Iida the terrier's maternity diary

[excuseme]

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You may have to wait until week 6 before you are more certain. A slight thickening is probably all you could ask for at this stage in the pregnancy. Remember this is a first pregnancy, her tummy has not been stretched before, she is fit and healthy with a tight tummy. Something will have to give way in the end.
What is the saying;--- "A watched kettle never boils" Frustrating!
EXCITING !

.

 

[Finsky]

Something will have to give way in the end.

Oh I know that feeling very well....nor am I that young, fit or that healthy...Frustrating!
She has all that to come yet

 

[Finsky]

I'm still very much reading lots of canine pregnancy type of information, not only because it can be useful but it is kind of entertaining too
So I just came across What to feed your pregnant dog - ROYAL CANIN ® - Royal Canin website about nutrition...
And this particular bit just didn't sound right to me...I failing to understand it in practical terms..
At the very start of her pregnancy, your dog may suffer a temporary loss of appetite. This is very normal, and her appetite will return as her body cares for her growing litter.

With this in mind, it might be tempting to change her feeding schedule to fit in with her altered appetite. However, it’s not a good idea to alter your pregnant dog's feeding times in this way. This approach can harm the dog and her future puppies because she isn’t getting appropriate or consistent nutrition which can result in complications, such as difficulty giving birth. Instead, stick to her regular feeding schedule with some specific changes to support the pregnancy.
As it is relevant what Iida is just going through...SURELY it is better to adjust the feeding so that the bitch is able to eat and get enough nutrients for its developing condition!? Yes...I have altered her feeding quite drastically for what is usual to her. She gets adequate amount (or just so) food for her need at the moment, but it isn't served in one or two portions as it is usual to her but given in small teeny bite size portions through out the day. I cannot force her to eat her meals as usual but if she accept the food this way and not feeling sick about it...I would say I am giving her consistent nutrition and covering her needs. Or am I just reading too much to that comment... ?
Oh...too much computers I think....can't see the woods from the trees...or was it other way round? See!

 

[JoanneF]

The cynic in me thinks that a lot of people reading this will be Royal Canin feeders already and they are trying to protect their market.

Sorry if this has been said already, but The Book of the Bitch is the breeders' handbook for many people.

 

[Finsky]

The cynic in me thinks that a lot of people reading this will be Royal Canin feeders already and they are trying to protect their market.

Sorry if this has been said already, but The Book of the Bitch is the breeders' handbook for many people.

No, it has not been said before and I'm glad to hear it. I've had the same author's 'doglopaedia' for years and it has been good reference point for many things in past.
I admit being on the cynic side myself...hence daring to question Canin's info.

 

[JudyN]

Could they just be suggesting that if, for example, you usually feed twice a day but your dog won't eat breakfast you should skip breakfast and just feed her once a day? And if she won't eat her normal food you shouldn't give her fried sausages, peanut butter and pizza instead?

This is me being charitable of course - but some people (not present company, of course) might end up giving their pregnant bitch a really unhealthy diet. Not that being grown from Banana Nesquik seemed to do DS1 any harm

 

[Hemlock]

Just like with human pregnancies, not all dogs follow the norm.

Mine have always had morning sickness for the first week (a vet told me that didn't happen!) and I have always fed to appetite. Of course with some dogs this wouldn't do! So I should really say: feed up to normal rations, don't feed extra until the pregnancy is well advanced, because you don't want big fat pups giving trouble on the way out. They can gain weight to breed norm once born and thriving. I never weigh pups either. If they are feeding well and looking well, it's just unnecessary disturbance, and if not, it is perfectly obvious. While carrying, in later weeks the bitch will appreciate being fed little and often as the pups take up cargo space. She'll need more loo breaks too.

 

[Finsky]

Could they just be suggesting that if, for example, you usually feed twice a day but your dog won't eat breakfast you should skip breakfast and just feed her once a day? And if she won't eat her normal food you shouldn't give her fried sausages, peanut butter and pizza instead?

This is me being charitable of course - but some people (not present company, of course) might end up giving their pregnant bitch a really unhealthy diet. Not that being grown from Banana Nesquik seemed to do DS1 any harm

Possibly...but that's why I was asking as it got my brain ticking over drive and couldn't quite figure it out.
Anyhow....bit of sausage doesn't hurt if the small amount mixed with dog food gets their noses going and eating their food

 

[Finsky]

Just like with human pregnancies, not all dogs follow the norm.

Mine have always had morning sickness for the first week (a vet told me that didn't happen!) and I have always fed to appetite. Of course with some dogs this wouldn't do! So I should really say: feed up to normal rations, don't feed extra until the pregnancy is well advanced, because you don't want big fat pups giving trouble on the way out. They can gain weight to breed norm once born and thriving. I never weigh pups either. If they are feeding well and looking well, it's just unnecessary disturbance, and if not, it is perfectly obvious. While carrying, in later weeks the bitch will appreciate being fed little and often as the pups take up cargo space. She'll need more loo breaks too.

Thanks. Luckily over feeding has not been issue..she has always eaten only so much and you could not push her to eat a crumb more.
And I'm now off to do bit of shopping...I just discovered a new butcher for us that is 'proper sort'....they do their own butchering at the farm where the shop is....and they are able to stock my freezer up with all manner of meat products to make dog food with....yay! So I'm going to dig out the meat mincer and get busy this afternoon :wink: Must start preparations at least somehow. Food is something they need anyway..puppies or not.

 

[Buddy1]

Mine have always had morning sickness for the first week (a vet told me that didn't happen!)

I wonder if your vet was related to the doctor who told me morning sickness was a figment of women’s imagination

 

[Hemlock]

I hope you found time to vomit all over him.

 

[Buddy1]

Ha ha …you knew it was a ‘him’
I was also told that picturing a flickering candle during the birth would negate the need for any pain relief … picturing the candle setting them alight was of some use though!

 

[JudyN]

OH once told me that if I didn't think about needing to vomit, I wouldn't vomit. So being an obedient wife I stayed in bed until.....

His punishment was having to clear up the landing, the banisters, the stairs where I threw up through the banisters, the bathroom....

 

[Finsky]

So I have been to the butches today and plan was to make super duper extra nutritious dog food...
Oh yes...I did buy stuff and very good price it was as well. Found my old trusty but dusty mincer out...fetched some veg and fruit from allotment...cleaned the kitchen ready for the big job...everything looked perfect. Dog were sitting and watching me labouring away and wondering what it is all going to end up being
And then came time for a big taste session...few spoonfulls of the new beef heart-lung-liver-kale-apple & carrot mince on the plate...'here you are girls, took in...it is lovely!'
And the results were....both gave me repulsive looks only after a teeny sniff and neither would even lick a drop to taste it Actually, they looked rather traumatized
So then I 'tweaked' the recipe...minced some chicken wings with added kale-apple& carrot. Iida actually like it...but only that...none of the 'red mince' was eaten what so ever
Plan C involved added touch with smokey sausage..nope..not good.

So now I have rather lot of 'super duper' mince is freezer that neither seem to find edible. Plan D is that I take small amount of it at the time and hide it amongst something else they readily eat. Darn animals...

 

[JoanneF]

And there was me thinking it would be the kale that put them off!

What do I know?

 

[Buddy1]

Wow...that sounds like Michelin Star dog food you have made there, @Finsky.
Our raw dog food delivery was delayed this week, so the dog got the cheapest tins of supermarket dog food instead. He loves his food, but I don’t think I have ever seen him eat anything with quite so much relish– makes me wonder why I bother

 

[excuseme]

@JoanneF I have to agree with you, I would have thought the kale may have put them off with it's strong smell
Maybe there is just too much fruit and veg for a first time. What about the amount of liver or lungs. Have yours had these raw before?

I have to mince lungs for our lot and mix them well with some other meat, I don't think they like the spongy texture, this lot will not eat lungs in chunks.(but yours were minced!)
Of course if they were to steal some lungs you could be sure that someone would gobble up a load and probably sick it all up later! YUK.
.

 

[Finsky]

And there was me thinking it would be the kale that put them off!

What do I know?

Yeah...that's what I thought too that it was the 'green bits'. What ever they are willing to eat is ok that day, possibly ok for the next day too but no chance for 3 times on a run. I hope when Iida start to get 'milky' and the need for the food kicks in that she will happily swallow what ever is on front of her...

 

[Finsky]

@JoanneF I have to agree with you, I would have thought the kale may have put them off with it's strong smell
Maybe there is just too much fruit and veg for a first time. What about the amount of liver or lungs. Have yours had these raw before?

I have to mince lungs for our lot and mix them well with some other meat, I don't think they like the spongy texture, this lot will not eat lungs in chunks.(but yours were minced!)
Of course if they were to steal some lungs you could be sure that someone would gobble up a load and probably sick it all up later! YUK.
.

They haven't had lungs before so I only added teeny bit in the mix. Liver they've had before but only if it is finely minced and well hidden...cooked liver is not a problem (usually ) and I often cook apples in the liver juices and they seem to like that. They don't mine little fruit and veg...it was only the kale that was new veggie addition.
I won't bother with lungs anymore...it put me off from my dinner..I'm traumatized as well

 

[JoanneF]

They haven't had lungs before so I only put teeny bit. Liver they've had before but only if it is finely minced and well hidden...cooked liver is not a problem (usually ) and I often cook apples in the liver juices and they seem to like that. They don't mine little fruit and veg...it was only the kale that was new veggie addition.
I won't bother with lungs anymore...it put me off from my dinner!

Our supplier usually brings a freebie to try. He once brought dried lung. Just the once ... We don't have a disgusted emoji.