Pregnancy, Lactating & Weaning

🐾 Supporting Mum Through Pregnancy

A pregnancy is an exciting time, but proper care for the mother is essential to ensure the health of both mum and her pups.

⚠️ Start with a Veterinary Check-Up – Confirm that mum is healthy before pregnancy progresses. Any underlying health issues such as pain, itchy skin, yeast infections, or temperament concerns should be addressed to prevent passing issues to her puppies.

✔️ Nutrition Matters – A raw diet is highly recommended for pregnant dogs, helping maintain optimal health and digestion. Transitioning to raw can be done over weeks 1–3 using guides such as Transition to Raw.

🚫 What to Avoid During Pregnancy

Certain ingredients should be stopped due to potential risks:

❌ Garlic – Avoid due to known risks outlined in various studies.

❌ Fenugreek & Neem – While research is mixed, these may stimulate uterine contractions, so discontinuation is advised.

🔹 Parasite Prevention Alternatives:

✅ Alexanders Bugzilla Spray or similar natural solutions.

✅ Organic Pumpkin Seeds – Must be crushed before feeding to avoid digestive blockages (½ tsp per 10kg of body weight, up to twice daily).

🍽️ Pregnancy Nutrition Guide

Once transitioned to raw, no major dietary changes are needed, though some breeders increase heart content for added folic acid.

🦴 Great Raw Diet Choices:

✔️ Paleo Plus – Organic, ethical, and nutrient-rich.

✔️ Naturaw Forage Range – A well-balanced complete food ensuring mum receives essential nutrients.

📌 Portion Adjustments: Early pregnancy requires no increase in food, but supplements can enhance overall nutrition.

🔹 Pregnancy Boosters for Mum:

🥚 Raw eggs (2–3 times a week).

🌿 Kelp Seaweed (daily, unless feeding a complete food).

🦪 Cooked frozen mussels (2–3 times a week, in small amounts).

🐟 Small oily fish like sardines (if feeding Naturaw, additional fish isn't necessary but can be offered).

🫐 Antioxidants such as blueberries (a few per day).

🍼 Colostrum supplements (Prodog or Aniforte) to support immune health.

💙 Stress relief – Prodog Raw Revive helps balance mum’s stress during pregnancy.

📆 Feeding Adjustments During Pregnancy

From week 5 onward, mum’s appetite will increase, requiring gradual food adjustments:

🔹 Week 5: Increase by 5–10%

🔹 Week 6: Increase by another 5–10%

🔹 Week 7: Increase further by 5–10%

🔹 Week 8: Final 5–10% increase

By week 8–9, your pregnant dog should be eating up to 50% more than pre-pregnancy.

📌 Bone content should be reduced or eliminated based on vet advice.

🚨 Final Week of Pregnancy:

✔️ Mum may begin eating less, so gradually reduce food.

✔️ 1–2 days before birth, introduce cooked vegetables—this acts as a laxative, helping clear her bowels before birthing.

🐶 Post-Birth: Supporting Mum & Her Litter

Once she gives birth, her diet must adapt to ensure adequate calcium for milk production:

🦴 Reintroduce Raw Meaty Bones – Supports lactation & prevents eclampsia. Great options include:

✔️ Chicken backs, necks, carcass, wings

✔️ Pre-made raw with 10% bone

📌 Ensure fresh drinking water is always available.

✅ Placenta Consumption: Some dogs naturally eat their placenta, which is fine, but monitor closely for potential digestive issues or unpleasant odours.

📌 Post-Birth Nutritional Boost for Mum

🍼 Dr. Ian Billinghurst’s Post-Birth Recipe (for the first few days):

🥛 1 cup whole goat milk

🍯 1 tsp local or Manuka honey

🥚 1 raw egg

🫒 1–2 tsp flax seed oil

👩‍⚕️ Dr. Conor Brady’s Additional Recommendations:

🍖 Ground liver

🌿 Fenugreek & Milk Thistle (supports milk production).

🌱 Kelp Seaweed (if not already included in diet).

🚫 Avoid unnecessary chemicals like chemical flea & worm treatments—work with a pro-raw or holistic vet for alternative approaches.

🍼 Weaning Pups Onto Raw

At 3–4 weeks, pups can begin transitioning to raw:

✔️ Increase mum’s food intake by 25% per pup during peak lactation.

✔️ Use a weaning paste such as Paleo Ridge or Nutriment Weaning Paste mixed with full-fat goat milk into a yoghurt-like consistency.

✔️ Add Prodog or Aniforte Colostrum for immune & digestive support.

✔️ Bone Broth can be beneficial for gut health.

📌 Serving Tips:

🔹 Serve at room temperature.

🔹 Gradually reduce goat milk over time.

🔹 Start with 1 meal per day & gradually increase between weeks 3–6.

🐾 Let mum continue feeding—gradually decrease her food intake back to pre-pregnancy levels by week 8.

🐶 Moving Pups to Full Raw

By week 8, pups can fully transition to raw using puppy-specific raw food, gradually introducing variety.

💡 New pet parents can follow raw transition guides to learn how to properly balance nutrients while ensuring healthy development for their puppies.

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