Canines need more energy and improved nutrition during gestation to support the development of babies. Pregnancy (Gestation) in dogs is generally from 58 to 60 days long. This period is divided into 3 trimesters of 20 days each. 

The weight increase during gestation generally occurs in the third trimester. There is almost no weight change in the first trimester and very little in the second trimester. Most of the total pregnancy weight gain (generally 20-25% of the body weight) occurs in the third trimester. 

Ideally, a dog in gestation should be given extra energy and calories only in the third trimester as the first two have very little weight change. However, dogs in gestation often eat less during the last days of pregnancy. Therefore, the National Research Council (NRC) recommends feeding extra energy after 4 weeks of mating. However, this calorie increase should be gradual.

Calorie requirement during canine gestation

Use the below-mentioned formula to increase calorie intake for a canine in gestation. Start it after the 5th or 6th week from mating. Since most weight gain starts only after 6 weeks of gestation, we recommended increasing the calorie intake gradually from the 4th week to the recommended amount in the 6th week and keeping it the same till whelping.

As per the NRC recommendation: 

Additional calories: 26 kcal per kg of body weight per day

Remember, these additional calories should be added to the maintenance calorie intake.

Gestation Energy Requirement = Maintenance + 26 kcal x kg BW

For calculating maintenance energy for a healthy and active canine, a multiplier of 110 -130 is generally used to calculate calories.

Maintenance Energy = (110 - 130) x kg BW^0.75

Example:

Let's say, there is a medium size dog that weighs 50 pounds (22.7kgs) and she has been eating 1000 kcal per day before mating. She starts putting up some weight after her 5th week in gestation and reaches 64 (29 kgs) pounds by the end of her gestation period. 

Existing daily calorie need: 1000 kcal

Additional calories: 26 x per kg of body weight ⇒ 26 x 22 kgs ⇒ 572 kcal per day

Total daily calorie needs: 1000 + 572 = 1552 kcal

The best way to do it is to increase the calories gradually and keep the increase rate skewed towards the third trimester.

This is what the calorie intake schedule may look for our example above:

Note: This increase may look too much as far as the volume of the food is concerned. However, the below nutritional requirements will show how the increase in fat and protein may cover most of these requirements without increasing the meal size much. Since dogs tend to eat less in their third trimester, adding more calories to snacks/treats and splitting the meals also helps.

Nutrition requirement during canine gestation

Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) a non-profit organization that sets standards for commercial pet food labeling and nutritional requirements provides detailed nutrition requirements for dogs in gestation. Their numbers take guidance from NRC and other journals.

Change in nutritional requirement compared to normal maintenance nutrition:

Amounts per 1000 kcal of food intake (Only change is mentioned):

The rest of the minerals and vitamins requirement (not mentioned above) remain the same as for regular adult maintenance. 

Download the complete AAFCO nutritional guidelines here.

Changing homemade diet for canines in gestation 

Dogs on raw or cooked homemade diets may try the below-adjusted ingredients for new calorie and nutrition requirements during gestation.

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