Diet for Pregnant Dogs

The First Month

• There are very few changes that need to occur in the dog's diet during the first month of pregnancy. The dog should continue eating the same type and portion of dog food that she was fed before she became pregnant. Make sure the food is a high-quality adult dog food, which should contain all of the vitamins and nutrients the dog requires in that first month. Weight gain is not a primary goal in the first month of pregnancy because the puppies don't really start to develop until the second month.

The Second Month

• During the second half of the pregnancy, some major dietary adjustments are in order. Start switching the dog over to a higher-calorie puppy food, beginning in the fourth week of pregnancy. The change should be gradual so the dog's body is not overwhelmed by the increase in calories. For instance, if the dog usually eats a cup of dog food, give her 3/4 cup of adult dog food mixed with 1/4 cup of puppy food the first week. The next week, increase the ratio of puppy food to adult dog food by 1/4 cup. Continue on that path until the dog is eating only puppy food.

  The dog's meal size also needs to increase slightly to help her gain weight. Starting in the fifth week of pregnancy, bump up her serving by 1 Tbsp. of food. Increase the meal size on a weekly basis until she is consuming an extra 1/4 cup of food per meal. The dog will gain about 25 to 30 percent of her body weight during the second half of the pregnancy. The puppies are growing rapidly at this time, and her body needs to prepare for delivery.

The Final Days

• During the final week of her pregnancy, the dog may have difficulty eating all her food at meals. This is because the puppies are taking up a lot of space in her body. If the dog will self-feed, leave the dish of food out for her so she can eat whenever she wants. If she will not, divide the day's food allotment into smaller meals and feed her every three to four hours. Make sure the dog eats all of her food each day because a weak diet can bring on pregnancy toxemia. But in the 24 to 48 hours before delivery, the dog may stop eating entirely. This is normal and signals that the birth is approaching.

Supplements

• Supplements are generally unnecessary during pregnancy because dog food contains all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Some breeders like to increase the pregnant dog's protein intake by putting hard-boiled eggs or cottage cheese in the animal's food every other day. This is not dangerous, but be careful not to let the dog gain too much weight. Excess weight gain can make labor and delivery difficult.

  Some breeders also advocate giving pregnant dogs calcium supplements. This, however, should only be done under a veterinarian's supervision.