Essential Tips for Feeding your Pregnant Dog

Good nutrition and a balanced diet are essential elements for good health in a dog. This is especially true for the pregnant dogs. They require a specialized diet to make sure that puppies develop properly. For a pregnant dog, malnutrition can lead to serious health issues and can affect the health of her puppies. Dog owners need to make sure that their pet is getting optimal amount of necessary nutrients and extra calories.

When feeding your pregnant dog, you need to make sure that the food is healthy. It should contain adequate amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and other minerals. You can also add meat and fiber sources to the diet as it will satisfy the higher demand for calories. You should avoid giving them leftovers. The food should meet increased energy needs for milk production and the growth of puppies.

Make sure that your pet is well hydrated. Refill water bowls that your dog drinks from regularly. Unless specifically instructed by your veterinarian, your dog should never be denied access to water. You might also want to vary what it drinks. Milk is a good alternative. It will provide the necessary nutrients to initiate and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Milk provides calcium which will help in the healthy growth and development of the bones and the teeth of puppies.

Protein is important for a pregnant dog care dietary plan. While most dog food brands provide the essential nutrients, make sure you choose a brand that lists meat as a first ingredient. Meat by-product should be avoided as they are poor quality protein. For sufficient supply of protein, you can add a hard boiled egg to her daily diet.

During canine pregnancy, the quantity of food intake increases by the fifth week of pregnancy. So it is recommended that her food intake should increase by 20 percent.