Pregnant and lactating dogs
If your dog is in gestation, you may feed it the diet suggested for adult dogs, but increase the quantity by 10 per cent.
The day after the dog whelps, increase its usual ration (already raised by 10 per cent during pregnancy) and let it eat all it wants for four or five days more.
It is generally agreed that the nutritional requirements for a bitch during lactation will at least double-some even say triple-particularly for bitches that nurse large litters. (Actually, it is difficult, if not impossible, to meet the needs of a lactating dog in such cases.)
As is the case for most special-purpose dog foods, food for lactating dogs can usually be obtained commercially. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you.
If such food is difficult to obtain, however, or if you intend to prepare food for a lactating dog yourself, the following formula will serve as a guide. The figures represent weight units and are proportionally correct in metric and imperial dimensions.
Boiled carrots............................................................ 8
Cooked, broken or whole rice................................... 23
Cooked meat.............................................................. 55
Equal parts of lard and corn or sunflower oil............... 6
Dry brewer's yeast....................................................... 5
Mineral and vitamin supplement................................... 3
Besides these rations, you could give a bitch a little milk-up to about 50 milliliters (1/4 cup) per day. Large bitches may be given twice this amount.
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