Calcium Supplements For Pregnant Bitches - Yes/no ?
 

I have a Yorkie on day 37 of pregnancy today, and have had conflicting advice as to whether or not to give Calcium supplements during pregnancy and until puppies are weaned.
Most say Yes, but books and articles say No.
This is her first pregnancy, and my first breeding.
I have split up her meals to three small meals a day.
Should I be adding Calcium ?

Thanks for your views ! :animal-pa

I say no, absolutely no. And a big NOT.


Just feed the girl really good food you know, read thee posts.

You all ready do good or much better. You certainly dont need my silly advice.
Dont test me all the time, it makes me nervous you know.
And certainly quit playing those damn bag pipes.

God love ya and bless you Highland Yorkies.

Luvdorkyyorkies - You are soooo funny, lol

Me bagpeeps are playin' an am dancin in the heather like a proper April fool, lol

Thanks for your advice !;)

No, emphatically no. If you give calcium supplement during gestation the body says "hey, why should I release any calcium into the bood-stream as I'm getting it from an outside source. I think I'll just shut down and not do any work. "Then the puppies are born, more calcium is needed for milk. The body says "OK, I"ll do the best I can, but you've got to realize, I have been shut down for several weeks. It will take me a few days to catch up." All of a sudden Eclampsia results. Increase food during the last trimester....and give her all the food she wants after the puppies are born.

Mardelin, I have always respected your advice so much. I don't want this to come off the wrong way...cause I need the advice too.

During our last pregnancy and this one, my Vet said to give the Calcium supplement. The tablets are huge, but he has me give a 1/4 tablet every day through pregnancy and weaning. I had told him about all the advice against it that I've read here on YT. His advice was that the little puppies need the calcium to help develop strong bones. Emilee has not developed Eclampsia in either pregnancy, was I just lucky? I've searched the Internet for this topic to find out reasons other than what you have just mentioned, but really haven't found what I'm looking for, do you have any sites that might help or are you advising from experience?

Thank you so much, I just need more info than to tell my Vet that some valuable YT members advise against it.

mardelin is right. I just read up on this yesterday because i also have a pregnant bitch. and guess what? My vet also says no. he always gives it after whelping tho.

No, if you "spoon feed", calcium supplements before whelping, when it's time for her body to draw on them for contractions and pushing her body is simply not use to making as much. Higher risk for c-sections. Also, don't switch to puppy food, just increase amount for calories.

I just want to do what is right for Emilee. Can you tell me where or what you were reading yesterday? I would like to have something to show my Vet. He may change his mind about encouraging Calcium supplements. I wanted to do as Mardelin advises, I trust her, but I also trust my Vet. I'm sure there are others in my position.

I can only pass on to you the numerous years of experience that has been passed on to me by more experienced breeders than I. One such person, Terri Shumsky in her book she speaks to the premature administering of calcium supplements "How To Buy and Raise A Good & Healthy Dog..... Other information on this subject I've gained from very reputable, highly successful Yorkshire Terrier Exhibitor/Breeders.

Remember most Vet's are not knowledgable in nutrition and/or breeding, whelping of dogs. I know that mine who I trust implicitly, will bow to my mentor/breeder's 35+ years of experience 9 times out of 10 when it comes to nutrition of a matron during gestation. We've discussed this subject on several occassions. His advice has been to me that when fed proper diets at an increased level dams are obtaining what is needed.

What I do know is my dams do get calcium through adding cottage cheese to their meals and being an RN in my past life and in OBGYN....folic acid is of prime importance to the skeletal structure of puppies. To insure puppies are getting this, during the last trimester I add Solid Gold Concept A Bitch and continue until the puppies are 6 weeks of age.

My fear of eclampsia comes in when puppies are gaining by leaps and bounds and taking to much from their dam.....and/or with a litter of more than 3 or 4.

Thank you soooo much. I'm getting Terry's book now for sure. I really think I (and Emilee) have been lucky. I am so greatful for people like you who are so willing to help and give advise based on your experiences. You're absolutely right about the Vets not really being trained for nutrition. I think I am going to stop with the supplements and just make sure she is eating very healthy food during her next pregnancy and after.

What about the other post...by Susan123? I've fed puppy food to Emilee, what are your views on this?

No, I don't change to moms to puppy food. Just increase their food intake. I feed Royal Canin YT 28 add a teaspoon of wet food, boiled skinless, bonless chicken breasts and grated mild chedder cheese.....

Let me add to my above post on changing to food. This is my choice, other more experienced breeders than I do. Just me, I try not to rock the boat. If my dams are eating well and getting what they need I just don't like to upset their systems.

Here is what I have been feeding her during both her pregnancies....SD puppy food mixed with canned, grated cheese, boiled chicken breast and I've been using the supplement and once a day add some cottage cheese instead of the grated cheese. (I know most don't agree with SD, but all my dogs are healthy, great coats, teeth, and good stools and never been sick)

If it works for you and mom is healthy and getting what she needs....why change. People don't agree with me either. All you can do is take what is gven to you as advice, store it in that file cabinet that we call memory and pull out if needed.

I am so sorry HighlandYorkies, I didn't realize until just now that I've kind of taken over your thread. You brought up a great topic and I got carried away with questions, especially since Mardelin was on to answer. Please accept my apology.

That's pretty much how I feel too. Thank you so much, I do believe though I will reconsider giving the supplement. Again thank you for all your wonderful advice.

I don't think she'll mind at all. As when we post asking for advice, usually alot of people are wanting the same questions answered. Each and everyone has their own views on various subject matters. We share them and learn.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/whelpingphotos.htm

here ya go. everything you always wanted to know about breeding, whelping, care of dams and puppies. be prepared tho, there are somee shocking photos of 'water babies' that i found disturbing.

You can also do a google search on Canine Gestation - Calcium Supplement....I only found 1 article that disagreed.

Debbie Jensen's book is a great source, as it is really geared to the Toy Dog.

Here is an article that was presented at Tufts Animal Expo in 2001 that many of you will find interesting rearding this topic.

http://www.iams.com/es_US/data_root/...HQ45QFIAJ1YYCQ

Interesting article. Thanks.

I will be very curious what your thoughts are on this article. I totally agree with you about vets not understanding nutrition or whelping. Because I was involved with Yorkie rescue my vet would call about many breed specific issues surrounding the yorkies. Her expertise was in diagnoses and surgery which was fine with me. I felt it was my responsibility to learn about nutrition, mental development of a rescue and the temperment of the Yorkie breed as a whole. We had a great working relationship and both of us learned from each other.

Even though I do not breed it was an article I had saved because I felt it was informative but maybe from a breeders standpoint it is not reality for the Yorkies. I do try to learn as much as I can in all areas.

No, I didn't mind at all - all posts have been very interesting !
I haven't been giving supplements, though some were telling me I should, including the breeder of my sire....so wasn't sure whether I should be.

One other thing I came accross - on Mardelins great advice, I had been giving Tammy cottage cheese, and then my hubby came accross a report by Iams that said not to give Cottage cheese, as though it gives them Calcium, it does no good as they also get too much phosphorus which is very harmful.
So I have lovely Cottage cheese in my fridge, and don't know whether to give that or not, now......

Perhaps Mardelin can help here too....have you heard of this ?
These conflicting reports are a nightmare, though I have found your advice sound. ;)

Tammy had some egg yolk last night for the first time and has had the odd small amount of goats milk and water. Today she is having some mince, and I have carried on giving her a tiny level spoon of puppy meat with her normal food as her current food (Butchers Choice dry) hasn't got very good protein content, compared to the Eukabana dry that I was scared off with all the reports. Now that I know the dry is safe, I will be buying more tomorrow.
Have also been told that Natural Yogurt is good for Tammy, but haven't yet tried any.

Any other Calcium ideas welcome.....looks to me that I should carry on NOT giving supplements......

p.s. I was a Nurse too, before my EDS became worse, but I think it is the doggie knowledge Mardelin that you have that is brilliant, as that tells me more than my Nursing ever did ! ;) :D ;)

Thanks again......Debra x x x x :D

As I do not feed Eukanuba/IAMS same company, although I have in the past with not much sucess.

My personal read is this. The article was written for the corporation by an employee of the corporation. I tend to be a little skeptical with an article that is published by someone that has a vested interest. I'm not saying I'm in disagreement with what he says, there is some validity in what he writes. He does tend to write in generalities.

Had the article been written by a vet versed in cainine nutrition, from UC Davis School of Vetinarians, I would be a more apt to pay attention.

I like you am very interested in nutrition from a Yorkshire Terrier level.....

The FOX news this morning reported that there are some pet treats that were being recalled due to the wheat glutten content. The vet (there again a vet, not sure of his credentials) stated that while temporarily cooking for your dogs was ok, but in the long run they needed the nutrients they obtained from dog food. Not sure about that either....while growing up, we fed our dogs Skippy dog food with table scraps, threw in a lil bacon fat and our dogs lived happy, healthy lives.

i have been watching everyday for news about the Eukanuba dry and haven't seen any thing that tells me it isn't safe. it's what i feed and my dogs do well on it So I see no reason to stop.. in fact, it's all they like except cesears and i cold turkied them off that last week. Now, the same report I gave you a link to about the calcuim supplements saying not to give them, also said to add a little cottage cheese or yogurt to their diets. so conflicting? i don't know.

Debra
Natural Yogurt is a great source of natural bacteria. The whelping recipe you got has that in it.

As far as the cottage cheese and phosphorus levels, I guess we can all over do on anything we feed. I feed maybe a teaspoon once a day. Liver, I've tried and all it has done is give my kids diarreah.....now the raw liver blood, yes, it's helped keep failing puppies alive, but so has other things.

Debra,

You have a wonderful magazine in Europe, I don't know if you subscribe to Yorkie Club....There are so many diets that breeders feed, mothers, weaning pups etc. There is one that starts her pups with half and half....

I can only share with you what I've experienced with my matrons, how they've faired. I do take my moms in to be vet checked about week 2 after whelping. I want her completely checked out to make sure she remains healthy. I do this even though she's been checked prior to breeding and towards the end of her pregnacy. So, far all has been well with them, it's me that's a complete nut case.

Shall look for the YORKIE CLUB magazine....have never heard of it, but will look into that, thanks !
As for the cottage cheese, was only giving her a small teaspoon once a day too, so I might just go back to that. I will try her with the natural Yogurt too. I will just give both in tiny amounts as a boost, more than anything ;)

She is very heavy now - and on my knee most of the time !
Thanks for the info, once again ! :D
:animal-pa DEBRA X X X X

You can find it under SweetyBlue.com.....I'm not sure about the European price....great articles on raising, showing, grooming, breeding from some of the top breeders from all over the world.

;) thanks !