Feeding a dog after birth

During lactation, the body expends a lot of energy producing milk. It also needs to share all the nutrients with the offspring, which means a special diet is needed. Proper feeding of the dog after birth is essential for the health of both mother and offspring.

The quality of the milk directly depends on how well the mother feeds her new mother. Normally, it contains approximately 7% protein, 4% lactose, and 8% fat, along with vitamins and minerals from the diet. Deficiencies in any of these nutrients affect the milk's quality, which in turn negatively impacts the development of the puppies and the mother's well-being.

Diet for a nursing dog

The lactation period lasts on average 4-6 weeks. Until 20-25 days after birth, the secretory activity of the mammary gland increases, and then gradually decreases. Numerous studies have been conducted over the past decades to determine the nutritional needs of a dog after birth at different stages of lactation.

Most minerals and vitamins do not accumulate in the body; if they are not supplied with food, they will not be present at all, neither in the body, nor especially in milk.

Is it possible to give meat to a nursing dog? milk, fish - these are the questions many animal lovers ask themselves. So, the diet should include the following products:

• Lean meat, offal (hearts, liver, stomachs), fish (lean sea fish);
• Porridges (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal). Can be cooked cereals on water or milk.
• Dairy products (cottage cheese, milk, kefir);
• Vegetables and greens.

A dog's first meal after giving birth

Many people wonder when they can feed their dog after birth. If the dog has eaten the placenta, it should not be fed until at least 5-6 hours after the birth. Offer only water.

Some owners find eating the placenta disgusting or unhygienic. They refuse to allow the new mother to enjoy the shapeless clot, which is a fundamentally wrong move. Forget prejudices; nature has thought of everything. First and foremost, the placenta is an easily digestible protein rich in trace elements and vitamins that a dog needs to produce complete colostrum. Furthermore, the placenta contains hormones that stimulate milk production. The only downside is that if a dog is pregnant with multiples, eating all the placenta may cause upset stomach. As a preventative measure, you can give activated charcoal based on weight (1-2 tablets per 10 kg).

Drinking plenty of fluids is a must

Providing plenty of fluids doesn't mean forcing water on the dog after birth. The owner's job is to provide the dog with nutritious, liquid food and ensure clean drinking water is always readily available. Milk tea sweetened with honey can be offered.

Feeding a dog after birth by weeks of lactation

The first week after birth

For the first three days after giving birth, your dog may have no appetite. However, you should offer food every 6-8 hours and ensure she eats at least a little. The best food to feed your dog after giving birth depends on her preferences; typically, it's a milk porridge or a meat and vegetable puree.

As the dog's appetite returns, the usual daily food intake is increased by half and divided into 5-6 meals. Feeding the dog primarily on liquid food: porridge with water or milk, sour milk, kefir, or yogurt, provided lactose tolerance is good. Vitamin and mineral supplements are given until lactation ends. In some cases, natural tonics, such as royal jelly, are recommended.

In the first 5-7 days after birth, it's best to replace meat with more easily digestible proteins, such as lean seafood and cottage cheese. Fresh vegetables and fruits should also be avoided during the first week. Cooked meat products are recommended to be introduced only after 4-5 days. These should be lean meats (chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef) or organ meats (heart, liver, and stomach). The puppies also receive everything the mother eats, so it's important to monitor the puppies for any upset stomachs, which can be easily noticed by soiled bottoms and tails.

2nd and 3rd week of lactation

The first week has flown by. What should I feed my mother after she gives birth? Starting in the second week, I begin to diversify her diet. I introduce vegetables (cauliflower, pumpkin, squash, carrots, beets), and try some fruit. If she's nursing 3-4 puppies, I double the amount of food. When nursing 8 or more puppies, I give her at least three times the usual amount. I recommend 4-5 feedings per day.

4-6 weeks of feeding

Starting at 4 weeks, the puppies begin to receive supplemental feedings, and their milk supply decreases. The mother's food intake should also be reduced, and she should be transitioned to three meals a day. Fluid intake should be gradually reduced.

When the last puppy is taken, the mother is given a fasting day. She is kept on a virtually starvation diet for 24 hours, water is restricted, and only a quarter of the portion is offered. The next day, a third of the normal diet is given, then half, and then the mother is transitioned back to her normal diet for 5 days.

If the dog eats prepared food

Prepared food usually refers to the dry food a dog is given after giving birth. If owners plan to feed their pet dry food throughout lactation, there are several things to consider:

• Premium and super-premium foods offer a wide range of options, including diets for pregnant and lactating bitches. They are more or less acceptable and meet virtually all the body's needs during this period;
• It is necessary to pay attention that the percentage of protein is in the range of 24-28%;
• If the manufacturer does not produce special diets for nursing mothers, use food for puppies;
• Dry food requires a lot of moisture for digestion, and even if a dog drinks plenty of water, it may not produce enough milk. Therefore, it is recommended to soak dry food before feeding, especially during the first 2-3 weeks of lactation, or replace it with liquid food from the same brand.
• Fermented milk products, cottage cheese, and vitamin and mineral supplements are added to the diet.

What are the dangers of poor nutrition?

One of the most dangerous postpartum complications is eclampsia, a condition that occurs due to calcium deficiency. It can appear from the first days of lactation to as early as 3-4 weeks.

Dog owners often experience digestive upset caused by feeding their dog dairy products after giving birth. In this case, they feed their dog rice cereal, and the vet may recommend sorbents or probiotics. Milk or Vaseline oil are most often helpful for constipation.

Poor nutrition can weaken the mother and puppies' immune systems, leading to a wide variety of illnesses. Skin diseases can be a very unpleasant problem, while various infectious diseases can lead to the death of the entire litter and pose a threat to the health of the nursing mother.

If you have any health problems, you should consult a doctor.

The nursing mother is calm and unfazed, her appetite and bowel movements are normal, and the owners don't notice any significant exhaustion. After a tasty meal, the puppies don't squeal or fuss, but rather sleep peacefully until the next feeding, gaining weight, and developing. These are all indicators that the diet meets all the needs of the nursing mother and her puppies.

Read also:

• What human food can and cannot dogs eat?
• Natural food for dogs
• Fish oil for dogs: dosage, benefits, and harm