Vitamins for Nursing Dogs: Does Your Pet Need Them?
Vitamins for nursing dogs can be essential if want to provide the most excellent care for our four-legged furry friends. Canine moms may face the same supply problems as their owners.
Your dog’s puppies must receive adequate nutrition through the mom’s milk and since dog mothers may have up to 10 puppies at a time, the quality of that milk can affect many lives.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are responsible not only for numerous changes in a dog’s physiology but also for changes in her lifestyle.
If your dog is pregnant or nursing, keep a close eye on her dietary requirements while she carries, delivers and nurses her babies. Let’s take a look at what supplements our dog needs throughout pregnancy and right after that.
Table of Contents
- Nutrition for the Pregnant and Nursing Dog: What Should We Know?
- What Kind of Vitamins Should We Provide to Our Breastfeeding Dog?
- What Kind of Minerals Should You Provide to Your Breastfeeding Dog?
- The Takeaway
- Nutrition Strength Vitamins for Nursing Dogs
Check out our Nutrition Strength Vitamins for Nursing Dogs here.
Nutrition for the Pregnant and Nursing Dog: What Should We Know?
A proper diet is essential for maximizing pregnancy and lactation outcomes. Late prenatal development of puppies and nursing are the most nutritionally demanding times in a bitch’s life.
The usual diet should be provided during the first part of the pregnancy, preferably a high-quality commercial AAFCO-approved dog food. The AAFCO stands for The Association of American Feed Control Officials and provides the most essential suggestions for taking care of our pets.
Increasing calories or nutrients is unnecessary until the second part of pregnancy. When a pregnancy is confirmed around 30 days, food suitable for all life stages (including puppies) should be provided.
You should make a gradual transition from the regular diet. Each of the final four weeks of pregnancy, the quantity supplied should be raised by around 25 percent.
If the bitch becomes overweight, this dosage should be somewhat lowered. Instead of one or two major meals each day, many smaller meals may be required.
Following whelping, the bitch may need feeding in her box, near her pups. Many bitches will not let their puppies eat regularly. Usually, lactation increases a bitch’s appetite significantly.
Late lactation has a calorie need that is double the usual amount. If diarrhea occurs, it may be due to the vast amount of food the breastfeeding dog consumes. Lowering the amount somewhat may help.
Bacterial overgrowth may develop due to consuming a significant amount of food and an antibiotic course is recommended. Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Clavamox and Cephalexin are safe medicines for breastfeeding females.
Following weaning, a bitch’s food intake should be lowered dependent on her condition and the variety restored to her usual diet.
The nutritional study suggests early dietary modifications may maximize litter size and puppy survivability.
Ask your veterinarian whether your pet might benefit from an earlier transition to a diet suited for all life stages or adding vital fatty acids at the breeding time.
A food designed for all life phases, including pups, contains enough minerals and vitamins for lactating dog and should not be supplemented further.
Before administering any nutrients or drugs to your bitch during pregnancy, consult with your veterinarian.
What Kind of Vitamins Should We Provide to Our Breastfeeding Dog?
Vitamins may help dogs pregnant with a litter of pups or who have just given birth and are currently nursing. These micronutrients promote a healthy pregnancy and make mom feel better. They are available in various forms, from chewable pills to powder supplements.
Postnatal vitamins for dogs support supplementing your pet’s diet with additional vitamins, minerals and nutrients required during pregnancy and nursing.
Postnatal supplements for dogs provide pregnant pups the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your lactating dog vitamins or minerals.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential substance for every living organism. It is present in carrots and is crucial for maintaining good vision, fetal development, immunological function and cell proliferation in the body.
The minimum required amount of vitamin A in dog food for adult maintenance is 5000 IU / kg and the minimum requirement for growth and reproduction is 5000 IU / kg.
Vitamins B
Vitamin B is a class of vitamins essential to your dog’s health. They are also considered the best vitamins for breastfeeding dog and their intake should be regulated by the puppy owners.
Thiamine, often known as vitamin B1, is involved in energy and glucose metabolism and activates ion channels in brain tissues.
Vitamin B1 is naturally found in beans, yeast, cereals and nuts. The daily need for vitamin B1 for an adult is 2.5 mg / kg, while the daily requirement for growth and reproduction is 2.5 mg / kg.
Vitamin B12 is another name for riboflavin, coupled with niacin aiding in enzyme function. Adults need 5.2 mg / kg of vitamin B12 for reproduction, development and maintenance.
Pyridoxine is a water-soluble vitamin commonly known as vitamin B6. It is required for red blood cell activity, glucose production, nervous system function, hormone control, immunological response, niacin synthesis and genetic activation.
The minimal vitamin B6 requirement for reproduction, development and adult maintenance is 1.5 mg / kg.
Pantothenic acid, often known as vitamin B5, is a water-soluble nutrient. It aids in the synthesis of coenzyme A and the metabolism of energy. Adults need 12 mg / kg of vitamin B5 for reproduction, development and maintenance.
Folic acid, often known as vitamin B9, is essential for amino acid and nucleotide metabolism and the production of mitochondrial proteins. The minimal need for vitamin B9 for reproduction, development and adult maintenance is 0.216 mg / kg.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C may be formed by regular glucose metabolism and dogs can produce it. Still, their levels are insufficient for good health. Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, aids in the reduction of inflammation and cognitive aging.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, sometimes known as the sunshine vitamin, aids dogs in maintaining phosphorus and calcium balance for healthy bone and muscle development. The minimal vitamin D requirement for growth, reproduction and adult maintenance is 5000 IU / kg.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that promotes canine development. It improves cell function, metabolism, and antioxidant defense.
Muscle deterioration and reproductive issues will result from a deficiency. Vitamin E requirements in a diet for reproduction, development and adult maintenance are 50 IU / kg.
Vitamin K
This is a fat-soluble vitamin that aids in the prevention of bleeding and the improvement of blood coagulation. If a dog consumes any dangerous chemical, its capacity to utilize vitamin K declines, resulting in severe bleeding and death if not treated promptly.
Choline
Choline is a vital vitamin for dogs since it helps with liver and brain function. It is also used in treating epilepsy in dogs. It has a minimal need of 1360 mg / kg for adult maintenance, development and reproduction.
What Kind of Minerals Should You Provide to Your Breastfeeding Dog?
Minerals can be classified into two groups: macrominerals and microminerals. Macro minerals are needed in massive amounts, whereas micro minerals are required in trace quantities.
Phosphorus, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, chloride and sulfur are the macro minerals needed by lactating dogs. That is why they are also popular as lactating dog supplements.
Copper, zinc, iodine, chromium, manganese, selenium and fluorine are the micro minerals necessary by the organism.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium and phosphorus are two nutrients in dog chow that work well together. They serve as the foundation for bones and teeth.
Calcium, which is also known as a “nursing dog supplement,” operates as a messenger in the dog’s body, performing the following tasks:
- Nerve impulse transmission.
- Constriction and dilation of blood vessels.
- Muscle contractions.
- Secretion of hormones.
- Blood coagulation.
- A co-factor for enzymes.
Calcium in the diet helps to maintain a consistent calcium level in the blood and a stable heart rate. Suppose the calcium level in the body goes below the required level. In that case, more calcium is released from the bones to maintain essential organs functioning.
Calcium and phosphorus requirements for growth and reproduction are 1.2 percent and 1 percent, respectively, whereas adult maintenance is 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent.
Sodium, Potassium and Chloride
The three significant electrolytes in the dog’s body are potassium, sodium and chloride. Electrolytes are minerals in the body in the form of electrically charged ions and particles.
As a result, these electrolytes are critical in maintaining your dog’s fluid balance. All of them serve the following goals:
- Maintaining osmotic balance.
- Transmitting nerve impulses.
- Maintaining acid-base balance.
- Transmitting muscle contractions.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that can be found in dog food. It has more than one use. It is the most common element in enzymes, bones and the fluids inside cells. This mineral also significantly affects how nerves and muscles communicate with each other.
Magnesium is required in a dog diet for reproduction, development and adult maintenance at 0.06 g.
Iron
One of the most essential minerals for the dog’s body is iron. It has many functions, the most important of which is to deliver oxygen throughout the body. Myoglobin and hemoglobin are the principal oxygen carriers and iron is a crucial component of both pigments.
Iron also aids in immune system strengthening. Red meat, fish, eggs and legumes are all excellent sources of iron.
The required quantity of iron for an average adult’s maintenance is 40 mg / kg. The minimum amount for reproduction and growth is 88 mg / kg.
Zinc
Zinc aids in the activation of hormones, enzymes and a variety of other biological activities. According to recent studies, more than 200 enzymes need zinc for activation and synthesis.
Zinc helps with dogs’ growth, wound healing, reproduction, immune system strengthening, skincare, protein digestion and thyroid function management. If your dog’s diet and food are zinc poor, she will lack elemental protection against illnesses.
Zinc may be found naturally in eggs, pigs, lamb, liver and brewer’s yeast. The adult requires 80 mg / kg of zinc for maintenance and 100 mg / kg for growth and reproduction.
Copper
Copper aids in the creation of neurotransmitters, bones and connective tissues and develops collagen in the dog’s biological processes. It also aids in antioxidant defense, skin and hair pigmentation and the maturation and growth of red blood cells.
The minimal quantity of copper required for development and reproduction in a dog diet is 12.4 mg / kg. The adult maintenance dose is 7.3 mg / kg.
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral with several health advantages. There are two types of selenium: sodium selenite and selenium yeast. Selenium yeast is often used in commercial dog food.
The principal function of selenium is related to thyroid hormone metabolism and antioxidant protection. The minimum selenium required for a dog diet’s reproduction, development and adult maintenance is 0.3 mg / kg.
The Takeaway
Dog nutrition varies based on the dog and breed. Check the nutrition your dog receives from their dog food before adding supplements. Then, consider which vitamins benefit their age, health problems and breastfeeding.
Ensuring your dog’s food has the proper vitamins and minerals can help them live a long, happy and healthy life. This is also important for the newborns, who get all these nutrients via nursing.
Nutrition Strength Vitamins for Nursing Dogs
Check out our Nutrition Strength Vitamins for Nursing Dogs here.
Nutrition Strength Vitamins for Nursing Dogs to Support Lactation and Post-Natal Recovery, Promote Milk Quality and Healthy Puppies with Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Zinc, 120 Soft Chews is a premium nutritional supplement, specially formulated with carefully selected ingredients, which have been shown to help boost your pet’s immune system and lactation.
Our postnatal vitamins for dogs promote milk production, support the recovery from birthing and help to get the reproductive hormones prepared for the next gestation.
Our delicious vitamins for lactating dogs are produced with the highest quality ingredients available, which could benefit your four-legged friends by helping to:
- Sustain milk production.
- Strengthen post-natal recovery.
- Boost the puppies’ immune system.
- Support the reproductive hormones.
- Promote healthier newborns.
Our specially developed calcium for nursing dogs supplement is designed to help ensure that your pet gets adequate levels of this vital nutrient, which, together with phosphorus, is vital for the proper development of young puppies.
Vitamin C, which is a key component of milk, is also a strong milk antioxidant and has strong affinity to scavenge free radicals, which makes it an effective prophylactic.
Zinc is essential for newborns’ proper development. A vital component of numerous enzymes in breastmilk, zinc plays a vital role in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids and is essential for cell differentiation and body growth.
Vitamin D supports healthy bone development and helps to prevent weak or deformed bones. Breast milk alone may not provide infants with a sufficient amount of vitamin D, which is why supplementation may be needed.
Vitamin A is also essential for newborn puppies. The mother’s vitamin A requirements increase during lactation. Beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, is a component of colostrum and milk, where it contributes to the infant’s antioxidant defenses.
Image source: Wikimedia / boxercab.
