What to Feed a Dog After Labor: 6 Vet-Approved Choices

When a mother dog gives birth to her beautiful litter of puppies, nutrition is of utmost importance. Her body has just been through an entire process that has depleted her of nutrients, not to mention feeding her babies, which can really take a toll on her body.

When you are trying to support a mother dog after labor, it is imperative that you give her the appropriate amount of nutrition. 90-95% of her nutrition should come from a high-quality balanced commercial food suitable for gestation/lactation which is one of the four life stages stated by AAFCO.¹ This will provide mom with everything she needs to fuel her little ones’ growth. You can also add some healthy treats for some variety and extra nutrition.

It’s best to be on the safe side with foods as we don’t want to risk making the mother dog ill, especially while she is caring for puppies. Here are some things to feed a dog after labor, but it is always recommended to consult with your veterinarian for advice specific to your dog.

The 6 Things to Feed a Dog After Labor

1. Commercial Puppy Food

Puppy food is an incredibly important part of a nursing mother’s diet. These diets are high in calories which the mother needs lots of to make milk. We highly recommend getting a high-quality, protein-rich recipe that contains necessary ingredients for brain, muscle, and immune support. The added benefit of having her on puppy food is that you can also feed it to the puppies when it comes time for them to be weaned. Royal Canin’s Starter Mother and Baby Dog is specifically designed for this purpose and comes in different sizes to suit the size of your dog as well as wet and dry formulas.

Avoid raw food as this will contain pathogens that can make your dog sick¹. Make sure you make any dietary transitions slowly, increased the portion of the new diet over about a week to avoid gastrointestinal upset and mom’s microbiome adapts to the new food².

2. Boiled Eggs

Not every dog should be given eggs. But the reason why it is so beneficial to nursing mothers is because it provides them an extra dose of protein which helps to support their changing bodies. You can mash the egg with the shell to deliver a calcium boost, since she will loose a lot of calcium in milk.

Raw eggs can also contain salmonella and other pathogens, which can make the mother sick and potentially impact the puppies too. This is why it is important to boil the eggs before feeding. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or food intolerances you should check with your vet prior to feeding eggs.

3. Lean Meat

Lean meat can be an awesome component to any nursing mother’s diet. While any meat adds necessary protein to the diet, each type of meat can provide a little different benefit. Some dogs can be sensitive to certain types of protein, so it's always best to be aware of your dog's allergies before you serve. As always, you should boil the meat without seasonings or salt so it doesn't upset their digestive tract.

Meat can add a bounty of nutrients to your nursing mother's diet. Protein is a key nutrient in any meat. It provides rich amino acids to aid in the mother's health also. Too much liver can cause hypervitaminosis A, so we recommend going easy with this meat.

4. Fish

Fish is meat for sure! It’s just a little bit of a different scale than traditional types—and boy, do dogs love it! It can provide so many nutritional benefits that impact the brain, heart, digestive tract, joints, immune system, and virtually every area of the body!

However, it's most beneficial for helping the skin and joints. Fish contains a high amount of omega fatty acids for overall health, especially supporting the skin and coat.

Keep in mind that fish can be triggering for some pooches. As with any food, dogs can have a reaction so it's never a good idea to introduce fish into your dog's diet if they've never had it before nursing. Ensure any fish you offer is cooked and free of bones.

5. Vegetables & Fruits

Vegetables are an essential part of any omnivorous canine diet! When a mother dog is nursing her pups, she could really use the extra kick of fruits and veggies to the full benefit. Vegetables and fruits are packed with different nutrients, all depending on the type you choose.

On top of providing lots of vitamins and minerals to your dog's diet, it can also help them with digestion.

You should always be careful how much fruit you give to your female. Too much fruit can impact the body in negative ways, such as causing stomach upset or diarrhea.

Keep in mind that some fruits and vegetables can be extremely dangerous to dogs. Never give your dogs grapes, raisins, onion, leek, garlic, fruit pits, or avocados, as they all contain toxins that can make them extremely sick.

6. Whole Grains

Whole grains are going to be quite a controversial subject among pet enthusiasts. In 2018, the FDA released grain-free diet alerts following a rise in the popularity of these products. Some grain-free diets caused nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy. It is thought that the culprit is diets containing pulses in place of grains, but this is still being investigated.

Ultimately, having some grain in your dog’s diet is beneficial unless your dog is intolerant to grain. Grains provide a source of energy for your dog. Wheat allergies are fairly common and in this case using alternative grains can help.

Keep in mind that some dogs can be gluten-sensitive. If you have a female like this, you can always offer them gluten-free options. If you're not quite sure what that is, that includes things like brown rice, oats, and barley—awesome grains that made our list!

Proper Hydration Is Crucial

When your mother dog is nursing her babies, hydration is going to be just as important as the nutrition you’re offering. It is crucial that you give her fresh, clean water daily to promote healthy drinking, allowing her body to replenish much-needed water.

In Conclusion

Now that you understand a little bit more about what to feed a nursing mother, you can run to the store to grab a few supplies.

Keep in mind that you should always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog's diet, especially when they are nursing a litter of puppies. Keep any foods outside of her commercial puppy food to a minimum and don’t giver her anything that will cause illness. Not only is the mother's health of paramount importance, but that of her pups is, too.

Featured Image Credit: ORION PRODUCTION, Shutterstock