Vitamins for Pregnant Dogs

Vitamin B9, also known as folate or folic acid, is an essential vitamin that needs to be provided during your dog's pregnancy. It plays an important role in cell formation, DNA synthesis, anemia prevention and fetal central nervous system development. For this reason, folic acid is crucial to prevent birth defects in puppies. Adding this nutrient to your dog's diet is essential to contribute to the correct development of the fetuses, especially in the first stage of pregnancy.

B vitamin complex is a type of vitamin supplement which is often used during pregnancy. It contains the following:

• Folic acid
• Biotin
• Zinc
• Iron
• Vitamin B12

In addition to providing nutritional support to the expectant mother, it also helps maintain optimal cardiovascular health. You can see about purchasing these supplements using the link below:

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for dogs are not vitamins, but they are essential nutrients which promote the development of the nervous, cerebral and ocular systems of puppies. They can also be very beneficial for relaxing and reducing agitation in the mother as they contribute to improving her emotional state. They are types of antioxidants and have a slight anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory effect. For all these reasons, they are one of the best nutrients for pregnant dogs, but also for other stages of their life, such as during old age.

The main sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are fish such as salmon and tuna. Safflower, corn, olive and turkey meat are also good sources. There are also commercial fish oils that you can add to your dog's food to ensure an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids.

As with vitamins for pregnant dogs, choosing to give your dog any supplements needs to be discussed with your veterinarian. However, there are ways you can ensure your dog has better overall health with the use of treats enriched with nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. These are used in lieu of other treats, so they need to be included in a healthy way as part of a balanced diet. Use the link below if you want to explore more:

Again, calcium and phosphorous are not vitamins, but they are important minerals for any healthy dog. They can be very useful for pregnant dogs, but we need to be very careful. The veterinarian will need to assess the dog as their use and be contraindicated in certain dogs, especially if they are pregnant. This could be due to the fact the dog may get a sufficient amount from their diet.

Calcium and phosphorus help in the formation of the skeleton, as well as in the development of the nervous, muscular and hormonal systems of the puppies. They help to maintain these systems in the mother, doing so by contributing to the maintenance and repair of cells and tissues.

You can find good sources of these minerals in the following foods:

• Eggshell
• Natural yogurt
• Lactose-free milk
• Cheese
• Fish such as salmon, trout and tuna

In hot weather, you can make homemade yogurt ice cream. This will both help them to have the right diet, as well as cool the dog down during the summer.

If you are looking for the best vitamins for pregnant dog, there are certain essential vitamins which are vital for a dog at any point in life. However, a deficiency during pregnancy might not only harm the mother, but also her gestating puppies. These help lead to a healthy pregnancy and strong puppy development. The most important vitamins for pregnant dogs include:

• Vitamin A: helps fetal organs develop properly, especially the eyes, nervous and immune systems.
• Vitamin C: vitamin C can be synthesized by the dog naturally, but additional vitamin C in their diet can be beneficial thanks to its antioxidant function. It helps neutralize free radicals in the body, protects cells from damage and can reduce oxidative stress. It plays an important role in immune support, helping your dog fight infections during pregnancy. In addition, it helps in the formation of collagen, essential for the formation and maintenance of connective tissues, as well as skin and cartilage of both the mother and the puppies. It also contributes to proper iron absorption.
• Vitamin D: it is essential for bone formation and development, as it helps in the absorption of phosphorus and calcium and prevents hypocalcemia, something which can help prevent eclampsia in pregnant dogs. In addition, it contributes to correct neuromuscular development.
• Vitamin E: prevents neurological diseases, contributes to good formation of the nervous system of puppies, maintains the health of the skin and coat and can prevent complications during pregnancy.
• B complex vitamins: we have already mention B vitamins such as folate. They are key to providing energy, improving metabolism, promoting brain development in puppies and participating in the formation of DNA and RNA, as well as the neural tube. They strengthen the immune system, participate in the formation of red blood cells and perform a digestive function, helping to absorb nutrients in doing so.

Various minerals are also essential for an optimal pregnancy. They ensure bone and dental development, as well as aid in hemoglobin production. They are necessary for the correct formation of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. They regulate metabolism in the mother, something very important during pregnancy.

Read our vitamin D for dogs article for more.

Vitamin K is essential for proper blood clotting, itself being crucial for preventing hemorrhage during childbirth. It is also beneficial for bone health by supporting bone metabolism. This affects both the mother and her puppies during gestation. It is not usually supplemented during pregnancy, but it should be provided in sufficient amounts in her diet. Any deficiencies will need to be addressed by a professional.

Learn more with our article explaining everything you need to know about vitamin K for dogs.

Even during pregnancy, it is possible for a dog to get all their necessary vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from their diet. This is why many commercial dog food companies have specific products which contain ingredients which meet the pregnant dog's vitamin needs. These are generally of good quality, but it is always important to check with reviews of any product you give your dog.

Whether your pregnant dog needs vitamin supplements is something which will need to be determined by your veterinarian. You will need to schedule regular checkups during the pregnancy, during which tests will be administered to determine whether they will need any supplemental nutrients. This is in addition to medications which may be required if there are any problems.

If a veterinarian does prescribe vitamin supplements for pregnant dogs, they will determine the type they need. Some supplements can be purchased in combination with other ingredients, some of which may be contraindicated in your dog during pregnancy or at any other time. If provide these products without consulting the vet, we can cause more harm than good.

In an addition vitamin supplements, supplemented minerals such as calcium, chloride, copper, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium and zinc may be required. Amino acids such as lysine, methionine, threonine, folic acid and natural components such as cysteine may also be helpful. Your veterinarian will help to determine whether these can be provided by diet alone or whether supplements are necessary.

Since proper diet is essential for a dog during pregnancy, read more about what happens if a pregnant dog is not eating.

If you want to read similar articles to Vitamins for Pregnant Dogs, we recommend you visit our Gestation category.