Ideally the bitch will be well conditioned prior to breeding. Obese bitches should undergo weight reduction prior to breeding to improve conception rate and decrease risks of dystocia and poor lactation. Pregnancy is not a good time to attempt weight loss. During the first three weeks of gestation the well-conditioned bitch may undergo little or no weight gain. The consumption of a high quality maintenance dog food is sufficient unless the bitch is underweight. Bitches who enter pregnancy excessively thin should eat a growth or performance food to rapidly correct their condition. At about three weeks gestation many bitches suffer a loss of appetite that persists for about a week. Nausea and mild vomiting occasionally accompany the anorexia. Appetite will return at about week four. Occasionally bitches have poor appetites throughout pregnancy. A thorough physical and biochemical evaluation should be performed to rule out any underlying medical problems. If none exist, addition of Worchestershire sauce, or canned food to increase the palatability may increase her appetite. If this is not successful force-feeding may be required. Balls of canned food are placed in the back of the mouth at each feeding.

During the last half of pregnancy, energy requirements increase, as does the need for protein and carbohydrate. Alteration of diet may lead to gastrointestinal distress; therefore a gradual change must be made each time.

The amount of food required by a pregnant bitch in later gestation increases in proportion with litter size and growth. A 40% average increase in food consumption accompanies the 20-55% increase in body weight. Due to the increased intra-abdominal pressure from the enlarging uterus, multiple small meals are easiest for the bitch to consume. Bitches carrying large litters may have extreme discomfort the last week of gestation and suffer a decreased appetite again at this time. Many, but not all, bitches will stop eating 24 to 48 hours before parturition.

The administration of additional vitamins and supplements to pregnant bitches should be discouraged. Calcium supplementation, though unfortunately still common, is contraindicated. Although calcium requirements increase in the pregnant bitch, they are met by the increased amount of food ingested. Excess calcium above the amount provided by a high quality diet suppresses parathyroid hormone production and increases the bitch's risk of peurperal hypocalcemia. Breeders should be cautioned not to add calcium in any form to the pregnant bitch's diet. Excess vitamin A has been associated with congenital defects, including cleft palates. Folate deficiencies have been associated with fetal defects in humans. While premium dog foods should contain enough folate, supplementation of B vitamins is not harmful. Dogs produce sufficient vitamin C of their own and do not require supplementation. Excess vitamin D may complicate the calcium mobilization ability of the bitch. Supplementation of Omega 3 fatty acids will maximize cerebral and retinal development in the fetuses.

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References: Portions of this article were taken from these articles:

Freshman, Joni L. Dvm, MS, DACVIM. The Dam's The Thing: Care Of The Pregnant Bitch. Veterinary Information Network, Inc. www.veterinarypartner.com.

Birthing Puppies. VeterinaryPartner.com. Veterinary Information Network, Inc. www.veterinarypartner.com