Calorie requirement during canine lactation

Canines after giving birth to puppies (whelping) require more daily calories than in the gestation period. They need more calories and nutrients to produce milk for the puppies and repair their bodies.

In general, female dogs suckle their puppies for around 6 weeks. Some food can be offered to the puppies after 3 weeks but it is advisable to keep puppies only on mother’s milk during the first 4 weeks.

The milk yield is generally 8 percent of the body weight with a gross energy estimate of 1.45 kcal per gram wet weight. As per the various studies, milk yield expressed as a percentage of the mean daily milk yield during the first 4 weeks of the lactation is:

As per NRC, the daily energy requirement for milk production depends on the number of puppies and the weeks of lactation.

The two results are summed and added to the base maintenance energy. 

A base maintenance energy requirement of (120 - 145) x BW^0.75 is generally recommended for lactation. 

Daily energy requirement for lactation:

ME (kcal) = Maintenance + BW x (24n + 12m) x L

where,

Maintenance =  (120 - 150) x BW^0.75n = number of puppies between 1 and 4m = number of puppies between 5 and 8 ( for <5 puppies m = 0)

L = correction factor for the stage of lactation: week 1 = 0.75; week 2 = 0.95; week 3 = 1.1; and week 4 = 1.2;

Example:

Consider a 50-pound (22.7kgs) female dog in lactation eating 1000 kcal calories for maintenance before gestation. The mother was fed around 1550 kcal per day in the last week of her gestation. 

She gives birth to 6 healthy puppies.   

Maintenance = 1000 kcal

Number of puppies = 6. That means, n=4 and m =2.

Stage of lactation: Week 1 (L = 0.75)

Energy requirement for lactation = 1000 kcal + 22 x ((24 x 4) + (12 x 2)) x 0.75 kcal

     = 1000 kcal + 1980 kcal

     = 2980 kcal

Stage of lactation: Week 2 (L = 0.95)

Energy requirement for lactation = 1000 kcal + 22 x ((24 x 4) + (12 x 2)) x 0.95 kcal

     = 1000 kcal + 2508 kcal

     = 3508 kcal

Stage of lactation: Week 3 (L = 1.1)

Energy requirement for lactation = 1000 kcal + 22 x ((24 x 4) + (12 x 2)) x 1.1 kcal

     = 1000 kcal + 2904 kcal

     = 3904 kcal

Stage of lactation: Week 4 (L = 1.2)

Energy requirement for lactation = 1000 kcal + 22 x ((24 x 4) + (12 x 2)) x 1.2 kcal

     = 1000 kcal + 3168 kcal

     = 4168 kcal

Weaning off: Week 4 and beyond 

At the end of the 4th week, food intake can be reduced which will also help to taper off her milk production. Introduce puppies to puppy food and slowly move them to solid food. This change from only mother’s milk to 100% puppy food may be done in 5-7 days starting from the end of the 4th or the 5th week. Feed puppies 4-5 times a day and let them meet their mother only once they are fully fed. Timely separation and properly fed puppies will allow drying up of milk production. As suckling decreases, decrease the calorie intake of the mother and move to the pre-breeding energy intake.

It is recommended to use high-quality protein and fat intake during this weaning-off process.

Nutrition requirement during canine lactation

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' reproduction. Their numbers take guidance from NRC and other journals.

They publish common nutritional requirements for gestation and lactation. The below table can be used for nutritional guidance. Use the guidance for the first month of lactation to take care of all the diet needs of the new mother. 

Change in nutritional requirement compared to normal maintenance nutrition:

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

The other minerals and vitamins requirements (not mentioned above) remain the same as for regular adult maintenance. 

Download the complete AAFCO nutritional guidelines here.

Changing homemade diet for nursing dogs

Dogs on raw or cooked homemade diets may try the below-adjusted ingredient amounts to meet the new calorie and nutrition requirements during gestation. For full accuracy, we recommend using our calculators and web app. The below guidance can be used for estimates.

 UnoDogs wishes health and fun to the new mother and the babies. 😀 👍