Tips for a healthy dog pregnancy
There are several things that you can do to ease the strain of having little bundles of joy, and ensure that everything goes smoothly. It’s an exciting time! During pregnancy, your dog will need your love and attention more than ever. Remember, as her body changes, you will have to change the way you care for her in a few simple ways to make sure that she has everything she needs.
Feeding and nutrition
If you’re wondering what to feed a pregnant dog, you’re not alone – most dog owners ask this question! It’s important to know that basic adult-formula dog food won't provide the extra nutrients she needs during her pregnancy, so you’ll need to make some diet changes to help her get what she needs from her food.
Slowly switch your dog back to a high-quality puppy formula just before mating, introducing her slowly over a period of 7-10 days to avoid upsetting her stomach. She should stay on this new formula until after she has given birth, and her puppies have been weaned.
What you should feed your dog will also depend on her body condition and any medical problems that she may currently have or has had in the past, so make sure you check with your vet before changing her food.
For more details on what to feed a pregnant dog, visit Feeding during pregnancy.
Dogs are man’s best friend, but need you to care for them too when they are expecting. Purina offer simple tips on how you can support them during pregnancy.
Exercise
When caring for a pregnant dog, regular walks will help keep up her strength, so she’s primed and ready for the arrival of her little ones! Avoid any intensive training, showing, or even obedience schooling though during pregnancy as this can be stressful, and bumps or knocks to her body from boisterous dogs could hurt her unborn puppies.
Walking is a great way to help expectant mums keep fit, which will make her much more capable of handling labour and birth. Try to keep walks shorter but more regular during her pregnancy, as mum will most likely become a bit uncomfortable and tired as her pregnancy goes on. Aim for three to five short walks a day.
Vaccinations
As mums pass on immunity to their puppies through their milk, your dog should ideally be up to date with all of her vaccines before mating, so that her antibody levels are at their peak.
If your dog’s vaccinations are overdue during pregnancy, speak to your vet. Some vaccines can be used when she is pregnant, but you will need to check which are safe for both mum and her unborn puppies.
Parasites
An important part of pregnant dog care is continuing to keep up with her flea and worming treatments.
Mum can pass roundworms and hookworms onto her unborn puppies, so stay safe and treat your dog with products that are safe to use during pregnancy. Discuss this with your vet, as the puppies may also need worming regularly during their first few weeks.
Building a ‘nest’
In the final stages of her pregnancy, your dog will want a private place to relax and peacefully give birth in. You can help her by building a ‘nest’ where she can feel warm, comfortable and safe for the delivery of her puppies.
A cardboard box filled with clean blankets, sheets or towels works particularly well. Place the nest in a quiet spot so other pets or children do not disturb her! It’s not unusual for soon-to-be mums to choose somewhere else other than the nest you’ve built, but try to encourage her gently back to your chosen spot.
Keep the nest at room temperature (don’t forget to check for any draughts) to make sure she and her puppies are comfortable.
If you’d like more information on tips for a healthy dog pregnancy or have any other queries, contact our PETCARE EXPERT TEAM
