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Originally Posted by myjordash OK, so I SHOULD be giving them the Nutrical this young? I have been giving it to Mom but wasn't sure if it was OK to give to babies yet. Please just clarify this for me before I give it to them. I was going to check with the dr. tomorrow but would like to give it to them today if possible.
Also should I be giving the Mom a 1/2 Tums along with the Nutrical or is the Nutrical enough? |
Yes, it is perfectly okay to give Nutrical to newborns. I personally don't supplement with calcium before or after whelping and have never had a mother with eclampsia yet. If you do some research you will find that calcium and phosphorus have to be given in a certain balance or the mother will become calcium deficient. I do give the Mom cottage cheese though which is high in calcium.
A Word About Supplements
Some veterinarians recommend giving dogs vitamins during pregnancy. Many veterinarians feel that if fed properly, the dog will receive sufficient nutrients through the diet. Either way, don’t add anything to your dog’s diet unless specifically instructed by your veterinarian. Excessive of certain vitamins or minerals can have devastating effects on mom and babies.
Calcium is one supplement that deserves some special attention. Supplementing a pregnant dog is definitely not recommended. Giving calcium supplementation, especially late in pregnancy, has been linked to increasing the risk of eclampsia (low blood calcium) in nursing dogs. Excess calcium has also been linked to difficult deliveries, soft tissue calcium deposits in the puppies and certain joint abnormalities in the pups. For this reason, do not supplement your pregnant dog with calcium unless specifically instructed by your veterinarian.