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Originally Posted by dawn27  I just read a little more information on the subject of increase in calcium prior to whelping and found some articles on pre-eclampsia. I was very surprised. I doubt that I will continue feeding my dam the puppy food so early now that I am informed on the effects that the increase of calcium could have on her. I will follow both yours and my vets recommendations.
Thank you Charlie and Mardelin.  and everynoe who posted. I still have more to learn!
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I think you have made a very wise choice. I think perhaps the reason mine never have problems is because they are on the same food all the time with no change until after they have puppies. The food I feed is 28% protein and 17% fat.
Charlie and Mary.....do you mind sharing what foods you recommend?
Here is a couple of websites that have some good information, I don't agree with all of it but it is interesting. I quoted the paragraph about not feeding a raw diet. I found that interesting. Also the part about worming the pregnant bitch, I don't do that because my dogs don't have worms. I did not know that bitches could be wormed with Panacur while pregnant.
http://caninegeneticreserve.com/docu...t_Bitches2.pdf Quote:
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Raw diets should be avoided from day 30 gestational age (before the placentas form) until 4 weeks post-whelping. Animals fed raw diets sustain small abrasions of the GI mucosa from the bone they eat and all raw diets, no matter how meticulously they are prepared (commercial or homemade) contain potentially pathologic bacteria. Normal healthy dogs can dispose of these bacteria before they leave the gut and enter the bloodstream. However, since pregnancy depresses the immune system, these bacteria may enter the bloodstream in the pregnant bitch and preferentially go to the placental sites (because of their increased blood suppy) where they may cause infection and fetal death or abortion. This suppression of immunity continues for the first 3 – 4 weeks post-whelping and may result in metritis or mastitis.
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Responsible Breeding - The Care and Feeding of the Breeding Bitch - Part Two