Looking after your breeding bitch is not difficult provided you make some adjustments to her routine and feed her
well. Pregnancy in the bitch lasts about 9 weeks. Most foetal growth takes place during the last 3 weeks of gestation
so pregnant bitches in good condition at mating will not usually need extra nutrients and energy until the last third
of pregnancy.
Overfeeding early on in pregnancy can cause your bitch to become fat and may cause problems at
whelping. As a general
rule, the
amount of food you offer your pregnant bitch should be increased by 10-15 per cent per week from the fifth week
onwards. If you follow this formula, she will be eating approximately 50 per cent more at the time of whelping than when
she was mated.
Your bitch's diet should be
complete and balanced,
palatable and
easily digested.
ADVANCE Adult Dog Energy,
ADVANCE Puppy Plus Rehydratable and
ADVANCE Puppy Plus Growth
are designed to meet all these requirements and have an
increased energy density as well as being high in
quality protein.
Because these foods are complete and balanced, all the other
essential nutrients will automatically be supplied by feeding to meet
her increased energy requirements. The use of
vitamin or mineral supplements is unlikely to be beneficial and, in excess, may
actually do harm. We recommend you consult your vet if you are considering using supplements.
In late pregnancy the uterus takes up so much space that the bitch's stomach cannot expand as much as normal when she eats.
Sometimes bitches with large litters lose their appetite as a result of reduced activity during the last 10 days or so of
pregnancy. In these cases, it is sensible to feed several smaller meals per day, rather than one large meal.
Lactation is the biggest test of nutrition for the breeding bitch. She must eat, digest, absorb and use very large amounts
of nutrients to produce sufficient milk to support the growth and development of several puppies. She may need to eat up to
four times her normal
calorie intake at peak lactation (3-4 weeks after whelping). Her requirements for all other nutrients
are similarly increased.
ADVANCE Puppy Plus Rehydratable,
Puppy Growth or
Energy are ideal for feeding your lactating bitch since they will supply the energy and high
quality protein she needs for
milk production. Because of the sheer volume of food that is involved, provide her with four or
five small meals per day, or ad libitum. Lactating bitches need a lot of fluid to make milk, so make sure that an ample supply
of fresh drinking water is always available.