This forum is for those seeking medical advice or general beagle health information. Everyone is welcome to respond, but if you are a licensed veterinarian or other animal health professional, feel free to share your credentials!
I have a 1 1/2 year ol female that is commin into her heat cycle. She is a 13", i would like to breed her to my 15" male this will be her first litter. Does any one have any suggestions / tips to helping the mother up to the time of whelping? i use to have this nice list of things to do at certain times during the pregnancy. However i loaned this list to someone and they lost it Or does anyone have a vet book that gives good suggestions / advise they could suggest?
i remember vaugely some of the tips:give vitamins, switch to puppy chow, add lite cottage cheese to the food. Unfortunately i can't remember at what interval during the pregnancy to do this. I would appreciate any help. thanx in advance
My first patches were born in Feb as yours will be. The most important thing is having a outoftheweather/warmwhelpingbox to have them in.
Our whelping pen was in the barn, warm and quiet. The bitches were put in 2 weeks before the due date to become settled. Do not over feed the last two weeks before whelping/ start milk-aid 10 days before whelping.
Best of luck with your pups...Patch
ps...a good worming and a jab of 7-1 would do no harm if you haven't for the year already...
When I started in beagles 10 years ago I seemed to have many C-sections and whelping problems with my bitches as compared to my cocker spaniels. What I have learned is that you should feed just mid grade adult dog food. No puppy food until the puppies are born. NO cottage cheese or vitamins and NO extra calcium. Giving extra high fat food gives you big puppies Extra fat puppies = big problems. Calcium in the diet disrupts the natural calcium that is produced that is needed for contractions during whelping. You can feed her extra food about the last 3 weeks of pregancy but, not more than 1/2 more of what you normally feed her. Keep her running. Exercise is essential for good muscle tone.
Once she has whelped then feel free to add cottage cheese, Yogurt and extras to her food. Change her then to a high grade puppy food.
Or does anyone have a vet book that gives good suggestions / advise they could suggest?
I would appreciate any help. thanx in advance 
