Small animal maternal nutrition

Question 1

Lengths of gestation, lactation and weaning in the bitch and the queen

Answer 1

64-66 days in the bitch
58-63 days in the queen
Late gestation = last 1/3

Lactation = 8 weeks
Weaning @ 8 weeks

Maintenance

Question 2

Ideal BCS for dog and cat prior to breeding

Answer 2

5/9 or 6/9 ideal
(in dogs can be 4/9 if athletic breed)

Want to improve BCS prior to breeding

Question 3

Underconditioned / Underfeeding adverse effects for gestation

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Overconditioned / Overfeeding adverse effects for gestation

Answer 4

Reduced fertility (reduced ovulation)
Small litter size
Long-term neonatal health consequences
Mastitis

Question 5

Water Requirements in the pregnant bitch/queen

Answer 5

> 120ml/kg BW
2-3x higher during lactation than maintenance (~60ml/kg BW)

Question 6

The bitch should be fed a gestation/lactation diet (or puppy food) at ___ _______ of gestation

Answer 6

4 weeks

Question 7

Lactation DER in bitches is influenced by…

Answer 7

Number of puppies

Question 8

Queens should be started on a gestation/lactation diet (Orr kitten food) at the time of…

Answer 8

Breeding

Question 9

Throughout gestation queens have a linear increase in…

Answer 9

BW and food consumption

Question 10

In the pregnant queen energy requirements increase ___-___% above maintenance

Answer 10

25-50%

Question 11

In cats lactation DER is influence by…

Answer 11

WEEK and number kittens (dogs only number of puppies)

Question 12

Which stage of gestation/lactation is the most energy demanding?

Answer 12

Early lactation

Question 13

Key nutrients required in the diet for gestation and lactation

Answer 13

Adequate protein
Fat (with essential fatty acids) (DHA)
Non-fiber carbohydrates
Calcium
Micronutrients (folic acid, zinc, iron, B vitamins, Vitamin A…)

Question 14

Diet that should be avoided during lactation or gestation

Answer 14

Low carb

Question 15

A deficiency in protein in the diet of a pregnant or lactation bitch or queen may cause….

Answer 15

Reduced weight gain in the dam
Reduced birth weights (reduced intrauterine growth)
Small litter size
Reduced immunity

Question 16

A deficiency in carbohydrates in the diet of a pregnant or lactation bitch or queen may cause….

Answer 16

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!

Question 17

Essential fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation in the queen or bitch

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is important for…

Answer 18

Brain & neurologic development
Memory/learning
Retinal development
Marine source (not flax) superior
Limitations in delta-6 desaturation

Question 19

Hypocalcemia in the bitch may lead to…

Answer 19

Tetany (eclampsia)

Question 20

Risk factors of Hypocalcemia

Answer 20

Small breed (20kg)
Large litter
Post-whelping / lactation
Anorexia / hyporexia prior to whelping

Question 21

IF mild hypocalcemia and no clinical signs, then …

Answer 21

Feed life-stage appropriate diet
Multiple small meals
Palatants

Question 22

If clinical signs of hypocalcemia then …

Answer 22

Medical management (oral or parenteral Ca)
+/- Wean

Question 23

Check large breed puppy foods to ensure they are appropriate for reproduction since they are often low in…

Answer 23

Calcium

Question 24

AAFCO all life stages vs growth, gestation and lactation

Answer 24

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

Question 25

How to Chose Pet Food for gestating or lactating pets

Answer 25

Commercial diet substantiated for gestation/lactation or all lifestages

Can use online resources

Question 26

During gestation queen and bitch should be fed multiple…

Answer 26

Small meals
(not a lot of space in stomach)

Question 27

Free choice feeding may be considered for the queen if…

Answer 27

Pregnant & lactating queen
Early lactation & > 2 neonates
Food offered & consumed is recorded

Question 28

Overfeeding during lactation may increase risk of….

Answer 28

mastitis

Question 29

Palatants for Pre-Whelping/Queening should be used…

Answer 29

In moderation!!!!!!

Question 30

Weaning process

Answer 30

~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!

Question 31

Monitoring of the queen/bitch during and after gestation

Answer 31

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

Question 32

You should Plan for reduction in food intake days before…..

Answer 32

Whelping or queening