Lactation is the process of mammals producing milk. Various hormones cause the offspring to produce milk through the breast shortly after birth, which is used to feed the offspring in the first few weeks and months. When your bitches and cats are lactating, they need to be supported through their diet, as their nutritional needs increase significantly - after all, the mothers are now feeding several living creatures.
As soon as your four-legged friends start lactating, increase the amount of food and the nutrient content of the food. This way, the nursing bitch remains strong enough to support her little puppies. In addition, the milk that is produced during lactation absorbs many nutrients from the food. Accordingly, an increased nutrient content is important so that there is still enough left for the nursing bitch herself. Since BARF allows you to individually design and adapt the food, we recommend using a specialised BARF online shop . Look for high-quality BARF dog food to help your bitch with lactation and rearing.
If your nursing bitch does not receive enough nutrients, she will have to rely on her own body's nutrients when lactating. This weakens the mother and also results in poor milk quality. Instead, high-quality and frequent feeding is important. You can easily plan four feedings a day and increase the amount of food per puppy by about a quarter. The more energy-rich your bitch's food is, the less she needs. The same applies to mother cats, of course. In any case, talk to your trusted veterinary practice to get the best possible feeding plan for your nursing bitch.
