The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs should have quality food and rations should be increased in proportion with the approaching date of the delivery. The phrase “in proportion” is quite crucial in this case, since an overweight female dog may have issues during delivery.
Nourishment
If you’re using a quality pet food, it isn’t necessary to change it in any way during the pregnancy. Only at its very end, which is from about two weeks up to ten days before the planned delivery, it is appropriate to transfer the female to the food that you then want to feed to the puppies. On one hand, foods intended for puppies contain greater amount of nutrients that will help the puppies in the uterus to finish growing, and on the other, these nutrients will come in handy for the female during nursing. Not in the least, after the lactation is over, the puppies will get used to the pet food that bears a familiar scent and taste more easily.
A female dog at a higher stage of pregnancy should be rather fed several times a day with smaller rations, since growing puppies in the uterus may repress other organs in the abdominal cavity including the digestive tract and logically, then it can only hold smaller amount of food at one time.
Exercise
Immediately after mating, the female dog should have a more relaxed regimen. The fertilized eggs aren’t quite firmly attached in the uterus yet and as a result, they are vulnerable. About three weeks from the mating, it isn’t appropriate for the bitch to jump excessively or to engage in any more extreme physical frolicking. However, this does not mean that you should lock her inside. Regular walks are naturally ok. After the stated three weeks have passed, the female can be put under normal stress.
As the term of delivery is getting closer and the female is getting rounder, the walks are becoming more demanding for her. The female is slower, less agile and she doesn’t feel like frolicking as much. She should avoid e.g. running up and down the stairs or jumping and other activities where she could be threatened by a fall or an injury.
Preparation for the delivery
About two weeks before the end of pregnancy, the female starts getting ready for the delivery. She seeks calm places, her mammary glands are getting bigger, she drinks more and she needs to pee more often. Few days before the delivery, the female may show signs of nervousness and she may show lesser interest in food. Immediately before the delivery, she may refuse to go out, she wants to be with her master, she may start digging and preparing the bed for the delivery of the puppies. I am going to write more on how such a delivery looks like and what you should know about it in one of the future articles :-).
If you’re using a quality pet food, it isn’t necessary to change it in any way during the pregnancy. Only at its very end, which is from about two weeks up to ten days before the planned delivery, it is appropriate to transfer the female to the food that you then want to feed to the puppies. On one hand, foods intended for puppies contain greater amount of nutrients that will help the puppies in the uterus to finish growing, and on the other, these nutrients will come in handy for the female during nursing. Not in the least, after the lactation is over, the puppies will get used to the pet food that bears a familiar scent and taste more easily.
A female dog at a higher stage of pregnancy should be rather fed several times a day with smaller rations, since growing puppies in the uterus may repress other organs in the abdominal cavity including the digestive tract and logically, then it can only hold smaller amount of food at one time.
Allegedly, fast is instinctively practised by both wolfs and wild dogs. This has led many people to that assumption, that our dog on the couch should, once in a while, be fasting as well. A wild animal surely knows what it is doing, nature is wise, you...
In this cycle, we will get to know interesting dog personalities. Dogs play an important role in our life, so let us take a look what they have already achieved during our life together. We should find Hachiko in the dictionary next to the phrase...
Markéta is my long-time friend. We got to know each other through a shelter, from which I took my first dog and where I then started to help out. Under this association, Markéta runs a depository for cats in Prague, where I like to go when I have a bit...
Have you ever wondered how much movement is healthy for your dog and when it can be harmful? Or that not every movement is beneficial? Most dog owners never think about this. It’s said that the more you move, the better. But this is not always true.
As I mentioned in previous articles, I occasionally help out my friend Markéta, who runs a cat shelter. I had the opportunity to take part in several humane trappings for stray cats and would like to share the experience with you today.
Did you know that even your pet dog can suffer from depression? As with people, we shouldn’t underestimate the mental state of our dogs. How to recognize it and what to do about it?
In this cycle, we shall take a look at how cats and dogs are getting along in the world. Where people nurture and spoil them, or on the contrary they suffer and their situation is critical. Today I would like to introduce you to the cats of Greece,...
The approach of warm sunny days will surely entice many people to go for long walks. Many of us take our four-legged companions on vacation. It’s during these times that we should be careful about sunstroke, both for us and our dogs. How can we prevent...
Just like with people, being overweight can have a negative impact on a dog’s health. Preparing the right diet and amount of food to give them can sometimes be, however, like pure alchemy, and so your dog can start to become obese. If this is the case...
There seems to be more and more ticks year after year. Fortunately, the ways to protect our furry friends, whether dogs or cats, against these parasites are growing. Everyone can choose what product fits best for them and their four-legged companions.
Until recently skinny guinea pigs were relatively rare in our country. Word about them is quickly spreading, however, and they have become a sudden hit among breeders. What’s it like having these guinea pigs and what do they like to eat?
The kidneys perform one of the most important functions in the body - cleaning the blood. Due to their small intake of water, cats are more burdened than other animals and therefore suffer quite often from kidney problems the older they get.
