Question about Calcium for Experienced Breeders - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ranant12 · 05-20-2008, 09:31 AM

Like I said, I'm here to learn everything possible before Diva delivers.

When do you begin to supplement calcuim?

What in you opinions is the BEST calcuim supplement?

How long to supplement with calcuim after whelping?

I have already discussed this with my vet, but feel much better asking those people that have experience with yorkies.

BTW... I just recieved my samples of Chicken soup for the soul puppy food and intend to begin weaning Diva off of Science Diet as soon as I can.
Any opinions on this?

yorkiekist · 05-20-2008, 10:34 AM

Chicken Soup Puppy is a gret food for PG moms!!! I dont supplement calcium until after they deliver and then I only use cottage cheese or yogurt. In the 25 years of Yorkies, I have had only 1 case of eclampsia and I never want to go through that again or have the moms go throught it either. Its very scary.I believe there is a product called cal-sorb that some of the other breeders on here have used. I have never used it and I am going to buy some to keep on hand. I think you get it from Revival. they are very knowlegble and helpful if you have questions on their products. Well, best of luck!!!!

bjh · 05-20-2008, 10:37 AM

I have been raising Yorkies for nearly 12 years. I give my pregnant mommas a normal diet of Canidae dry food and sometimes later in pregnancy I add some Chicken Soup Puppy dry food in with the Canidae. I also add a little canned Pedigree Lamb and Rice Puppy or Pedigree canned Chicken and Rice. Once the puppies are born then the challenge begins. I give my nursing mommas 1/2 calcium tablet in am and 1/2 tablet in the pm. I use Doc Roy's Healthy Bones for my calcium supplement. The most important thing for the momma is to feed her a quality diet and make sure she has food available at all times. You should make sure she eats 3 or 4 good meals a day, the last being right before bedtime. I keep my females on the exact diet they were on before whelping except for the calcium supplement and the increased amounts of food. The first day or so after whelping the momma may not be hungry, especially if she ate some afterbirth. Often you may have to hand feed the momma to ensure she eats. Eclampsia can be a serious problem for nursing mommas. If the momma is producing large amounts of milk then her system can be drained of calcium and she will go into shock. Giving the calcium will help prevent this but if the momma misses even one meal, once her milk really comes in, she can go into shock. Even when the puppies are 5 or 6 weeks old the mom can still get eclampsia so it it important to supplement the momma and make sure she eats several meals a day as long as she is nursing.

As for dog food, I would definitely get her off Science Diet, I consider it a very poor quality dog food. Canidae is for all stages of life and I highly recommend it. Chicken Soup puppy is also very good. I wean my puppies on Chicken Soup puppy dry food because it is a little smaller kibble than the Canidae.

katelin · 05-20-2008, 10:46 AM

I have been breeding for five years, and I follow my vet's recommendations on diet, with no problems.

At 30 days after first tie (when we know she is pregnant) I start feeding Royal Canin puppy food and 1/2 a Pet-Cal calcium tablet. I grind the tablet into a powder and mix it with a tablespoon of cottage cheese.

I continue this diet through weaning, but after whelping I increase the Pet-Cal to 1/2 tablet twice a day just before meals. I also offer grilled or boiled chicken and use chicken broth mixed into the kibble -- whatever it takes for my mom to eat enough food to keep her and the puppies healthy.

I've never had enclampsia or weak contractions during labor. I think this is partly because of the dog's genetics, but also think the calcium helps.

I know everyone does it differently, but this works for me. Good luck.

katelin · 05-20-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjh

. The most important thing for the momma is to feed her a quality diet and make sure she has food available at all times. You should make sure she eats 3 or 4 good meals a day, the last being right before bedtime. I keep my females on the exact diet they were on before whelping except for the calcium supplement and the increased amounts of food. The first day or so after whelping the momma may not be hungry, especially if she ate some afterbirth. Often you may have to hand feed the momma to ensure she eats. Eclampsia can be a serious problem for nursing mommas. If the momma is producing large amounts of milk then her system can be drained of calcium and she will go into shock. Giving the calcium will help prevent this but if the momma misses even one meal, once her milk really comes in, she can go into shock. Even when the puppies are 5 or 6 weeks old the mom can still get eclampsia so it it important to supplement the momma and make sure she eats several meals a day as long as she is nursing..

All good advice. I also like to put the puppy's kibble in the blender and make a powder of it to feed the puppies when they are starting on solid food. I think Barbara (BJH) suggested this, and it works great for me.

Sugar's Mom · 05-20-2008, 11:07 AM

I never start my girls on calcuim until they whelp. I keep all my breeding dogs on puppy kibble all the time so all I do with my pregnant gals is add a meal a day of wet food. near the end two meals a day then after whelping, they get four extra meals a day and if they have four pups or more, they get a supplement from the vet.That's in addition to the cottage cheese I put in the morning meal and the whelping pudding I put in the last meal of day that I give all my girls. I leave dry kibble down at all times for all my dogs.

littlelady · 05-20-2008, 08:37 PM

My bitch Angel whelped today and they have been latching on and so far she has been great. I don't think they are getting anything they are trying to nurse continuously. She is trying to go to sleep. She did not eat for 24 hours and tooks sips of water only off my finger tips before birthing. I gave her beef broth in with cottage cheese and shredded beef, I also give with roayl Canine diet but , I am giving her 1/2 eukenuba puppy food for small breed. What do I do about no milk, I have water sitting in her whelping box on a shelf. do I give her real milk at all?

Susan123 · 05-21-2008, 03:13 AM

I free feed Chicken Soup Puppy prebreeding and whelping. No need to give it to them before if they're on a nutritous steady diet. It can be harmful for mom when whelping time does come. During whelp and afterwards I suppliment Calcium with cottage cheese, mother's pudding/whelping pudding (milk is an ingredient). I have calsorb on hand in case of need during whelping and after whelping looking out for symptoms of eclampsia. I continue supplementing until puppies are weaned.

bjh · 05-21-2008, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlelady

My bitch Angel whelped today and they have been latching on and so far she has been great. I don't think they are getting anything they are trying to nurse continuously. She is trying to go to sleep. She did not eat for 24 hours and tooks sips of water only off my finger tips before birthing. I gave her beef broth in with cottage cheese and shredded beef, I also give with roayl Canine diet but , I am giving her 1/2 eukenuba puppy food for small breed. What do I do about no milk, I have water sitting in her whelping box on a shelf. do I give her real milk at all?

Congratulations on your new litter. How many puppies did she have? It is common for the momma to not eat the first 24 hours after having puppies especially if she ate a lot of afterbirths. Here is a link to some recipes for whelping pudding:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...ng-recipe.html

Many breeders give this to their mommas to increase milk production. I would not give her real milk. Continue to give her the dry puppy food and add the cottage cheese. You can also add a little boiled chicken. I add Pedigree Lamb and Rice puppy food to my mommas dry food. You may have to hand feed her for a day or so. It is important that she eats 3 or 4 meals a day and she should have dry food available at all time. Please keep us posted on how she is doing.

ranant12 · 05-21-2008, 05:09 AM

Thank you for all the advice.

I just wanted to add that I do take my vet's advice normally. However, he is the one that told me that Science Diet is great food for my yorkies.

I have learned from being here that it is anything but 'good'. Our vet is a really great person with over 30 years experience. That being said, we live in an extremely small rural town. The vast majority of my vet's clients are of the livestock variety. He has always been good and really helped my Mom through some pretty hairy situations when she was breeding Cocker Spaniels, but I don't think he's really the best source of information on some things dealing with these tiny yorkies. But the nearest other vet is over 30 minutes away and I do have a good history with my vet, so I am sticking with him. I listen to what he tells me, then I come here to double check, just to give me peace of mind.

He and my breeder did however give me the same info that most of you did. Puppy food before delivery (I've just gotten Chicken Soup Puppy and am transitioning Diva to it.), calcuim supplements immediately after birth and during nursing.

Thank you for the knowledgable advice. I'm glad that I can come here and get advice from those of you with years of experience with yorkies.

05-20-2008, 09:31 AM	#1
ranant12 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 225	Question about Calcium for Experienced Breeders Like I said, I'm here to learn everything possible before Diva delivers. When do you begin to supplement calcuim? What in you opinions is the BEST calcuim supplement? How long to supplement with calcuim after whelping? I have already discussed this with my vet, but feel much better asking those people that have experience with yorkies. BTW... I just recieved my samples of Chicken soup for the soul puppy food and intend to begin weaning Diva off of Science Diet as soon as I can. Any opinions on this?

05-20-2008, 10:46 AM	#4
katelin YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,778	I have been breeding for five years, and I follow my vet's recommendations on diet, with no problems. At 30 days after first tie (when we know she is pregnant) I start feeding Royal Canin puppy food and 1/2 a Pet-Cal calcium tablet. I grind the tablet into a powder and mix it with a tablespoon of cottage cheese. I continue this diet through weaning, but after whelping I increase the Pet-Cal to 1/2 tablet twice a day just before meals. I also offer grilled or boiled chicken and use chicken broth mixed into the kibble -- whatever it takes for my mom to eat enough food to keep her and the puppies healthy. I've never had enclampsia or weak contractions during labor. I think this is partly because of the dog's genetics, but also think the calcium helps. I know everyone does it differently, but this works for me. Good luck. __________________ *LaVail Yorkshire Terriers*

05-20-2008, 10:34 AM	#2
yorkiekist YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: HOT, HOT, HOT AZ Posts: 3,150	Chicken Soup Puppy is a gret food for PG moms!!! I dont supplement calcium until after they deliver and then I only use cottage cheese or yogurt. In the 25 years of Yorkies, I have had only 1 case of eclampsia and I never want to go through that again or have the moms go throught it either. Its very scary.I believe there is a product called cal-sorb that some of the other breeders on here have used. I have never used it and I am going to buy some to keep on hand. I think you get it from Revival. they are very knowlegble and helpful if you have questions on their products. Well, best of luck!!!!

05-20-2008, 10:37 AM	#3
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	I have been raising Yorkies for nearly 12 years. I give my pregnant mommas a normal diet of Canidae dry food and sometimes later in pregnancy I add some Chicken Soup Puppy dry food in with the Canidae. I also add a little canned Pedigree Lamb and Rice Puppy or Pedigree canned Chicken and Rice. Once the puppies are born then the challenge begins. I give my nursing mommas 1/2 calcium tablet in am and 1/2 tablet in the pm. I use Doc Roy's Healthy Bones for my calcium supplement. The most important thing for the momma is to feed her a quality diet and make sure she has food available at all times. You should make sure she eats 3 or 4 good meals a day, the last being right before bedtime. I keep my females on the exact diet they were on before whelping except for the calcium supplement and the increased amounts of food. The first day or so after whelping the momma may not be hungry, especially if she ate some afterbirth. Often you may have to hand feed the momma to ensure she eats. Eclampsia can be a serious problem for nursing mommas. If the momma is producing large amounts of milk then her system can be drained of calcium and she will go into shock. Giving the calcium will help prevent this but if the momma misses even one meal, once her milk really comes in, she can go into shock. Even when the puppies are 5 or 6 weeks old the mom can still get eclampsia so it it important to supplement the momma and make sure she eats several meals a day as long as she is nursing. As for dog food, I would definitely get her off Science Diet, I consider it a very poor quality dog food. Canidae is for all stages of life and I highly recommend it. Chicken Soup puppy is also very good. I wean my puppies on Chicken Soup puppy dry food because it is a little smaller kibble than the Canidae.

05-20-2008, 11:07 AM	#6
Sugar's Mom BANNED! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 9,248	I never start my girls on calcuim until they whelp. I keep all my breeding dogs on puppy kibble all the time so all I do with my pregnant gals is add a meal a day of wet food. near the end two meals a day then after whelping, they get four extra meals a day and if they have four pups or more, they get a supplement from the vet.That's in addition to the cottage cheese I put in the morning meal and the whelping pudding I put in the last meal of day that I give all my girls. I leave dry kibble down at all times for all my dogs.

05-20-2008, 08:37 PM	#7
littlelady Currently Suspended! Join Date: May 2008 Location: indiana Posts: 380	My bitch Angel whelped today and they have been latching on and so far she has been great. I don't think they are getting anything they are trying to nurse continuously. She is trying to go to sleep. She did not eat for 24 hours and tooks sips of water only off my finger tips before birthing. I gave her beef broth in with cottage cheese and shredded beef, I also give with roayl Canine diet but , I am giving her 1/2 eukenuba puppy food for small breed. What do I do about no milk, I have water sitting in her whelping box on a shelf. do I give her real milk at all?

05-21-2008, 03:13 AM	#8
Susan123 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,455	I free feed Chicken Soup Puppy prebreeding and whelping. No need to give it to them before if they're on a nutritous steady diet. It can be harmful for mom when whelping time does come. During whelp and afterwards I suppliment Calcium with cottage cheese, mother's pudding/whelping pudding (milk is an ingredient). I have calsorb on hand in case of need during whelping and after whelping looking out for symptoms of eclampsia. I continue supplementing until puppies are weaned.

05-21-2008, 05:09 AM	#10
ranant12 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 225	Thank you for all the advice. I just wanted to add that I do take my vet's advice normally. However, he is the one that told me that Science Diet is great food for my yorkies. I have learned from being here that it is anything but 'good'. Our vet is a really great person with over 30 years experience. That being said, we live in an extremely small rural town. The vast majority of my vet's clients are of the livestock variety. He has always been good and really helped my Mom through some pretty hairy situations when she was breeding Cocker Spaniels, but I don't think he's really the best source of information on some things dealing with these tiny yorkies. But the nearest other vet is over 30 minutes away and I do have a good history with my vet, so I am sticking with him. I listen to what he tells me, then I come here to double check, just to give me peace of mind. He and my breeder did however give me the same info that most of you did. Puppy food before delivery (I've just gotten Chicken Soup Puppy and am transitioning Diva to it.), calcuim supplements immediately after birth and during nursing. Thank you for the knowledgable advice. I'm glad that I can come here and get advice from those of you with years of experience with yorkies.