, it's best to give her four or more smaller meals a day. Canine dietary supplements with calcium and Vitamin D are readily available. If you’re in doubt, never shy away from the help of a vet. On day two of weaning, separate the pups from the mother and feed her about 25% of her pre-breeding portion of her regular food, instead of the puppy formulation. Also, gradual weaning is beneficial for mothers as it will let them dry their milk slowly. Still, weaning should be a slow process that should end by the 8th week of the pup. Next you need to find out how many calories the diet you have chosen to feed your bitch during the pregnancy supplies and work out how much of an increase is needed each week to provide the extra energy she needs. It should increase her milk in 24-72 hours. What to feed a dog after giving birth? She gets as much dog … Try to feed your dog high-quality protein during pregnancy and nursing. This will mean that by the time the puppies are fully weaned, the bitch is back down to her normal daily amount (although she may need a little more food for longer if she has lost a significant amount of weight through feeding her puppies). Also, if the pups aren’t gaining weight (which should take place dramatically in their first few days of life) you should ask the help of a vet. The dog doctor can identify what causes the poor milk production and s/he can also check if the puppies are getting enough milk. It's good to give her a break from the puppies as well. Also, you need to know what to feed a dog after giving birth. To make your dog produce more milk, give her lactose-free milk such as goat milk, cow milk, or almond milk. It is at that point that you have to try to feed them some extra milk. Mama Dog’s calorie and nutrient requirements are greater while she’s nursing her pups than at any other time of her life, including pregnancy. The doggos are susceptible to various infections which can be prevented with early diagnosis. Colostrum is the first milk to flow in 24 hours upon birth. You can purchase a puppy milk replacer from a pet store or your vet, or make a natural substitute. Without increasing the amount of food offered at a meal, increase the number of meals throughout the day. Like newborn human babies, pups have to nurse multiple times a day, about once every two hours. This isn’t just about increasing the amount of kibble you give; it’s more about meeting the nutritional requirements of your nursing pet. You can also do this if the mother dog got sick or died. My Dog Isn’t Producing Enough Milk for Her Puppies! At this point it will also need to be eating up to four times as much food as it did before pregnancy. Feeding your dog additional healthy fats can satisfy these needs and easily add calories. This is NOT recommended as it can actually help bring on Eclampsia (Milk Fever) in an otherwise healthy dog. Lastly, feed small amounts of organ meats, leafy vegetables, whole grain, and eggs. Most commercial dog foods do not contain sufficient nutrient density, especially caloric content, to support lactation. Give her fresh water multiple times throughout the day and make sure her dish is close so she doesn't have to leave the room to have a drink. The next concern here is whether the puppies get enough milk or not. The only way to help your girl produce more milk is to ensure that she’s being fed right and she’s getting rest she needs. So as much as possible, make the dog’s sleeping and nursing area as comfortable as possible. Make sure that she is replacing her fluids regularly. A misstep can be disastrous for the many baby dogs that depend on your girl. Alternatively, taking zinc is also beneficial for dog moms while breastfeeding their puppies. The puppies should not be allowed access to nurse during this time as that delays drying up milk production. breed puppy food w/1/4 cup cottage cheese, 1 tbsp. Like how it goes with breastfeeding humans, there are many reasons why this is happening to your dog. After three weeks, the pup should have the ability to poo and pee on its own. It will be at peak milk production around three weeks after giving birth. But what if the milk doesn’t get produced? A balanced diet is very important during nursing to help a dog produce more milk for her puppies. And if an infection is present, treatment is necessary. David lives in Springfield, Missouri with his two Springer Spaniels: Dakota and Jasmine. Best Dog Breeds for Hot and Cold Weather – Check…, Difference Between Husky and Malamute: Can You Poi…. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). ??? A nursing momma may need up to three times as much food as normal to make enough milk for her pups! When your dog has a litter of pups, those sweet, furry newborns will put a demand on their mother's system, draining her nutrition. Although colostrum isn’t produced in large amounts to dogs, a few drops can make a big difference in the health of a puppy on the first few weeks of its life. Instead of using a bottle, you’ll have to administer the milk by using a needle-less syringe. Certain products can help boost milk supply if your dog seems to be struggling. All “expectant” households have their own worries. Like humans, a nursing dog needs enough nutrition to produce more milk. Help your dog be the best mom she can be by keeping her healthy and well fed. © 2020 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. Dogs lick the genitals of their pups and to simulate it, use a warm washcloth and gently rub this part until the pup eliminates. Knowing what to feed a nursing dog to produce more milk also needs the supervision of a vet. As a rule of thumb, at peak lactation you should increase a bitch's dog food intake by 25 percent per puppy above what is usually required to maintain her body weight, although it is best to feed free choice. Your dog needs plenty of calcium and phosphorus to increase milk production. By taking these extra steps after delivery, you're giving both mom and pups the best chance at having a good start! By using our site, you agree to our, Feeding and Hydrating a Dog After it Gives Birth, If you’ve been pregnant before or you knew someone who did, you’ll likely hear the line “I need to eat for two”. You should know that as much as weaning is stressful for puppies, it’s also an uncomfortable phase for the mother. I just want to emphasize here that momma dogs may lose a bit of its weight during the course of nursing. If you feed raw, make sure your pooch is getting lots of nutrients that are easy to digest during this period. Stress can also cause your dog to produce less milk. Happy dogs make for happy owners! Her water bowl must always be clean as well. Some dogs tend to be aggressive when you try to touch their puppies. (0) Good luck! The rule of thumb is to give the nursing momma at least four small meals a day or more. Also, the veterinarian can advise of the steps you need to take in case the pooch can’t feed its puppies. Always place a fresh bowl of water available in different parts of your house to encourage your dog to drink. This applies to bitches (pregnant/nursing dogs) too. A daily walk will give the momma some me-time to clear its head and have enough exercise. Luckily, veterinary nutritionists have studied lactating animals’ needs extensively. How much and how often you feed your dog during nursing will depend on her breed and the size of her litter. It’s more of ensuring that their first hours are dedicated to nursing and that the mother doggo is producing enough milk. Make sure the whelping area is clean and comfy so your girl feels happy to be there. In small doses, apricot can also increase milk production. Milk thistle is one natural supplement known to help nursing mothers with their milk-making. You can give your nursing dog leafy vegetables, carrots, pumpkins, beans, organ meat, yogurt, eggs, cheese, fatty fish, and raw meaty bones. What should I feed my dog while she’s pregnant and nursing? What to feed nursing dog to increase milk? But how will you know if the pups are getting enough milk? At this point it will also need to be eating up to four times as much food as it did before pregnancy. In the same vein, puppies only have the first 18 hours of its life to absorb its mother’s milk without being hydrolyzed. Whatever you decide, it's always best to run it by your vet before you begin supplementing. Nursing takes a lot of moisture from your dog. 6. The preparation should include buying puppy food and food for the lactating mother. Dogs that whelped prematurely are likely to experience hormonal problems, thus poor lactating. If you vaccinate your dog against Parvovirus and other life-threatening conditions, they will pass the immunity into their puppies. If not, they will have stunted growth and malnourishment which will stem to more health problems. Anything other than mom's milk can give them diarrhea. Puppies aren’t supposed to be weaned until the 4th week of their life. Like human babies, you need to burp a puppy after feeding it. It's not only human moms that have to worry about breastfeeding! Best source of protein for dogs is meat, so focus on chicken, turkey, beef, lamb and … It may need getting used to so you can bottle feed their puppies. If the mother doggo is relaxing inside a room, put a bowl of water close so the pooch won’t need to walk just to hydrate. We’ve learned in school that colostrum, or the very first milk a mother produces, is the most nutritious. But if your pooch has experienced a drastic weight loss, you need to level up its nutrition. He’s always had dogs in his life and received his very own puppy when he was 5-years-old, a delightful Golden Retriever he named Lady. The same goes for dogs. Nursing dogs require four to eight times the energy requirements of normal adult dogs, according to Hill's Pet Nutrition. What is the best to feed my bitch that is nursing 6 pups to gain weight and produce enough milk? These are especially necessary for small breed dogs nursing large litters and for dogs with history of eclampsia. As much as you can’t do anything about it, giving the mother dog all she needs will keep her cozy. She will need extra nutrition during this period to feed her puppies. At least not for the first couple of weeks. Pregnant and nursing dogs have very high energy needs. Many breeders encourage food intake by offering highly palatable products, such as ice cream, homemade mixtures (for example, mix one can of evaporated milk, one can of … If she is deficient in nutrients for some reason, like suffering from chronic malnutrition after being fed cheap commercial food, it can help. Remember that this passive immunity from colostrum and gestation is directly related to the vaccinations the mother dog received prior to pregnancy. Especially at those tender early ages, it's vital that your pooch's pups are getting enough nutrients. The following can cause poor milk production: You can try providing more fluids to your dog by making a fresh bowl of water available all the time. Your mother dog will need to increase the amount of milk it produces over several weeks after giving birth. Sometimes, even 2.5 or 3 times more food than usual. This way, they can inhibit signs of biting, identify dominance, and develop their first behavioral inflections. 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