Nutrition for the Lactating Dog

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Dogs have additional nutritional needs during lactation. Learn more in this infographic you can also download to share or print.

Lactation is the most nutritionally demanding life stage.

Nutrient requirements are higher than during pregnancy

Calories and water are the two most important nutrients for the dam after whelping!

After whelping:

  • Provide ample fresh water and food soaked with water to rebuild her energy and fluid levels
  • Continue to feed a highly digestible, high energy puppy food throughout lactation
  • Shortly after whelping she may have a decreased appetite

Provide clean water at all times

Fat (at least 17% dry matter)
a high fat diet is necessary to ensure sufficient caloric intake will be met
Protein (at least 29% dry matter)
is essential for puppy growth and development and health of dam
Carbohydrates should be highly digestible with dietary fiber comprising <5%
dry matter

Nutritional needs during lactation:

  • Week 1 to 2: 2x maintenance
  • Week 3 to 4: 3x maintenance
  • Week 5 to 6: 2x maintenance

Smaller breeds tend to have greater per pound energy requirement than larger breeds

The larger the litter the greater the nutrient requirement to meet the demands of milk production

Rule of thumb: at peak lactation increase the amount of food by 25% per puppy from maintenance level

Note: large breed puppy food does not provide adequate nutrition during lactation or pregnancy.

Gradually reduce the dams’ food intake as puppies transition from milk to solid food (starting around 4 weeks)

 

EXPERT REVIEWER

Anna Kate Shoveller, PhD

Professor and Champion Petfoods Chair in Canine and Feline Nutrition, Physiology and Metabolism

Website: http://animalbiosciences.uoguelph.ca/abscpeople/ashovell

This nutrition article was reviewed by Dr. Anna Kate Shoveller, as well as the postdoctoral scholars in her lab: Alexandra Rankovic and Pauline Kosmal.

Dr. Shoveller earned a BS(honors) in Animal Biology from the University of Guelph and a PhD in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta. She is currently a professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph. Prior to this position, she worked in the animal nutrition industry from 2007-2015. Her research group also considers animal behavior and quality of life in their focus on comparative nutrition and physiology, particularly amino acid metabolism, protein quality, and macronutrient partitioning in dogs, cats, horses, and pigs. 

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Topic(s): Bare Bones Basics, Breeder Resource, Health, Lactating Females, Nutrition