Pregnant Yorkie

[turtlemoon]

Hi Everyone.
Our yorkie (toots) is 45 days into pregnancy and so far everything seems to be ok.
Had an ultrasound done and 5 possibly six puppies were seen , all seem pretty active too.
Would like to ask a question about her diet , we have been giving her Iams pupy food but she is only eating really small amounts , so we have started giving her rice with tuna/chicken and minced beef , which she loves.
Can anyone suggest/recomend trying her with something else as Iam not sure that giving her the rice tuna etc.. is enough for her needs.

Many Thx in advance
Paul

[Jaspermom]

But this wonderful woman is! I found this post under another question just like yours, and I am sure Robbie won't mind me showing it to you!

Good luck with your girl and her babes!

Originally Posted by yorkiemom1970

I feed their regular food until the last 3 weeks. And keep them on puppy food until their babies are weaned. I don't give calcium supps anymore.(used to, but discussed it with someone on here and opted to take their advice) I do give some after whelp but not before. Usually like yogurt, cottage cheese or a 1/2 tums. You can give a little yorgurt or cottage cheese as a treat in small portions while they're preggo. I usually give one of those two and chicken meat atleast every other day anyway (not the tums) ( The main thing is that you should have her on a quality food which I'm sure you do, just wanted to mention) Best wishes,
__________________
Robbie

www.butterflyyorkies.com

[BamaFan121s]

Yeah, what Robbie said! I was going to answer, but she took mine! We feed puppy food from about halfway through until after pups are gone home, then slowly take her off of it. (It is important to NOT feed them a high-calcium food in between pregnancies b/c their body will adjust to the higher amount and recognize it as "normal," making it hard to get "extra" calcium when needed later on.)
After...and ONLY after...whelping, we supplement her with cottage cheese, amount depends on how much reg food she's eaten during the day.

I'm not saying you HAVE to do it this way, but this is just the method we use and have seen used w/out any problems. I can imagine you would want to talk w/ a vet in the event of a larger litter as she may need extra supplements then? (Lol...I think Robbie would know aaaaalllll about this too! )

[yorkiemom1970]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Yeah, what Robbie said! I was going to answer, but she took mine! We feed puppy food from about halfway through until after pups are gone home, then slowly take her off of it. (It is important to NOT feed them a high-calcium food in between pregnancies b/c their body will adjust to the higher amount and recognize it as "normal," making it hard to get "extra" calcium when needed later on.)
After...and ONLY after...whelping, we supplement her with cottage cheese, amount depends on how much reg food she's eaten during the day.

I'm not saying you HAVE to do it this way, but this is just the method we use and have seen used w/out any problems. I can imagine you would want to talk w/ a vet in the event of a larger litter as she may need extra supplements then? (Lol...I think Robbie would know aaaaalllll about this too! )

LOL! yep the 6 pack did put a drain on poor Mimi for sure! I actually took Rini's advice and not my vet's on this litter. I gave her crushed oyster shell calcium supplement sprinkled over her food. Sometimes the breeders out there know just as much if not more than the vets ...Not saying that you shouldn't take your vet's advice! I didn't start the calcium supp until after the pups arrived.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by yorkiemom1970

LOL! yep the 6 pack did put a drain on poor Mimi for sure! I actually took Rini's advice and not my vet's on this litter. I gave her crushed oyster shell calcium supplement sprinkled over her food. Sometimes the breeders out there know just as much if not more than the vets ...Not saying that you shouldn't take your vet's advice! I didn't start the calcium supp until after the pups arrived.

That's about what I figured...and you didn't have any problems with Rini's method? Not that I doubt her, of course, a large litter is just not something I've experienced and who knows, I may in the future. This seemed to keep her well balanced? Very informative.
All else seems to be exactly what I've hear and practice too!

[yorkiemom1970]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

That's about what I figured...and you didn't have any problems with Rini's method? Not that I doubt her, of course, a large litter is just not something I've experienced and who knows, I may in the future. This seemed to keep her well balanced? Very informative.
All else seems to be exactly what I've hear and practice too!

I had no problems what so ever. (thank goodness) I was a bit worried with this large litter and I admit that! Mimi has weaned them now and she is making the transistion back to her normal diet. I still put a little puppy food in with her food now. I hope to have her back completely on her normal adult diet within the next couple weeks. I will say that with the supplement I gave this time that she never had any problems with eclampsia, mastitis, or any thing. Her milk supply was always gushing and I didn't even have to seperate the pups for feedings. I let them free whelp all at once every time. This was a picture perfect whelp and I can only hope that they will go as smoothly as this one in the future. I'm the first to admit that it doesn't always.

What I did find to be easier is to take a mortar and pestle to crush the oyster shell calcium tablets. Rini said she uses a grater, but I kept cutting my friken hand on it. After I crushed it, I would measure out 1/2 teaspoon and sprinkle on her food. She is a smart girl and if it was on top of food she wouldn't eat it. As long as I mixed it in good, she had no clue.

[BamaFan121s]

Wow Robbie! This is very informative. Thanks (and Rini) for the useful information...I will definately have to remember this in case I ever need it. And for future reference, where exactly does one purchase Oyster Shell Tablets?

[yorkiemom1970]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Wow Robbie! This is very informative. Thanks (and Rini) for the useful information...I will definately have to remember this in case I ever need it. And for future reference, where exactly does one purchase Oyster Shell Tablets?

Cvs drug store
Or any drug store for that matter, in the vitamin section.