Raw or whole prey diets are what nature intended our dogs to eat, but veterinarians will advise against feeding a pregnant dog raw food for good reason.
In this article I don’t want to persuade you to switch your raw fed dog to kibble (I’m generally not pro kibble either), but I want to give you all the information you may need to decide what’s best for your pregnant dog and the health of her pups.
Why veterinarians advise against raw feeding a pregnant dog
I expect you’re already aware of the general risks of raw feeding, so no need to cover that.
It’s easy to understand why a veterinarian will advise against raw feeding your pregnant dog for those very reasons, but that doesn’t mean they’re 100% right.
On the flipside I see many risks to feeding a pregnant dog kibble.
Needless to say there are some dreadful kibbles around which won’t support the nutritional needs of a pregnant dog.
There are additional concerns with raw feeding a pregnant dog, with the main concern being neosporosis.
The risk of Neosporosis
One of the main concerns of feeding pregnant dogs a raw diet is Neosporosis, a disease generally linked to contaminated beef.
Neosporosis can cause fetal loss.
Nicole Rous, a reproductive vet, warns “Even though I’m pro raw feeding, I do caution breeders about raw meat during pregnancy. We’ve had bitches lose litters, and the big issue is Neosporosis.”
Nicole also states “I’ve had SO many breeders successfully feed raw throughout pregnancy and raise beautiful litters on raw and honestly don’t have a problem with it as long as they’re aware of the risk and why there is a risk.“
All raw fed dogs are at risk of Neosporosis, but as pregnancy weakens the immune system, the risk is higher. Progesterone lowers immune defences throughout pregnancy, and this makes infections more likely.
To reduce risks, some vets recommend freezing raw meat for 14 days to kill parasites. Others advise sticking to human-grade raw dog food to minimise contamination.
In Australia, it’s worth considering pet grade meats – even those sourced from a human grade supplier and processed in a pet grade facility – may add risk.
The benefits of raw diets for pregnant dogs
I fed my own dog raw when she was pregnant, and I weened the puppies partly on raw, and I see benefits of doing so.
Many breeders successfully feed a raw diet to pregnant dogs with no issues. They claim their bitches remain strong, recover quickly, and produce healthy puppies.
A well-balanced BARF diet or homemade raw diet for pregnant dogs often eliminates the need for calcium supplements.
Elyshia Collis states “I’ve rescued many pregnant dogs, and from the day they arrive, they are put on a balanced raw diet. I also wean the litter to raw. Never had issues, the mothers are happy to feed, don’t have any issues, and I don’t need to feed calcium supplements either.”
Denise Pringle echoes this sentiment with “I have fed a number of pregnant bitches raw throughout and then weaned the puppies onto raw. All exceptionally healthy.”
Jennifer Bayliss also supports raw feeding, saying “All my girls get human-grade raw chicken, beef, lamb while pregnant, as well as raw eggs, sardines in oil, plus goat milk powder. Always have had good, healthy puppies.”
I echo these statements having weened not just a regular litter, but a very large, very healthy litter of 10 Border Collie puppies on raw (and high quality kibble).
Precautions you can take feeding raw to your pregnant dog
Some breeders take precautions by using only human-grade raw meat and freezing it first.
Claire Williams advises “I’m more cautious when feeding my pregnant bitches. Always freeze first if not human grade, but I do buy only human-grade and hormone-free when they’re pregnant and lactating. They do amazingly on it!”
I must reiterate the risks of feeding pet grade meats, particularly in Australia where these circumvent standards and often quality control.
Make sure you have confidence in where you source your raw.
As a side note, avoid puppy milk “treats” which should be considered harmful rather than nutritious. Please note these treat products – available all over Australia – are not puppy milk replacers.
Is kibble safer for your pregnant dog?
Kibble generally doesn’t have the same risks as raw feeding a pregnant dog, including neosporosis, but poor quality kibble comes with it’s own set of risks – more so for pregnant dogs.
Kibble is seen by many veterinarians as the simplest solution with least risk, particularly brands they consider safe, “complete and balanced”, with sufficient nutrients for a pregnant dog.
As a raw feeder yourself, you will understand a key risk of raw feeding is not providing sufficient nutrition from all aspects of muscle meat, organs, and raw meaty bones. With an appropriate kibble, this risk is arguably reduced.
A veterinarian will likely recommend a kibble from either Hill’s or Royal Canin, but I would consider the best kibble for a pregnant dog to be one which is rich in animal ingredients.
Veterinarian recommended dog foods for pregnant dogs
Let’s discuss kibble brands recommended in Australia for pregnant dogs. These may not be the brands I recommend, but I understand you may wish to rely on your veterinarian’s advice.
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy
Hill’s are the most common brand recommended by veterinarians, although I have different views on the brand and why veterinarians commonly recommend it.
For pregnant dogs Hill’s recommend their Puppy formulas, which is the case for most brands. Puppy formulas tend to offer more in appropriate nutrients, including more animal proteins and fats.
I tend to find Royal Canin alternatives marginally better. More so with the wet foods.
Royal Canin Puppy
If a vet practice doesn’t recommend Hill’s they will likely recommend Royal Canin.
Royal Canin is a Mars brand, but the most premium brand compared to Advance (mentioned below).
As well Royal Canin Puppy formulas, they also offer the Mother and Babydog wet mousse.
Advance Puppy
Advance is a more affordable alternative to Royal Canin above, so may appeal to you if you have a tighter budget. Just keep in mind the cheaper you go the less nutrition you may offer, but this could be a reason to mix kibble with raw.
Advance, like Royal Canin, is a popular brand in breeder communities and often advertised at shows.
Purina Pro Plan Performance Starter Mother & Puppy
The Nestle alternative to the above, I see this brand as the cheapest recommended by veterinarians, but question whether the inclusion of grains such as wheat is optimal for a pregnant dog.
Purina Pro Plan is the most premium (if that’s the word to use) brands on offer from Nestle, and the better alternative to Supercoat as the most popular Nestle Purina brand in Australia.
Better alternatives to the above veterinarian recommended brands?
None of the above are formulas I rate highly based on the view animal ingredients are far more effective at providing our dogs with nutrition than the grains found in many of these foods. That said, puppy formulas are often better, and wet foods even more so with these brands.
If you want a more species-appropriate dog food then have a read of the list of best-rated dog foods which have a more significant focus on animal ingredients.
Dogs, including pregnant dogs, source their nutrition from animal and “whole prey” foods – this is as nature designed – which may sway you more towards raw, or a combination of kibble and raw.
Choosing the best diet for your pregnant dog – Raw or kibble?
My belief is raw will always offer a dog the best in species-appropriate nutrition, including for pregnant dogs.
However, it is up to you to consider the pros and cons of both raw and kibble, and address those risks as best you can. From reading this article you will hopefully have the information you need to do just that.
If you choose to raw feed your pregnant dog, take the following precautions:
- Use human-grade raw meat to reduce contamination risks.
- Freeze raw meat for 14 days to kill parasites.
- Avoid raw chicken and beef if worried about Neosporosis in dogs.
- Consider mixing raw and kibble for a balanced approach.
- Take on board advice from your veterinarian, and consult a canine nutritionist for expert guidance.
Choosing between raw feeding for pregnant dogs and kibble depends on your comfort level, access to quality ingredients, and understanding of raw nutrition.
If you go raw, be careful. If you opt for kibble, choose the best quality kibble possible (the reviews on this website will hopefully be an invaluable guide!)