what to feed my dog after she gave birth

Tips to Keep in Mind to Feed Your Dog After Birth

• Water for Dog After Giving Birth. What your dog should not miss at any time after childbirth is water. You must have...
• Feed Only High Quality Food with Lot of Nutrition. You must feed your dog with high-quality food. Although it is an...
• Increase the Feed After 3 Weeks. The reality is that during the three weeks after...

Full Answer

What should a mother dog eat after giving birth?

In order for the mother to produce enough high-quality milk to feed her puppies, she will need high quality food that includes large amounts of proteins, fats, and calcium. Additionally, she will need access to more water than normal in order to feed her puppies. Part 1 Feeding and Hydrating a Dog After it Gives Birth

What should I Feed my Dog when she has puppies?

This puppy food should be high in protein and calcium. She should eat puppy food until her puppies are weaned. Schedule an appointment with the vet for a checkup. Provide your dog with a warm (about 85 degrees Fahrenheit), secluded, nesting area that is private and quiet.

How do you get a nursing dog to eat her food?

If she’s not keen on eating, mix an egg yolk or some lard into her food to make it more palatable. When the dog starts nursing the puppies, give her puppy food to make sure she passes on enough nutrients. Encourage her to eat it by mixing the puppy food with her normal food for the first 3 or 4 days.

How do you take care of a dog after giving birth?

Make food and water available and easily accessible inside the nesting area. Caring for Your Dog After She Gives Birth More often than not, puppies are born in the middle of the night while you are sleeping.

What is the best food for a nursing mother dog?

In fact, nursing dogs have 4-8 times the energy requirements of healthy adult dogs. Increased fat in precisely balanced nutrition helps supply more energy. What should I feed my dog while she's pregnant and nursing? We recommend feeding Hill's® Science Diet® Puppy Foods as soon as possible.

How often should I feed my dog after she gives birth?

Feed your mother dog three to four meals a day in the weeks after whelping her litter. She will need extra nutrition during this period to feed her puppies. Feed her puppy food, which will supply extra nutrients during this period.

How do I care for my dog after giving birth?

In the Days and Weeks After She Gives BirthIf your dog has long fur, give her a sanitary cut. ... Monitor her around the clock for the next seven days.Feed her several small meals throughout each day instead of one large one. ... Check her teats daily. ... Watch for signs of eclampsia or milk fever.More items...•

Is rice good for nursing dogs?

Include healthy grains in your dog's diet because they are a great source of folate, fiber and iron, which are important for pregnant and nursing dogs. Oats, flaxseeds and brown rice are particularly good grains to feed a pregnant dog.

What helps dogs produce more milk?

The 8 Best Ways to Improve Dogs' Milk ProductionFeed Nursing Dog More. ... Give Nursing Dog Plenty of Water. ... Consider Offering Nursing Dog Supplements. ... Lower Her Stress Levels. ... Get Nursing Dog Checked for Parasites. ... Check Her Mammary Glands for Infection. ... Ask Your Vet for Help to Produce More Milk. ... Know When to Throw in the Towel.

Can I touch newborn puppies?

Once the puppies are about three weeks old, they will begin to move around on their own. This is when you can begin to pet them and interact with them more. You should only touch or pick up a newborn puppy if you observe that it is sick, if the mother abandons it, or in the case of orphaned puppies.

How long after a dog gives birth can you touch the puppies?

Once the puppies are about three weeks old, they will begin to move around on their own. This is when you can begin to pet them and interact with them more. You should only touch or pick up a newborn puppy if you observe that it is sick, if the mother abandons it, or in the case of orphaned puppies.

How soon do puppies need to feed after birth?

Puppies should begin eating solid food about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 weeks of age. Initially, make gruel by mixing a milk replacer in puppy food soaked in water and place this mixture in a flat saucer.

Is it normal for a dog not to eat after giving birth?

Decreased appetite— It's not unusual for a new mom to not feel like eating right away, but she should start eating again within several hours and absolutely within a day of delivering her puppies.

How much does a puppy's nutritional needs increase after birth?

For each puppy that is breastfeeding it will increase their nutritional needs by 25% . You must pay attention to your dog condition if despite eating what your dog wants and lose weight is that your diet is not quality or does not contain enough calories.

Can dogs eat canned food?

It is also recommended the most frequent consumption of canned food that usually has high water content. At this time it is very important for your dog since that will help to continue producing enough milk for the puppies. After the first days, your dog will recover the appetite of your dog exponentially. While your dog is feeding her little ones she will need more food than ever.

How to get a puppy to eat after giving birth?

Bring food to the mother dog. Place food near the mother dog so that she doesn't have to leave the puppies to eat. Many new mothers don't want to leave their puppies to eat, so they abstain from eating for too long after giving birth. [1]

What to do after a dog gives birth?

After a mother dog gives birth, you will need to give her some extra care. Specifically, she will need to be fed and hydrated properly in order to assure that she and her puppies stay healthy.

What to bring to a whelping box after a dog gives birth?

After a dog gives birth, you’ll need to bring food to her whelping box and find ways to encourage her to eat. Bring her water immediately after she gives birth, since the dog will have lost a lot of fluids. You should also bring dog food to the whelping box, because the dog won’t want to leave her puppies to eat.

What does the AKC do for dogs?

The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events , such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source. This food should be fed in small meals throughout the day, instead of just a few large meals.

Why is puppy food so digestible?

Puppy food is high in calories and it is highly digestible. This means that the mother can absorb the nutrients in the food quickly. Feeding the mother dog puppy food also assures that the puppies she is feeding get the proper nutrition.

How long should a dog wait to eat after giving birth?

However, you can allow your dog to wait a little while to eat. Most dogs that give birth wait a few hours to eat. They need to rest and recover a bit from the whelping before attempting to eat.

How long does it take for a dog to produce milk?

Your mother dog will need to increase the amount of milk it produces over several weeks after giving birth . It will be at peak milk production around three weeks after giving birth. At this point it will also need to be eating up to four times as much food as it did before pregnancy.

How to clean a puppy after giving birth?

Immediately After She Gives Birth 1 Remove and replace all soiled material from the whelping box with clean, soft bedding. Repeat as needed. 2 Do not bathe your dog after she gives birth. But do gently clean her with a warm damp cloth. Wait a few weeks to give her a full-blown bath. Use a mild soap and rinse her thoroughly to prevent the puppies from coming into contact with any soap residue when they nurse.

How long does it take for a dog to take care of puppies after birth?

In the next few weeks, life for your dog after she gives birth is significantly different than it was before she delivered. From the moment her puppies are born, she takes care of them, and they depend on her for survival. While you may need to step in on occasion to help out, she is generally able to care for her puppies on her own. As her owner though, knowing what to expect can prevent a dangerous situation from happening in the weeks ahead.

How to tell if a puppy has mastitis?

And this can turn into mastitis. Watch for signs of eclampsia or milk fever. These signs include restlessness, anxiety, panting, muscle tremors, elevated temperature, whining, and dilated pupils, to name a few. This condition can occur within the first 4 weeks after the puppies are born.

What is a momma dog's discharge called?

This discharge is called lochia and ranges in color, from greenish-black to brownish to brick red. It should be almost odorless.

How hot should my dog be after giving birth?

Take your dog's temperature daily for a few weeks. A dog's normal temperature is between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Be aware that your dog after she gives birth will run a temperature a degree or two higher than normal for a few days. But if she spikes a temperature, stops eating, or seems lethargic, call your vet.

How long after giving birth can you bathe a dog?

Wait a few weeks to give her a full-blown bath. Use a mild soap and rinse her thoroughly to prevent the puppies from coming into contact with any soap residue when they nurse. Your dog will leak fluids and tissues for up to eight weeks after she gives birth.

How hot should puppy food be?

Schedule an appointment with the vet for a checkup. Provide your dog with a warm (about 85 degrees Fahrenheit), secluded, nesting area that is private and quiet.

What should a lactating dog eat?

Feed puppy food to the mother dog. The lactating dog needs to eat a high quality puppy food that is high in protein and calcium. This will allow her to produce substantial amounts of milk. She should eat puppy food until the puppies are weaned.

How to handle a puppy when they are newborn?

Even though you are not handling the puppies when they are newborn, the sights, sounds, and smells within the home are already starting the process of adjusting the puppies to the world they are going to live in. Stroke and talk to the puppies from a few days old, but socialization starts in earnest at two to three weeks of age. It is important to handle the pups several times a day at this age, and start introducing strangers and children so they get used to different voices and appearances. Do this and you are laying a great foundation for their future.

Why won't my puppy nurse?

If the puppy absolutely will not nurse, or your dog won’t let the puppy nurse, there may be something wrong with the puppy, like a cleft palate. Open the puppy’s mouth and look at the roof of the mouth. It should be a solid surface without any holes into the sinuses. Consult your veterinarian if there are any concerns.

How to socialize a puppy?

Puppies need healthy socialization to their new world, including introductions to people. Hold each puppy several times per day. Get the puppies accustomed to being touched everywhere on their bodies so that it will not seem strange when they are older.

What happens if a dog has a mammary gland infection?

Check the mammary glands of the lactating dog daily. Mammary gland infections (mastitis) do occur and can get very serious very quickly. If you see mammary glands that are very red (or purple), hard, hot or painful, there is a problem. In some cases, mastitis has the potential to kill the nursing mother dog.

When should a dog eat puppy food?

Your dog should eat puppy food in the final 1/3 of her pregnancy, and then until the puppies are weaned. Nursing mother dogs require more calories to make enough milk to feed their puppies.

How to check if my dog is pregnant?

Take your dog to the vet for a checkup. Schedule an appointment with the vet, so she can check on your pregnant dog. The vet will confirm the pregnancy and check for any complications.

How to make sure my dog is okay after giving birth?

The best way to make sure that your dog is okay after giving birth is to learn more about what typical canine whelping is like. Remember, dogs have been giving birth for thousands of years. It is a natural process, but there are things you can do to help.

What to give a dog to whet his appetite?

Include special treats to whet your dog's appetite. Consider offering cottage cheese, eggs, liver or other nutrition-packed delicacies.

Why do puppies have to be clipped?

Clip the puppies' nails to prevent them from scratching their mother.

Why is my dog not interested in my new puppy?

If your dog doesn't appear interested in her new pups, this may be a sign of infection.Check her for other signs of distress, such as whining, dilated eyes, or foul-smelling discharge. If these are present, contact your veterinarian immediately.

How to stop a dog from leaking fluids after giving birth?

1. Clean your dog with a warm, damp cloth. Make sure she's clean of any trace of blood, placental fluid, or fecal matter. Good hygiene reduces the risk of bacterial infection following birth. You may see leaking fluids, called lochia, for several weeks after giving birth.

What to do if your dog doesn't want to drink water?

If your dog doesn't want to drink water, try offering her chicken broth.

What does it mean when a dog's nipples are red?

Normal nursing glands, or nipples, should be soft and enlarged from milk production. If the glands are hard or red, this may indicate presence of infection . If your dog appears to be avoiding nursing her pups, check her mammary glands for signs of infection.