Feeding the Breeding Bitch
Feeding breeding bitches a well-balanced ration in the correct amount is important. Breeding stock in poor body condition and receiving an inadequate diet during gestation and lactation will have a low-milk supply and small pups.

Brood females can be kept on a maintenance ration between litters. At no time should she be overweight. An overweight female can have whelping problems and produce small litters. During the last two to three weeks of the gestation period, her feed consumption will tend to increase as much as 20 per cent as compared to the amount being consumed during maintenance. Usually if the female is fed on a maintenance level of 1/2 oz. of food per pound of body weight, her increased weight gain will boost food consumption adequately during gestation.

During lactation a bitch may consume 2 1/2-3 times the normal maintenance level by the time the pups are three to four weeks of age. She should have all she wants to eat for the increased food intake necessary to meet the demands of heavy milk production. Since pups start eating solid food by the time they are three to four weeks of age, their feed consumption will increase while the dam's feed consumption will decrease. The ration the dam receives should also be available to her pups.

On the day of weaning the dam should not be fed but should have water available. The second day feed 1/4th the normal maintenance level; on the third day 1/2; on the fourth day 3/4 ths; and, on the fifth day the amount of food offered is brought up to the normal maintenance level. Cutting back on her food intake and then gradually increasing it helps decrease milk production and aids in the maintenance of a healthy mammary gland.

Stud dogs should be kept in good body condition without being overweight.

Feeding Orphan Puppies
Quite often the bitch will not nurse her puppies or perhaps has died from whelping complications. Here are some methods of handling the problem of orphan puppies.

Feeding—Good commercial bitch milk replacers, such as Borden's Esbilac, are available but if you find yourself in a bind with none available, the following formula can be used:
1 Cup Evaporated Milk
1 Tablespoon Corn Oil
+ Vitamin Drops for children
(Deca-Vi-Sol mfg. by Mead Johnson)
1 Cup Water
1 Egg Yolk (no whites)
A Pinch of Salt
Warm the formula to body temperature and place in Pyrex baby nursing bottles like those used for feeding premature infants.

When feeding the puppies (every 8 hrs. is enough) hold the bottle so the puppy does not ingest air. Hold puppy's body parallel to the floor with the head slightly elevated. There is a tendency the first time to hold a pup's body vertically; this makes it easy for milk to enter the lungs. If milk flows into the lungs, pneumonia will result.

After each feeding take a piece of cotton dipped in warm oil or a clean, moistened wash cloth to massage the puppy and stimulate defecation and urination. Gentle massage of the back and sides before feeding is a form of passive exercise, stimulating circulation and awakening the puppy. Simple grooming is also best done at feeding time. Incubator conditions tend to dry the coat, so rubbing baby oil into the skin is often desirable. However, grooming can be overdone and the puppies should not be disturbed except at feeding time. Weaning—Puppies can start eating (at 3 weeks of age) on solid foods along with the mother's milk or milk replacer. By 6 weeks of age they can be fed entirely on solid foods. During the first several months of the puppy's life, keep food before him at all times.

Feeding Hard-Working Dogs
Working dogs use a lot of energy. To replace this energy a large amount of high quality, nutritious food is required. These dogs should be offered all of the dog food they want, but should not be allowed to become overweight.

Feeding once a day is ample, unless weight is a problem, and the dog is thin. Then twice a day feeding may be necessary. Usually the best tune to feed is in the evening and dogs should not be fed just prior to being worked. Feed all of the dog food they will clean up—if fed moistened. If the dogs are self-fed dry, then a constant supply of dry food can be left in front of them at all times. If the dog is not maintaining good condition on dry feeding, then he should be switched to moistened dry dog food, since moistening the ration will increase acceptance and the dogs will eat more.

If a hard-working dog does not stay in good body condition using a regular moistened dry dog food, then it is recommended that up to 20 per cent meat be added. The meat does not affect the nutritional balance of a good dry dog food but in most cases will increase the palatability and thus increase the food intake.

During the time a dog is not working, care should be taken to not overfeed, thus creating a weight problem. The average dog, not working, needs about 62 Calories (kcal.) per pound of body weight per day. This will vary according to age, weight, sex, breed, and previous nutrition.

PICA—Excessive Chewing and/or Eating of Undesirable Items
Dogs often chew on just about anything in sight, or have the bad habit of actually eating dirt, grass or even their own droppings. This problem is called coprophagy.

The problem of chewing is especially prevalent in young, teething puppies, and is usually outgrown by the tune he reaches 8-10 months of age. Puppies will chew on wood, toys, articles of clothing, or anything else they can pick up or reach.

Several methods can be used to curb or prevent excessive chewing. If possible, items that the pups like to chew on should not be left in an area where they might be tempted. Discipline in the form of a swat with a rolled-up newspaper can also be used to put the point across in many instances. Since chewing is a natural tendency of the pup, and most pups are quite active, it may be advisable to give him a plaything or something that he can chew on for his own. This can be a rawhide bone or a toy made especially for dogs. Bones can be used, although if they are, they should be the large round beef bones or the ox tails and not pork chop or chicken bones. Certain plastic toys are not suitable for puppies and can cause im-pactions if swallowed.

The problem of dogs eating dirt, wood, sand, and their own droppings, or other items, is believed to be caused by several factors including confinement and boredom. This problem is not unusual, especially in confined dogs, and not only will dogs chew on these items but may actually eat them. As mentioned, the main causes of dogs eating undesirable items seems to be confinement and boredom. This occurs at all ages and in any breed although it seems to be more prevalent in the working and hunting breeds.

Currently we do not know how to inhibit this habit nutritionally and have no evidence to indicate that it is related to diet. It can occur on any commercial dog food as well as on home-made rations.

Here again, providing something to play with or chew on, such as hardwood sticks or toys made for dogs, may be helpful. It may also be beneficial to give the dogs more exercise or a larger area in which to run. As the dog owner has probably noticed, when he is playing or exercising his dog, the problem of eating undesirable items does not occur.

Quite often this problem begins in winter when the droppings are frozen. Dogs that are on a limited feed intake or those not receiving enough food may develop this habit. Once a dog starts chewing on items, and especially their droppings, it seems to become a habit. One dog seeing another doing this often acquires the habit.

There is no specific remedy that can be used to prevent dogs from eating undesirable items. Disciplining the dog, removal of the various items from the area, if possible, or giving the dog more exercise or something to play with may be helpful. As far as stopping dogs from eating their droppings, we know of no specific remedy. Some people have used a veterinary product called Ectoral, which is given to the dog at a low level for a few days to impart a bad taste to the droppings. (Ectoral is also used to control external parasites in dogs.) Ectoral can be obtained through your veterinarian.

The dog should also be checked for parasites and any disease problem that might be present. Some people feel that these factors contribute to coprophagy.

If the dogs are looking for something to chew on or eat, keep dry dog food in a self-feeder or pan where they can reach it at all times. This provides them with something to do and keeps them occupied.