Time Frame

• Gestation (pregnancy) in dogs lasts for 60 to 65 days. For the first four weeks of pregnancy, your dog can eat normally. Overfeeding during the initial phase of the pregnancy will make her overweight, which can make delivery more difficult. Some dogs get morning sickness and nausea, just like people. You may notice your dog going off her food temporarily in the third week of pregnancy. As long as she's otherwise acting normal and drinking water, don't worry. This usually passes within a week. Make sure she is drinking plenty of water. It is OK to give her a little canned food or low-sodium broth during this time to make sure she stays hydrated. For the remaining four to five weeks of pregnancy, increase the amount of food by 25% per week. so by whelping time, she is eating twice her regular amount of food.
  
  

Types

• There are many types of dog food. Most people feed kibble, but cooked and raw diets are also popular. Whatever you feed your dog, it should be be a quality, balanced diet. During pregnancy and nursing, the metabolism of a pregnant dog increases and her body has to work hard to nurture the growing puppies. Ensure that you are giving your dog optimum nutrition at all times.
  
  

Considerations

• If you plan to change the type of food she is eating during pregnancy, don't wait until after the breeding, as changes in diet can physiologically stress her at a time when she needs to be healthy and stable. Any changes in the diet should be implemented several weeks before breeding. Start diet changes gradually, shortly before she is due to come into heat. This will give her body time to adjust to different food before the pregnancy. Some dogs become picky about their food during heat, so be patient.
  
  

Theories/Speculation

• Be very cautious about giving your dog extra vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy. There is a lot of disagreement among experts about the types of supplements or whether they should be given at all. Supplements can pose risks to both the developing puppy and the mama dog, yet incomplete nutrition also causes complications. . The best strategy may be to feed her a premium diet without supplements. Talk to your vet or a knowledgeable breeder before giving supplements to a pregnant dog.
  
  

Warning

• Do not supplement with calcium, or any vitamin containing calcium, during your dog's pregnancy. Excess dietary calcium paradoxically leads to low blood calcium (eclampsia) which is a medical emergency in pregnant and nursing dogs. Low blood calcium can also cause delivery complications and improper puppy development due to insufficient calcium in the milk.