Feeding Raw to Breeding Bitches

When Raw Feeding a pregnant bitch, it is not just a case of giving more of everything!

It is important to ensure that she has enough of all types of raw meat, bone and organ meats such as Heart and Liver Chunks etc. with the latter meats consisting of around 10/15% of the diet during the pregnancy.

During the first half of the pregnancy nothing much will change although some breeders do prefer to feed more raw heart muscle (Heart Chunks) which can be higher in Folic acid which helps to produce and maintain new cells.

At around week 5, increase the bitch’s intake by 20/30%.

From week 6 you will need to increase the amount of fat intake given. This is not always easy as by this time the bitch’s stomach will not be able to accommodate her normal portions due to the ever-increasing whelps growing inside. It is therefore advisable to reduce her portion sizes but increase the number of times per day she is fed to maybe 4 or 5 times. A higher fat intake can easily be given by selecting more red meat (Albion  Complementary Duck or Premium Beef) than white (Chicken, Fish, Turkey). Fatty Beef mince is probably the easiest way of adding some much-needed energy. It is also a good idea to start to reduce the amount of bone content by using boneless meats at this stage.

By week 8 the bitch may be consuming 50% more than she was pre pregnancy and by this stage the bone content should be effectively Nil.

During her last week, week 9, she will gradually want to eat less and by the time she whelps you may find that she may go off her food a day or so before her due date. This is totally natural and having given her the very best during the previous 2 months she will have enough reserves to draw on.

Post birth, you can then think of getting Calcium into her diet but NOT in the form of supplements. She will need fresh raw meat mince with bone, such as Chicken Necks, Duck Necks, Chicken Carcass and Chicken Wings. This will help build milk naturally.

Why do we need to feed less bone prior to giving birth but more after?

The main reason is that before giving birth the parathyroid pulls calcium from the bones to help form the skeletons of the new pups but also to increase the contractibility of the heart and uterus walls. During birth, oxytocin controls the duration and frequency of contractions but calcium and parathyroid controls the strength. Therefore, if you feed too much calcium the parathyroid can sort of go on vacation during labour when you need it to work.

Postpartum (after giving birth) you start to feed lots of calcium to prevent eclampsia. It can also be of benefit to feed some raw liver.