Small animal maternal nutrition Flashcards
Lengths of gestation, lactation and weaning in the bitch and the queen
64-66 days in the bitch
58-63 days in the queen
Late gestation = last 1/3
Lactation = 8 weeks
Weaning @ 8 weeks
Maintenance
Ideal BCS for dog and cat prior to breeding
5/9 or 6/9 ideal
(in dogs can be 4/9 if athletic breed)
Want to improve BCS prior to breeding
Underconditioned / Underfeeding adverse effects for gestation
Decreased fertility
Underweight bitches have lower % of pregnancies vs. bitches at ideal BCS
Small litter size
Low birth weight
Increased neonatal morbidity & mortality
Reduced milk yield
Reduced immunity
Reduced response to vaccination
Overconditioned / Overfeeding adverse effects for gestation
Reduced fertility (reduced ovulation)
Small litter size
Long-term neonatal health consequences
Mastitis
Water Requirements in the pregnant bitch/queen
> 120ml/kg BW
2-3x higher during lactation than maintenance (~60ml/kg BW)
The bitch should be fed a gestation/lactation diet (or puppy food) at ___ _______ of gestation
4 weeks
Lactation DER in bitches is influenced by…
Number of puppies
Queens should be started on a gestation/lactation diet (Orr kitten food) at the time of…
Breeding
Throughout gestation queens have a linear increase in…
BW and food consumption
In the pregnant queen energy requirements increase ___-___% above maintenance
25-50%
In cats lactation DER is influence by…
WEEK and number kittens (dogs only number of puppies)
Which stage of gestation/lactation is the most energy demanding?
Early lactation
Key nutrients required in the diet for gestation and lactation
Adequate protein
Fat (with essential fatty acids) (DHA)
Non-fiber carbohydrates
Calcium
Micronutrients (folic acid, zinc, iron, B vitamins, Vitamin A…)
Diet that should be avoided during lactation or gestation
Low carb
A deficiency in protein in the diet of a pregnant or lactation bitch or queen may cause….
Reduced weight gain in the dam
Reduced birth weights (reduced intrauterine growth)
Small litter size
Reduced immunity
A deficiency in carbohydrates in the diet of a pregnant or lactation bitch or queen may cause….
Dam hypoglycemia
(The bitch has reduced ability to respond to hypoglycemia)
Increased stillbirth & perinatal mortality (fetal energy)
Decreased mothering behavior
Decreased milk quality & length of lactation (substrate for lactose)
Avoid low-carbohydrate diets!
Essential fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation in the queen or bitch
Linoleic acid (omega-6)
Arachidonic acid (omega-6; essential in cat only)
Alpha linolenic acid (omega-3; essential in dog only)
EPA+DHA (omega-3)
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is important for…
Brain & neurologic development
Memory/learning
Retinal development
Marine source (not flax) superior
Limitations in delta-6 desaturation
Hypocalcemia in the bitch may lead to…
Tetany (eclampsia)
Risk factors of Hypocalcemia
Small breed (20kg)
Large litter
Post-whelping / lactation
Anorexia / hyporexia prior to whelping
IF mild hypocalcemia and no clinical signs, then …
Feed life-stage appropriate diet
Multiple small meals
Palatants
If clinical signs of hypocalcemia then …
Medical management (oral or parenteral Ca)
+/- Wean
Check large breed puppy foods to ensure they are appropriate for reproduction since they are often low in…
Calcium
AAFCO all life stages vs growth, gestation and lactation
All stages- it have been tested in all stages of the dog; adult maintenance, growing, gestating, lactating
Growth, gestation and lactation- has not been tested for adult maintenance
Animal feeding tests- animals have been fed this in trials and proven to be efficacious
formulated to meet the nutritional levels/Dog Food Nutrient Profiles: food has gone through analysis and has be quantified to be acceptable for life stages stated
How to Chose Pet Food for gestating or lactating pets
Commercial diet substantiated for gestation/lactation or all lifestages
Can use online resources
During gestation queen and bitch should be fed multiple…
Small meals
(not a lot of space in stomach)
Free choice feeding may be considered for the queen if…
Pregnant & lactating queen
Early lactation & > 2 neonates
Food offered & consumed is recorded
Overfeeding during lactation may increase risk of….
mastitis
Palatants for Pre-Whelping/Queening should be used…
In moderation!!!!!!
Weaning process
~8 weeks
Reduce intake while reducing time that the puppies/kittens spend with the dam (VCA, AKC)
Day before weaning: withhold dam’s food, feed puppies separately during the day, allow to suckle at night
Day of weaning: begin transitioning the dam to maintenance diet over ~1 week
Monitor!
Monitoring of the queen/bitch during and after gestation
Weekly
Body weight
(Queens should return to pre-mating BW after weaning; if not, they were under or over-fed during gestation/lactation)
BCS and MCS
Intake
-Plan for reduction in intake days before whelping/queening
You should Plan for reduction in food intake days before…..
Whelping or queening
