How Much Should I Feed My French Bulldog While She Is Expecting

Expert’s answer:

Feeding a Pregnant French Bulldog

Feeding a pregnant French Bulldog is an important aspect of their care during this period. It is crucial to provide them with a well-balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs. Here are some guidelines on how much to feed a pregnant French Bulldog:

  • Consult with a veterinarian: It is always recommended to consult with a veterinarian to get personalized advice based on your dog’s specific needs and health condition.
  • Normal feeding guide: During the early stages of pregnancy, you can continue feeding your French Bulldog according to the normal feeding guide for adult dogs. This means following the recommended portion sizes and feeding schedule as you would for a non-pregnant dog.
  • Gradual increase in food intake: As the pregnancy progresses and your French Bulldog’s weight increases, it is generally recommended to gradually increase her food intake. Veterinarians suggest increasing the food intake by 35-to-50 percent more than usual in the last weeks of pregnancy. This increase should be done gradually to avoid discomfort, and it is best to feed her small, frequent meals rather than large meals.
  • Protein and calorie-rich diet: A pregnant French Bulldog’s diet should be rich in protein and calories to support the growth and development of the puppies. Consider feeding a high-quality dog food that is specifically formulated for pregnant or nursing dogs. Puppy formulas are often higher in calories and can be beneficial during this period.
  • Avoid overfeeding: While it is important to provide adequate nutrition, it is crucial not to overfeed your pregnant French Bulldog. Overfeeding can lead to excessive weight gain, which may have negative effects on the health of both the mother and the puppies.

Remember, every dog is unique, and individual needs may vary. It is always best to consult with a veterinarian for personalized advice on feeding your pregnant French Bulldog.

I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

How much food can a dog have while pregnant?

The pattern of weight gain in dogs during pregnancy reflects their energy needs. By the end of pregnancy, pregnant dogs will need to consume 25 to 50 percent more food than usual, but energy needs do not start to rise until around the sixth week.

During pregnancy, can a dog be overfed?

A healthy, well-nourished dog will gain about 15-20% more weight during pregnancy than she did at breeding. The pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Overeating at the end of pregnancy can lead to obesity, which raises the possibility of a difficult or protracted labor and adds additional stress to the puppies.

Can a pregnant dog be overfed?

A healthy, well-nourished dog will gain about 15-20% more weight during pregnancy compared to her pre-breeding weight during each of the three trimesters. When a pregnancy is nearing its end, overeating can cause obesity, which increases the likelihood of a difficult or protracted labor and adds additional stress to the puppies.

Frenchie pregnancy signs
Frenchie pregnancy signs – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How many cups should a pregnant dog consume each day?

The puppies start to grow quickly in the final three to four weeks of pregnancy. The mother-to-be will need more energy as a result, placing a significant demand on nutrients. Your dog should gradually gain 25 to 30 percent more weight during this last stage of pregnancy. Due to this, your dog should be gradually fed more food over the final three to four weeks of pregnancy until she is consuming about 25 to 30 percent more by the time she gives birth. This means that if your dog typically consumes 1 cup of food twice daily, you should gradually increase her intake until she is consuming 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 cups of food twice daily. Additionally, it is a good idea to gradually transition her diet to one that has more calories per serving. These include nursing or lactation diets as well as growth/puppy food. She will be able to consume the essential nutrients to sustain her rapidly expanding brood if you feed your adult dog puppy food. Another good option is a lactation diet.

Depending on the size of the litter, you may need to feed your dog less frequently. Some dogs with large litters lack the room necessary for two large meals per day. It’s possible that you’ll need to serve small, frequent meals all day. Some people have success leaving the dog’s meal for the day in the bowl and letting him or her nibble whenever they please. Make sure your dog is getting enough food if you do decide to let her self-feed. Pregnancy toxemia can be brought on by a poor diet, especially in the final trimester.

Your dog will drastically cut back on the amount of food she eats, and some will even stop eating, right before giving birth. This is one of the indications that puppies may be born within the next 24 to 48 hours. Don’t expect her to have the same appetite, but keep food available in case she does feel like eating. You shouldn’t be concerned about this decrease in appetite, but you might want to get ready for the new arrivals by reading Normal Labor and Delivery.

When should i start feeding my pregnant dog puppy food
When should i start feeding my pregnant dog puppy food – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What portion size should I give my pregnant Frenchie?

You should start serving the food in small, frequent meals rather than two large ones per day to make sure she can eat it, especially with the smaller amount of stomach space. A crucial decision is whether to feed dry or wet. If you decide to feed a wet food, you will have to give your pet much more each day, and by week nine, especially for larger breeds, that amount may be quite high.

While the woman will gain weight during this last third of pregnancy, it’s important that she doesn’t get too fat because that could cause complications when she gives birth. Keep an eye on the woman’s body condition score throughout this time.

In particular, if your bitch is on a dry-food formula during pregnancy, make sure she has easy access to plenty of fresh, clean drinking water. This will be especially crucial during lactation and after delivery.

French bulldog pregnancy week by week
French bulldog pregnancy week by week – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

When should I give my dog more food while she’s pregnant?

Starting around week five of pregnancy, gradually increase food intake. Increase the portion size a little bit more each week until, by week nine, the meal size is about a third larger than usual. If your dog is expecting a large litter, their weight should have increased by at least 25% by now.

To prevent your pet from overeating and becoming obese, use controlled, measured portions. Obesity can lead to issues with your dog’s pregnancy and labor. Please speak with your veterinarian if you have any worries about the weight of your pregnant pet.

Smaller, more frequ
ent meals should be given as the pregnancy progresses into the later weeks because your dog won’t have much room for food if her tummy is already stuffed with puppies.

French bulldog pregnancy temperature
French bulldog pregnancy temperature – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Pregnant Frenchies consume more food?

In the same way that pregnant humans need to eat more and take special vitamins, pregnant Frenchies also need to eat more to make sure that the pups they are growing are getting the nutrients they need. Make sure you’re giving the mother enough food for her and her litter because the puppies also need to eat.

Expert breeders and veterinarians advise feeding small breed food to your Frenchie puppy when it comes to food selection. That’s right, puppy food typically contains more proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, all of which will give your pregnant Frenchie the energy she needs to stay strong throughout her pregnancy. You can continue feeding her the same food if you’d like, but make sure to give 10% more and monitor her vital signs with the veterinarian to make sure the gestation is progressing as it should.

Outside of pregnancy, a lot of pet parents opt to feed their dogs two larger meals a day, frequently right after they get home from work. A pregnant Frenchie female has less room in her stomach for a substantial meal. As a result, assisting her with feeding or grazing throughout the day is a great option. By doing this, she will get the nutrients she needs without endangering the health of her body or the litter.

Frenchie pregnancy calculator
Frenchie pregnancy calculator – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Should I allow my pregnant dog to consume as much food as she pleases?

Regardless of the food you choose, try to encourage your expectant mother to eat small meals throughout the day rather than one big one. This will significantly lessen her pregnancy discomfort. You should start your dog on a lactation diet, which is intended for dogs that are nursing, as the due date approaches.

An expectant dog needs a diet with more nutrients than usual, as you might have guessed. After all, her growing newborns are fed by the food she eats. Most medium-sized dogs can have up to 6–8 puppies in a litter, which is a lot of mouths to feed. A high-calorie feed called a lactation diet gives the mother and her unborn children the additional vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they need.

Puppy count affects portion size, with more puppies resulting in larger portions. On how much food to serve your dog, we are happy to offer advice. The mother can resume eating her normal portion at each meal once the puppies have been weaned.

Homemade food for pregnant dogs
Homemade food for pregnant dogs – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What foodstuffs are ideal for pregnant dogs?

For pregnant women and nursing mothers, Hill’s Pet suggests one of their nutrient-rich Science Diet puppy foods. Weak puppies and even fading puppy syndrome can result from underfeeding pregnant dogs due to poor quality food, an unbalanced diet, or simply too few calories.

Whatever you serve, encourage the expectant mother to eat little and often throughout the day rather than one big meal. This will significantly lessen her pregnancy discomfort. You should switch your dog to a lactation diet as the due date approaches since these diets are specifically made for nursing dogs.

As you might imagine, a nursing dog requires a diet with more nutrients than usual. After all, her growing newborns are fed by the food she eats. There are a lot of mouths to feed because the majority of medium-sized dogs can have up to 6–8 puppies in a litter. The mother and her unborn children need additional vitamins, minerals, and other types of nutrition, which a lactation diet offers.

What to feed a pregnant dog to produce milk
What to feed a pregnant dog to produce milk – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Can a pregnant dog go without food for the entire day?

It’s normal to pay close attention to your pregnant dog, and if she isn’t eating, keep an eye on her daily caloric intake. If she goes more than 24 hours without eating anything (and she isn’t in labor), there might be something wrong. For advice, contact your veterinarian.

From the fifth week of pregnancy on, pregnant dogs typically require more calories, and the requirement rises by about 10% weekly. Because of this, by week 6, it’s beneficial to switch to a food designed for puppies or nursing, which contains extra calories.

Usually, if your dog is eating food designed for puppies or pregnant dogs, there is no need to give her a supplement. In actuality, eclampsia can be brought on by too much calcium. To aid in the development of puppies, folic acid is a beneficial addition.

What to feed a pregnant dog that won't eat
What to feed a pregnant dog that won’t eat – (Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How many eggs in a day can a pregnant dog eat?

Most dogs shouldn’t receive more than one whole egg per day, according to widely accepted advice. Like dog food contains other essential nutrients for a healthy, balanced diet, eggs should never be your dog’s only source of protein. Consider them more like a treat.

It is best to speak with your local veterinarian to determine the precise number of eggs you can give your dog. A safe serving size of eggs for your dog will vary depending on a number of variables, such as.

Yes, they do. Actually, a dog can enjoy a boiled egg as a meal. Included is Shell. To make sure the egg isn’t a choking hazard, you should always break it up a little first.

What should pregnant dogs stay away from?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What should pregnant dogs stay away from?

30+ Things Pregnant Dogs Shouldn’t Receive Aspirin. Ciprofloxacin. Steroids, including topicals in shampoo, ear, and eye medications. Diethylstilbestrol. Doxycycline. Enrofloxacin. Estradiol. Vitamin A in excess.

What to feed a pregnant dog in her diet becomes even more crucial to monitor once your female dog becomes pregnant. Puppy defects can occur if certain substances are used during a canine pregnancy.

Dr. Dot Greer, Director of Veterinary Services at Revival, advises against using these products while expecting.

A pregnant dog may also give birth to puppies with birth defects if certain topical products are used on
her. These include.

Video:


French Bulldog Pregnancy Stages: What to Expect Along the Way

During pregnancy, your French Bulldog will go through three stages or trimesters of pregnancy just like a human, although these …



Pregnant French Bulldog Supplements Feeding.

Quick video explaining our expecting mother supplementation routine. PLEASE COMMENT BELOW YOUR TIPS AND TRICKS …


How much should I feed my French Bulldog while she is expecting.
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Chelsea Vaughn

Chelsea is a former marine biologist who switched gears in her twenties to build a small house and start a business. She enjoys traveling and going on hiking adventures with her husband, their two Australian Shepherds and their African Grey Parrot.

View all posts

Add comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *