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Before Whelping
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The mother's appetite will increase two weeks prior to giving birth. She will start to eat about 50 percent more food than normal. Make sure she has high-quality proteins, such as chicken, beef and eggs. She can be fed several times a day and she should be getting about one-third of her food as protein. The female dog sometimes gets picky about what she wants to eat. If she does not like her normal dry food, you may have to substitute oatmeal, brown rice or cooked barley in her food to entice her to eat. You want to make sure she eats, but also make sure her diet is balanced.
Immediately After Whelping
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The female dog will be tired after going through the ordeal of birth and whelping, and it is normal for her not to have an appetite right away. Do not be concerned at this point. Let her rest. Her appetite will return.
A Day or Two After Whelping
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It may be a day or two after whelping, but the appetite will return and it will increase.
She will need calcium, phosphorous and vitamin D. These nutrients are already in a high-quality diet, so you should not have to worry about supplements. If the dog does not have a high-quality diet, supplements may be necessary.
Lactating: The first three weeks
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During the first three weeks, the mother's appetite will increase. By the end of the three weeks, she will be eating four to five times the normal amount. As long as she is being fed high-quality dog food, supplements will not be necessary. She is trying to produce milk, so depending the size of the litter, her appetite will grow accordingly. Her food should be given three or four times a day.
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Diets for After Whelping
Whelping can be divided into four different periods: breeding, pregnancy, whelping and lactation. The female dog is going through a lot of physical changes, and each period needs to be handled differently. The food intake is important, especially in the whelping and lactation periods. Your dog will be acting differently because she is feeding her litter.