Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:52 am Post subject: diet for bitch?
My bitch is moving onto her 6th week of pregnancy, time to increase her protein, last year she went onto Eukanuba puppy, she is a 'good doer' so she does has a tendancy to gain weight easily plus it is very expensive! Obviously only the best for her at this stage so cost doesn't come into it but anybody use a different brand or any ideas?
I had Plover on Burn's throughout her pregnancy (adult then puppy from about 6 weeks in to her pregnancy). I also mixed in mince and liver with it. She didn't gain extra weight (but then she never does) and is looking fantastic now despite the 11 pups. I'll be sticking with Burn's from now onwards.
Jackie I'd be very interested to know how Plover and the pups do on Burns. Don't mean to alarm you, but my breeder weaned Whistle's litter onto Burns because that was what I was feeding at the time, she had never used Burns before, results were awful. Pups were very ribby and gained very little weight, they were constantly hungry, wouldn't sleep and were eating their own poo which they were passing in vast quantities In over 30 years of breeding she had never experienced anything like it. After 5 days of trying she switched them over to Eukanuba which is what she usually uses and the difference in the pups within hours of being fed was quite dramatic. _________________ Hunting is natural, even foxes do it !
Whenever life hands you lemons, grab the salt and add the tequila
Would somebody please explain this idea of feeding an in whelp bitch on puppy food? While the dog will obviously survive on puppy food I would have thought the detailed requirements of a bitch would be lacking in puppy food and I presume that calcium is present in puppy food to a greater degree than normal food and this wouldn't be beneficial for the pregnant bitch.
They need protein for growth and development and omega oils , just remembered I gave Hassle ; Eukanuba Premium Performance. Formula, rather than the puppy food this was recommended due to 30% protein, any other suggestions!?
We haven't switched out bitches to a different food when they have been in whelp. They are fed on Challenge Salmon & Potato so they are already being fed a really good quality food and this seems to do fine.
I personally wouldn't worry too much if they are on a good protein food already but I have only had a handful of litters.
Quite a few people seem to put their bitch's onto puppy food in the latter part of pregnancy but we keep them to the same quality food that they are on normally.
I would also think the actual "quality" of the protein is more important than the actual level of protein as birds feathers are actually 100% protein and you wouldn't want to feed your dogs a diet of that A food that has a meat as the first main ingredient instead of a meat meal, rice or maize would be my preferred food for a pregnant bitch especially if they have the extra's such as omega oils, MSM, chondroitin etc _________________ Sharon Pinkerton
www.bareve.com
Owner & breeder of Field Trial 1st prize winners
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In over 30 years of breeding she had never experienced anything like it. After 5 days of trying she switched them over to Eukanuba which is what she usually uses and the difference in the pups within hours of being fed was quite dramatic.
A food that has a meat as the first main ingredient instead of a meat meal, rice or maize would be my preferred food for a pregnant bitch especially if they have the extra's such as omega oils, MSM, chondroitin etc
