Looking for a male saint bernard

[dainerra]

1. Find out how many KILOcalories (KCAL) your dog's diet has Per CUP.
* Most top-of-the-line Dog foods will have this on their label near the Analysis.
OR you could look it up on the company's website, OR find the company's phone number and ask a representative.*

2. Find your dog's Daily Energy Requirement (DER) Factor number. *For weight-gain, use appropriate DER but change the weight to their target weight*

Daily Energy Requirements:​

· Weight Loss = 1.0
· Neutered /Spayed Adult normal activity = 1.6
· Intact Adult normal activity = 1.8
· Light Worker = 2.0
· Moderate Worker = 3.0
· Heavy Worker = 4.0 - 8.0
· Pregnant Dog (first 42 days) = 1.8
· Pregnant Dog (last 21 days) = 3.0
· Lactating Female = 4.0 - 8.0
· Puppy - Weaning to 4 Months = 3.0
· Puppy - 4 Months to Adult Size = 2.0


3. Find out your dog's Weight in Kilograms. (Divide # of pounds by 2.2)

4. The Formula:

( 30 x Kilograms + 70 ) = RER #

(DER Factor x RER #) = How many KCALs your dog NEEDS per day.

KCALs your dog NEEDS per day (divided by)
KCALs per cup in their FOOD = How Many Cups to Feed per Day!

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when it get closer to whelping time, I know several breeders who keep vanilla ice cream on hand. It provides some quick energy as well as calcium while she is in active labor. Plus, it's tempting enough that she will eat it to keep her strength up!

 

[watchdogps]

Or just keep her on free fed. Pregnant moms should be allowed to eat as much as their bodies tell them to. As for what type of food, I will defer to others, as I have never fed dog food to a pregnant mom.

 

[Squawkbox]

I kept my girl on her regular food for her whole pregnancy (I upped the amount the further along she got) and then fed puppy food while she was lactating. This dog eats only 2 cups a day and could still lose some weight (800 calories) , but while she was lactating she was eating about 11 per day at 400 calories per cup!
I would give her as much as she wants!

 

[dainerra]

I don't free feed for one simple reason - one of the first signs of most illnesses/problems are a loss of appetite. If you free feed, it's harder and will take longer to notice subtle appetite changes. I do agree with feeding her all that she wants, as long as she doesn't start adding TOO much weight Feeding guidelines are just that - guidelines. They are going to vary a lot from individual to individual.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

With regard to frequency of breedings:

I do ovulation timing so that I know the optimum day to breed. If it is a live cover, I will do 2 breedings on consecutive days. If it is fresh chilled or frozen semen, I do one breeding.

 

[arabianequine]

Why only once on the fresh chilled or frozen? Cost? Just not as readily available?

What is the optimum day? Is it the same for all dogs? I think I was saying earlier the second stage.....the 10th through the 15th?

Also how long can they get pregnant for, through what day of the heat cycle? I read that they no longer can after the 24th day?

Thank you!

With regard to frequency of breedings:

I do ovulation timing so that I know the optimum day to breed. If it is a live cover, I will do 2 breedings on consecutive days. If it is fresh chilled or frozen semen, I do one breeding.

 

[arabianequine]

What do you feed then?

I have always feed her Diamond....she is on large bred adult lamb and rice. I know some don't like it but she seems to do very well on it. I read that you don't need to change to puppy food till after pregnancy is confirmed. Is this what you all do that feed dog food?

Or just keep her on free fed. Pregnant moms should be allowed to eat as much as their bodies tell them to. As for what type of food, I will defer to others, as I have never fed dog food to a pregnant mom.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

I do not change anything until the beginning of week 6. Starting to increase the diet at day 30 is too early. There is some anecdotal evidence that enriching the diet before week 6 can cause some b.itches to resorb their puppies.

Even though I am a raw feeder and don't use dog food, what I do at week 6 is increase the fat and protein and the organ meat, and also start with whole grains at that time. I move to feeding twice a day instead of once, and sometimes I go quite quickly to 3X per day depending on the size of the litter and how she is eating.

 

[arabianequine]

Symphony did have an ultra sound and pregnancy is confirmed. From the first tie today May 2nd would be the beginning of 6 weeks. I have her on adult dog food lamb and rice diamond. The last bag I bought was a few days ago and I switched to large breed adult diamond lamb and rice. I contacted my vet and the lady I talked to was not the vet but she said I should of had her on puppy food from the very beginning. I also heard this from the sire's previous owner. I did not do it that way though. It is confusing how everyone has a different opinion on everything though. I want what is best for mom and puppies health.

What do you all recommend I do at this point forward? Put her on puppy food now through weaning of puppies?

 

[Glenmar]

I did not put mine on puppy food if they were on a good quality adult food. Mine were terriers, maybe it is different for big dogs.