How to feed a dog after childbirth?

The compilation of animal nutrition must be taken with all responsibility. This is especially true when a dog has just given birth and is at the stage of feeding and raising puppies. Since from now on the bitch is responsible for herself and the offspring, the owner has a tremendous responsibility for keeping the pet. Today we will study everything related to the proper preparation of the diet, and also give our recommendations on keeping the dog after childbirth.

Dog Diet

The lactation period lasts for 1-1.5 months. During the 20 days following the date of birth, the mammary glands increase in volume. Then they begin to lose size. Due to the fact that researchers did not stop studying lactation in dogs, a correct diet was made for lactating bitches.

When preparing the menu, consider the inclusion of the following list of products:

• buckwheat, rice, oatmeal;
• offal in the form of chicken hearts, liver, ventricles;
• non-fat type meat products;
• marine fish of low-fat varieties;
• milk, such as kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, milk;
• greens with vegetables.

If in doubt that you are unable to complete nutrition, consult any veterinarian for advice. The veterinarian will examine the dog, then pick up the products taking into account its health.

Feeding immediately after birth

1. Inexperienced owners are interested in how to feed a pet right after the babies are born. In cases where the bitch eats afterbirth, do not treat her with food in the next 6 hours. Give the animal water to replenish the balance.
2. Owners may find the very use of a female placenta a nasty sight. For this reason, they forbid an angry dog ​​to continue the meal. But such actions are wrong, it is necessary to cast aside prejudice and listen to nature.
3. By placenta is meant a protein that is easily absorbed and replenishes the body of the newly-born mother with mineral compounds and other valuable substances. Also in the composition are hormones responsible for the correct production of milk.
4. The negative side of the fact that the dog eats the placenta can be called an upset esophagus. This usually happens with multiple pregnancies. In order to normalize the activity of the esophagus, the dog is given an absorbent (1 tablet of coal per 8 kg of weight of the pet).
5. It is important to provide the bitch with plenty of water. But do not force the liquid into it. It is enough to put a bowl next to the habitat of the mother and puppies. Some owners recommend treating the bitch with tea with a little honey and milk. Such a cocktail promotes rapid recovery.

1 week lactation

1. Do not be scared if during the three days following birth, the animal lost the craving for food. Do not overload the bitch too much. Once in 7 hours, offer her food, let her eat, if not everything, then at least a little to replenish the supply of strength. You can give the animal vegetable puree, as well as cereals in milk (but not semolina).
2. When the desire to eat is restored, you need to increase the volume that the dog ate earlier, by 1.5. Then the resulting amount is divided into 6 meals with equal gaps between them.
3. In the first week you need to feed with liquid food. Cook cereals on a milk or water basis, offer yogurt (kefir, milk) in the absence of an allergy to lactose.
4. Consult with a veterinarian, supply food with a complex of minerals and vitamins. These supplements are given until cessation of feeding.
5. It is important to ensure that protein compounds that are easily absorbed enter the body of the animal. Replace the meat with fish of low-fat varieties (necessarily marine), cottage cheese, a piece of cheese.
6. Make sure your dog eats fruits and vegetables. You can treat the pet with meat (if she refuses other food), but only on the fifth day of lactation. Meat dishes are given stewed or boiled.
7. At the end of the first week, it is necessary to slowly introduce offal, for example, chicken ventricles, hearts, liver. Keep track of the state of the bitch and puppies, if you have a disorder in the stool, remove the last products entered in the menu.

Lactation at weeks 2 and 3

1. Often the first week after birth passes unnoticed, so you need to think further than to feed the pet after childbirth. From the second week, the diet is recommended to be slightly diversified. The menu must include vegetables.
2. Among the most common are pumpkin, cauliflower, beets, carrots and zucchini. Also try to gradually give fruit. If the dog has given birth to four puppies, it is recommended to double the amount of food.
3. If a pet has about 8 puppies or more, then the amount of food should be increased at least 3 times. As a result, the female should be fed about 5 times a day. Watch the condition of the animal, do not lose sight of the personal preferences of the animal.

Lactation at weeks 4 and 6

1. At this time, the amount of milk gradually begins to decrease in the mother. Puppies should begin to gradually feed. Also, the amount of food should be gradually reduced for the mother. The dog is recommended to gradually transfer to food 3 times a day.
2. In addition, the pet should slightly reduce the amount of fluid. As soon as the last puppy is picked up, mothers are sure to have a fasting day. The first day the dog should not give almost anything, it should starve.
3. Limit water and offer your pet only a quarter of the usual portion. The next day you can already give a third of the usual diet. Add food a little every day. After 5-6 days, the dog can be transferred to the usual food, which was before childbirth.

Dry dog ​​food

1. Most owners of their pets feed them with prepared dry food. If you decide to continue to feed the dog the same food after childbirth, it is worth considering some rules. It is important to know that feeds of super-premium and premium classes have a wide range.
2. Keep in mind that feed should be selected with a mark for pregnant and lactating females. Such a composition is quite acceptable, and meets all the necessary needs of an exhausted organism in a responsible period.
3. Separately, it should be noted that in such feeds, the protein ratio should be in the range of 25–28%. If the company you previously fed the dog does not produce food for pregnant and lactating dogs, you should give preference to food for puppies.
4. Keep in mind that dry foods require a lot of moisture to digest. Even if the pet consumes a large amount of water, problems with milk production can still occur. Therefore, in the first 15-20 days after giving birth, it is better to soak such feed in advance. You can give liquid feed.

Since mineral substances and vitamins are not retained in the canine organism, especially when a bitch feeds puppies, all useful substances must be supplied with food. Otherwise, they will not be in milk, babies may develop with abnormalities.

Video: how to feed a dog or cat during pregnancy?