Pregnant Dog Not Eating? Many dog owners are often worried when their pregnant dog suddenly stops eating.
Dog owners feel like they are stuck in a catch 22 situation, with the choice between ensuring their pet’s health or taking care of the unborn puppies.
Pregnant dogs require more nutrients than usual, so it is important to find out why your pet may not be eating.
Reasons why your pregnant dog not eating?
Pregnant female dogs are notorious for not wanting to eat during their pregnancy, which can be a dangerous situation. Not only does the mother dog need nutrients, but so do her puppies.
It’s important for pregnant dogs to have plenty of water, as well as food high in protein and calcium.
A pregnant dog who has not eaten enough will suffer from dehydration and her milk supply will decrease dramatically, which is dangerous for both the mother and the puppies.
Some dogs are picky eaters, but if your pregnant dog is refusing to eat she could be experiencing morning sickness.
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- Dogs can get morning sickness just like humans.
- Many pregnant dogs have aversions to certain food smells, so it may be the smell of her food that’s turning her away.
- There are many different theories as to why eating habits change during pregnancy, but it is most likely due to hormonal changes that can cause the appetite to decrease.
One of the major concerns with this is malnutrition, which can be harmful for both the mother and her unborn puppies.
A veterinarian should be consulted for further information on what might be wrong with your pet or how you can help coax her into eating again.
How long can a pregnant dog go without eating?
A pregnant dog can go without eating for two days and it is safe for the mother and puppies.
The gestation period for a dog is from sixty-six to seventy-eight days, depending on the breed.
A dog should not eat during the last week of gestation because of potential complications that could arise from a full stomach.
As long as the pregnant female has access to water every day, she will be able to survive without food.
But honestly, No one really knows how long a pregnant dog can go without eating. Some experts believe that they should be offered food and water at least every third day and not left alone in the final month of pregnancy.
Others believe that their bodies will tell them when they’re hungry.
Pregnant dogs sometimes may stop eating because of their hormone levels.
How much should a pregnant dog eat?
As a dog owner, it can be hard to know when and how much your pregnant dog should be eating.
With ten or twelve puppies, the demand on her diet is increased by 25% for each puppy.
She will need additional calories and nutrients to keep up with all that she must do in preparation for birth and care of her litter.
for an instance, a pregnant dog will need a 25% calorie intake raise for each puppy she has.
This means that if she has one litter of 4 puppies, her caloric intake would need to increase by 100%. Which adds up to about 15 pounds of food daily!
The faster the puppies grow, the more calories they will require.
If we dig deep, the amount of food that a pregnant dog should eat can vary, depending on how many puppies are in the litter. A pregnant dog with 8-10 puppies will need about 9 cups of high-quality dog food each day.
This is about 3 times as much as what she would normally need when not pregnant. The amount of food that a pregnant dog should eat can vary, depending on how many puppies are in the litter.
How to encourage a pregnant dog to eat
A pregnant dog’s diet is very different from that of a non-pregnant dog. A pregnant dog needs more protein, calcium, and vitamin D for the pup’s development.
The volume of food the pregnant dog eats also needs to be increased.
Pregnant dogs need about 5 times as much protein as they would normally eat because the body requires a lot to build new cells and tissues during pregnancy.
Here are the 3 things to consider to encourage a pregnant to eat
- Feed always fresh food so that your dog always love to have that fresh meal
- Use some additives like Solomon oil, a tasty treat in the food, so that your dog will find a different taste and have it.
- Offer food in smaller portions and multiple times.
What to feed a pregnant dog before labor?
A lot of people don’t know what to feed their pregnant dog before labor, but it’s important to make sure her diet is healthy and balanced so she can stay strong.
A pregnant dog should be fed dry food for the first three weeks of gestation and then switched to moist kibble.
There are different types of moist food but they have the same nutritional content so it’s best to choose one with flavors your dog likes.
Some things that are good for pregnant dogs include sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, pumpkin, boiled chicken with rice or sweet potato, oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins, omega-3 eggs.
Conclusion
A pregnant dog may not be eating because of a variety of reasons. It is important to note that this is a temporary problem and will only last for the duration of the pregnancy.
If your dog appears to be eating food, but it seems like she isn’t gaining any weight or has lost some weight, it may be time for you to consult your veterinarian.
If your dog is not eating, make sure you are providing an adequate supply of freshwater for them.
