Lactose Diet for a Pregnant Dog
Although it is tempting to provide a special diet for a pregnant dog, it is not necessary. It may seem preferable to change a pregnant dog's diet to "supplement" her and to "support the puppies," most high-quality kibbles will provide sufficient nutrition throughout the majority of a dog's pregnancy. A pregnant dog may benefit from eating a high-quality puppy kibble, which has a formulation higher in fat and in calcium.
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Lactose and the Pregnant Dog
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Lactose is the sugar in milk. According to VetInfo.com, some dogs are lactose intolerant; that is, they lack sufficient quantities of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose. For this reason, dogs may experience "pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gas and diarrhea, causing great discomfort to the dog." While these symptoms are uncomfortable for any dogs, they only add to the discomfort that might ordinarily accompany pregnancy.
Milk and Yogurt
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Some dogs can tolerate small amounts of both milk and yogurt. While it might seem that either the milk or the yogurt would benefit the dog by providing her with calcium for forming puppy skeletons, the truth is that a great deal of calcium is not necessary for dogs during pregnancy. In addition, yogurt or treats made with yogurt may be high in sugar content, which may lead to bacterial growth and to digestive distress.
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Puppy Kibble for a Pregnant Dog
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The rationale for feeding the pregnant dog puppy food is that the developing puppy fetuses are making demands on the female dog's body and that she requires a "nutrient-rich, growth supporting food like puppy food." While the female dog may not suffer an upset stomach if she is gradually switched to the new food, some experts suggest that supplementation with puppy food may cause other trouble later in the pregnancy.
Calcium and Pregnancy
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According to expert Myra Savant-Harris, people place too much importance on calcium supplementation during pregnancy because we believe it will improve the puppies' skeletal formation. In reality, however, calcium is equally important, if not more important, in muscular contraction. While it is important that the female have sufficient calcium in her diet, her parathyroid gland will produce the extra that she needs. If her diet is supplemented, the parathyroid gland will cease to function independently and, when the extra calcium is required to assist with uterine contractions during delivery, the parathyroid will fail to act. Savant-Harris stresses that supplementation includes providing her with pet vitamins, puppy food, dairy products or raw food.
Other Supplements
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It is less necessary to supplement the pregnant female dog with folic acid to prevent birth defects than it would be in a human pregnancy. However, folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and excess amounts are secreted in the urine, so no harm can come of supplementing the female with it. Water-soluble vitamin C is beneficial to the lactating (nursing) female but has little use during pregnancy.
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- Photo Credit crouching dog image by Samuel Birkan from Fotolia.com
