The American Beagler Forum

I have just breed may best gyp with my best jump dog and she took. The question is (since I am new to breeding) is what is the best feed to feed my gyp while she is pregnant and after she has the pups. Any information about raising my first litter will be appreciateded. Thanks, VA-beagles

I would feed something atleast 24 protein and atleast 16 fat.

I tryed Puppy chow on a pregnant bitch she was runny the whole time, and the pups did just OK, no better than any other litter I raised.

You dont have to break the bank to raise a litter.

I personally don't change anything. I wouldn't let them eat too much because it may cause the pups to grow too large and the bitch could have a hard time whelping. JMO

I feed Black Gold 26/18 and I don't change anything. I don't increase the amount of feed until after she has the pups because like green river said, if you over feed her it could cause the pups to be very large and cause problems during whelping. JMO also. Some people feed the bitch Puppy Chow the last 3 weeks she is carring the pups and while she is nursing them but I was told that the Black Gold I am feeding has everything the Puppy Chow has.

The other posts are right - continue feeding a good quality feed but do not overfeed. She will come off her feed a bit toward the end. When she really needs good feed and plenty of it is while she is nursing the pups!!!!!!!!!! I normally let them have plenty while lactating until I am ready to dry them up, then I slack off and get them back in shape to begin running again. Best wishes!

Ive had good luck switching em to Puppy Chow in the last 3 to 4 weeks.

I give it to em in a self feeder and so far havent had any problems.

I also start the bitch on amoxycillin 5 days before the pups are due. So far that has worked well for me also. I had a nursing female get mastitis one time and maybe its luck but I havent had it happen again since I started giving them the antibiotics.

I think it also helps keep the pups from getting any infections too.

I keep feeding what I have been feeding (Black Gold 26/18) until she whelps, I don't change a thing. Once she has the pups, I free feed her as much as she wants. It creates a mess of poo to clean up, but she need all she can have. I have changed to puppy food after she has delivered before and not done is recently and haven't seen any difference. BG 26/18 can be fed as puppy food, it meets all the US standards for puppy food anyway, so you don't have to spend the extra money on "puppy food" which comes in smaller bags and is more expensive.

Just my thoughts.

Emery