Feeding a pregnant dog a diet with adequate energy, proteins, minerals and vitamins is extremely important for both the mother and the developing puppies. A dog’s nutritional needs increase significantly during pregnancy and providing a well-balanced diet will help support the mother’s health, promote proper fetal development, and ensure the puppies are born healthy. Proper nutrition during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of complications, increase birth weights and growth rates of puppies, and boost milk production. Nutritional deficiencies during this critical time can lead to poor litter outcomes and even death of puppies. Therefore it’s essential that pet owners are knowledgeable about optimal nutrition for their pregnant dog to ensure a successful pregnancy and delivery.
Energy Requirements
Pregnant dogs require extra calories to support the developing puppies, especially in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy. According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, pregnant dogs need 1.5 times more calories in the final 3rd of pregnancy, which is when puppies gain the most weight and have their highest nutritional demands. This means providing about 25-50% more calories than normal. Provide these extra calories by feeding a high-quality puppy or growth formula dog food, which is calorie dense. Avoid overfeeding treats and people food.
Protein
Protein is especially important for pregnant dogs, as it supports fetal growth and development. According to the AKC, pregnant dogs require diets with at least 25% protein from high-quality sources like chicken, beef, lamb, or fish [1]. The Dog Food Advisor recommends looking for foods with meat or meat meals as the first two ingredients [2]. High protein foods like chicken, lamb, fish, eggs, dairy, and organ meats can help ensure your pregnant dog gets adequate protein for her growing puppies.
Fat
During pregnancy, it’s important for dogs to consume adequate amounts of fat in their diet. Fat is a concentrated source of calories, which helps meet the increased calorie needs of pregnant dogs. According to the AKC, pregnant dogs should consume diets with at least 17% fat.
Fat provides over twice as many calories per gram compared to protein or carbohydrates. Additionally, fats help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. Dietary fats also provide essential fatty acids, especially omega-3s like DHA, which are critical for puppy brain and eye development.
When selecting a dog food for a pregnant dog, look for a fat content around 20% to help meet calorie needs. Choose fat sources like chicken fat, fish oil, and nut oils, which provide more omega-3s.
Calcium & Phosphorus
Calcium and phosphorus are essential minerals for pregnant dogs, especially for proper skeletal development of the puppies. During pregnancy, calcium needs increase to allow mineralization of the fetal skeleton (Calcium and Food for Pregnant Dogs: FAQs, 2022). The growing skeleton of the fetus requires adequate amounts of calcium and phosphorus for proper bone development (Schmitt, 2020).
Calcium is transferred from the mother to the fetus mostly during the last trimester, when the fetal skeleton undergoes the most growth and mineralization. Phosphorus is also critically important during this time. The calcium:phosphorus ratio should be maintained between 1:1 to 2:1 for optimal utilization. An improper ratio can negatively impact skeletal formation in the pups (Calcium and Food for Pregnant Dogs: FAQs, 2022).
Therefore, pregnant dogs need increased calcium and phosphorus in their diet, especially in the last trimester when fetal skeletal demands are highest. These minerals should be provided in a balanced ratio to support proper bone development in the growing fetuses.
Other Nutrients
Pregnant dogs have increased nutritional needs for certain vitamins and minerals like folic acid, zinc, iron, vitamin A, and taurine. Folic acid is especially important, as it helps prevent neural tube defects in puppies. The daily folic acid requirement increases from 0.22 mg per kg of food to 0.57 mg per kg of food during pregnancy. Supplements or fortified dog foods can provide these extra nutrients. Taurine is also essential for proper heart and eye development in puppies. Many vets recommend supplementing pregnant dogs with taurine, especially larger breeds prone to taurine deficiency like Golden Retrievers. Increased vitamin A supports vision and immune function in puppies, while extra zinc, vitamin E, and iron helps build healthy blood and circulation.
Hydration
Hydration is especially important during pregnancy as the pregnant dog has increased fluid requirements. According to How Much Water Should a Dog Drink? (Yahoo Finance), pregnant and lactating dogs need more water than usual to meet the demands of pregnancy and nursing. The increased blood volume during pregnancy as well as the fluids lost during delivery mean the mother dog needs constant access to fresh, clean water.
Make sure water is always available and monitor intake. An increase of up to 50% over normal consumption may be observed in a pregnant dog. Providing easy access to water by placing multiple bowls around the house can encourage drinking. Adding a bit of low-sodium broth or milk to the water can make it more enticing if the dog seems disinterested.
By providing ample fresh water and encouraging intake, the pregnant dog’s increased hydration needs can be met, supporting healthy pup development.
Feeding Schedule
Smaller, frequent meals are recommended for pregnant dogs. Feeding 2-3 small meals per day can help prevent morning sickness and accommodate the dog’s reduced stomach capacity as the puppies grow.
According to the AKC, most breeders recommend free-choice feeding during pregnancy so the mother can eat as much as she needs. However, scheduled feedings often work better for house pets to monitor food intake and prevent overeating (source).
As the pregnancy progresses, the energy demands on the mother increase dramatically. Feeding frequent small meals helps ensure she is getting adequate nutrition for herself and her growing puppies.
Diet Changes
A mother dog’s nutritional needs change dramatically after giving birth. It’s important to transition her to a high-quality puppy food to support lactation and nursing. According to the AKC, after giving birth the mother dog “must resume intake of highly palatable, good-quality food as soon as possible.”
The Iams article “Nutritional Needs for Pregnant Dogs & Nursing Dogs” recommends slowly transitioning to a high-calorie puppy food over 3-5 days after the puppies are born. This will help the mother produce plenty of milk for her growing litter. Avoid sudden diet changes, as this can upset her stomach.
VCA Animal Hospitals advises feeding puppy food until the puppies are fully weaned, around 8 weeks after birth. At that point, you can gradually transition back to an adult dog food as her needs decrease and return to normal.
Conclusion
In summary, pregnant dogs require increased nutrition to support their developing puppies and prepare for lactation. Their calorie needs increase by 25-50% over normal maintenance by the end of pregnancy. High quality protein sources like chicken, beef, turkey or fish are ideal during gestation to allow for proper fetal growth. Dietary fat also becomes more important to provide concentrated calories and energy. Supplementing with fatty acids like those found in fish oil supports brain and eye development in puppies. Additional calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D are also crucial for bone formation. Finally, staying hydrated with fresh water is key throughout pregnancy and nursing. Following these nutritional guidelines helps set up both mom and puppies for a healthy dog pregnancy and delivery.
