Just like humans and other animals, when a female dog is pregnant, her mammary glands begin to swell and her nipples become tender. These are signs that she is preparing to breastfeed or produce milk. Small drops of milk also announce the delivery itself. The milk you produce will be the only source of food your puppies receive for their first four to five weeks of life. This can be very strenuous on your dog’s body and health.

Lactating dogs should receive extra care and support so that they can better cope with raising their newborn puppies until the weaning stage is reached. They need to receive extra nutrition so that she can maintain her health while providing enough milk for her puppies. The extra care and nutrition should also help them overcome the anxiety lactating dogs often feel.

Often lactating bitches are anxious about feeding their puppies and about people who approach them. They will usually only trust people they have known for years or people who were with them during the birth. Too much anxiety can be bad for a lactating dog, so it’s best to keep her as comfortable and happy as possible. This might mean limiting her and her puppies’ contact with the outside world for a couple of weeks.

Once a bitch has whelped and the puppies have been cleaned, they should be brought to their mother’s teats for feeding. You can help lactating bitches to increase and maintain a steady milk supply by ensuring this immediate feeding and making sure as many teats as possible are suckled. This immediate feeding will help the bitch’s mammary glands to produce more milk as there is a demand for it.

After this initial feeding (and after each nursing session), check your dog’s nipples for redness. Make sure neither nipple looks sore or has minor cuts or sores. If any of your nipples become infected, the mammary gland can become inflamed, causing pain and a reduction in milk production. If this happens, many dog ​​owners will rub some Vaseline on the nipples. However, it is still recommended that you call your vet and make an appointment. Your vet should be able to help assess the situation and determine what is best to do for your nursing dog.

Make sure lactating bitches also get exercise and not just lie down all day between nursing sessions with their puppies. When the puppies aren’t feeding, take your dog out and make sure he gets some exercise, even if it’s just a quick walk outside. Get him to walk often. You can also try and see if he will play with some of the puppies.

Finally, make sure lactating bitches are eating properly throughout lactation. Most veterinarians recommend that pet owners give lactating bitches smaller meals, but with a more frequent feeding schedule. All of which should add up to three times the amount of food you normally eat. Be sure to monitor their food intake, especially during the third week, when puppies may start trying to eat solid food.

You should also have a container of fresh water with you at all times. Dehydration can reduce milk production, which is not good for lactating bitches. In general, meals that are at least 30% protein (more is better) can help maintain your pet’s health. Many pet owners and veterinarians actually recommend the raw dog food diet when a bitch is nursing because this diet is high in protein and gives your dog many of the nutrients she needs.