Every year, August 1st to 7th is observed as World Breastfeeding Week. The aim here is to Inform, Anchor, Engage & Urge people about the themes related to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is an important topic of discussion when it comes to our pets too. Our dog mothers go through a difficult time during their pregnancy and lactation period. As responsible pet parents, we must inform ourselves about the right care we can give to our lactating dog mothers.
Lactating dog mothers require more energy:
A lactating dog requires a lot of energy-rich foods, drinks and supplements. During the lactation period, the energy requirement increases three to four times as compared to a non-lactating dog. This is no surprise as the dog mother will produce three times her body weight in milk for 6-7 weeks! The peak of this increase in energy requirement appears to be between 3-5 weeks post whelping.
The dog mother needs an energy-dense diet that is high in fat and protein. Along with adequate amounts of calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D3, iron, iodine, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium and essential fatty acids. These vitamins and nutrients help respond to the needs generated by milk production and support the optimal development of the puppies.
Importance of hydration for lactating dog mothers:
Lactation robs the dog mother’s body of fluids, making hydration of the utmost importance.
Dog mothers also lose a lot of fluids during the process of delivery. Hence you should offer some water as soon as possible after the delivery. This helps to avoid dehydration. A dog that is breastfeeding needs to drink a lot of liquids in order to produce enough milk. Sometimes, because of the cold environment, lactating mothers don’t drink as much water as required.
If the lactating dog doesn't want to drink plain water, try giving her chicken broth or other flavored drinks that are safe for her consumption.
It is extremely important to monitor how much water your dog is drinking if she is on a completely dry kibble diet. Opt for a diet consultation to make sure your dog always has optimal health.
A balanced diet includes an adequate amount of protein, fat and calcium. Remember that calcium is very important for milk production. The following recipes tell you the exact amount of these nutrients.
Here are some recipes made with the help of the nutritious & delicious Cocotail™! These drinks can be more enticing to your dog than water and provide extra vital nutrients and vitamins. The following recipes clubbed with a balanced diet can help hydrate the lactating mother.
Here are 4 quick drink recipes for lactating dog mothers:
In all of these mouth-watering drinks, Cocotail™ is the key ingredient! Cocotail™ is a super hydrating drink for pets made with chicken broth, coconut water and infused with loads of prebiotics and electrolytes. It aids digestion, helps pets with joint pains, prevents heat strokes and detoxifies their liver and kidneys. It’s the miracle ingredient that makes healthy living tasty and fun!
Are you wondering if your lactating dog can drink coconut water? Why, yes she can! But if your pet hasn’t tried coconut water before, offer a small amount of it and observe her. If her tummy accepts it, you can continue giving her more. But if your pet gets diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems, it’s best to avoid coconut water as some pets may be allergic to it.
The following recipes are also great for obese dogs as they contain fewer calories, keep your dog’s tummy feeling full and don’t add extra pounds making it easier for dogs to manage weight.
These recipes aren’t just for lactating dogs, they can also benefit dogs of any size, age, gender or breed!
*Remember to never add salt or sugar in any of these drinks.
*If you know that your dog is allergic to certain fruits or vegetables, please avoid adding them to the recipe. Check with your vet for a substitute.
The quantity of ingredients for the following drinks will differ according to the body weight of your dog. Please refer to the following table.
|
Dog’s Size |
Dog’s Weight |
Vegetable Quantity |
Fruit Quantity |
Cocotail™ |
|
Small |
3 to 9 kg |
15 to 20 gm |
15 to 20 gm |
50 to 100 ml |
|
Medium |
10 to 24 kg |
55 to 65 gm |
55 to 65 gm |
120 to 180 ml |
|
Large |
25 to 44 kg |
70 to 100 gm |
70 to 100 gm |
200 to 300 ml |
|
Extra Large |
Above 45 kg |
105 to 130 gm |
105 to 130 gm |
300 to 400 ml |
Recipe 1:
Green Goofy Pawjito
Ingredients:
Green peas
Broccoli
Cocotail™
*To know the quantity of ingredients, please refer to the table above.
Method of preparation:
- Wash the green peas and broccoli thoroughly.
- Boil the green peas and broccoli until they are completely soft.
- Now mash the green peas and broccoli together and make a paste.
- Time for our main ingredient, bring out Cocotail™! Cocotail™ will add that extra flavor with the help of chicken broth and some extra goodness with its prebiotics & electrolytes.
- Add Cocotail™ to the mash and serve! Enjoy your pet slurp it all away!
If some of the mixture is left over, you can easily refrigerate it. When it is time to serve, let it come down to room temperature and offer it to your pet. Never serve cold drinks to your pets.
Woofilicious tip: Green peas are rich in vitamin A, K and B and also a good source of fiber, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. Broccoli is rich in calcium that helps lactating mothers produce milk, build strong bones and also boost the health of growing dogs!
Nutrient Composition / 100 gm as per USDA :
|
Raw Ingredients |
Protein (gm) |
Fat (gm) |
Ca (mg) |
|
Green peas |
5.42 |
0.4 |
25 |
|
Broccoli |
2.52 |
0.37 |
47 |
Recipe 2:
Red Borky Merry
Ingredients:
Watermelon
Beetroot
Cocotail™
*To know the quantity of ingredients, please refer to the table above.
Method of preparation:
- Wash the watermelon in hot water at 76 degrees for 3 minutes. Washing the watermelon in hot water reduces the load of microbial on the fresh-cut watermelon.
- De-seed the watermelon and cut it into small cubes.
- Wash the beetroot thoroughly and boil it until it is soft.
- Puree the watermelon and add it to the boiled beetroot water.
- Get the key ingredient- Cocotail™! Cocotail™ also helps aid digestion making this recipe perfect to beat tummy problems!
- Add Cocotail™ to this mix and let your pet enjoy this healthy and yummy drink!
If some of the mixture is left over, you can easily refrigerate it. When it is time to serve, let it come down to room temperature and offer it to your pet. Never serve cold drinks to your pets.
Woofilicious tip: Watermelon is the most hydrating fruit for dogs with vitamins like A, B6 and C. It is also high in fiber that aids digestion. Beetroots help improve their immune system, digestion and also give them a healthy coat and skin.
Nutrient Composition/ 100 gm as per USDA :
|
Raw Ingredients |
Protein (gm) |
Fat (gm) |
Ca (mg) |
|
watermelon |
0.61 |
0.15 |
7 |
|
beetroot |
1.61 |
0.17 |
16 |
Recipe 3:
Yellow Mellow Barkini!
Ingredients:
Pumpkin
Muskmelon
Cocotail™
*To know the quantity of ingredients, please refer to the table above.
Method of preparation:
- Like the watermelon, wash the muskmelon in hot water to reduce the microbial load at 76 degrees for 3 minutes. After washing, de-seed the muskmelon.
- De-seed the pumpkin and boil until completely soft.
- Make a puree of the muskmelon and pumpkin in a blender.
- Make sure the puree is not too thick, add little water if needed.
- You know it, don't™ you? Time to add Cocotail™ to the puree! Cocotail™ is also infused with apple cider vinegar and turmeric that help build immunity.
- Watch your pet slurp away this healthy treat in less than a minute!
If some of the mixture is left over, you can easily refrigerate it. When it is time to serve, let it come down to room temperature and offer it to your pet. Never serve cold drinks to your pets.
Woofilicious tip: Pumpkin helps ease digestion because it is high in fiber and essential fatty acids. Muskmelon contains a lot of water and packs fewer calories making it a healthy & tasty treat for hydration.
Nutrient Composition/ 100 gm as per USDA :
|
Raw Ingredients |
Protein (gm) |
Fat (gm) |
Ca (mg) |
|
Muskmelon |
0.84 |
0.19 |
9 |
|
Pumpkin |
1 |
0.1 |
21 |
Recipe 4:
Orange Mlem Tai
Ingredients:
Carrots
Papaya
Cocotail™
*To know the quantity of ingredients, please refer to the table above.
Method of preparation:
- As we have done previously with the other fruits, wash the papaya in hot water at 76 degrees for 3 minutes to lessen the microbial load. Once done, de-seed the papaya.
- Wash the carrots thoroughly and boil them until they soften.
- Blend the papaya and carrots to make a puree, add water if needed.
- You guessed it! Add Cocotail™ to the puree! The chicken broth in Cocotail™ boosts tissue building collagen making your dog’s bones & joints stronger.
- Now put an end to those drools by serving this delicious drink!
If some of the mixture is left over, you can easily refrigerate it. When it is time to serve, let it come down to room temperature and offer it to your pet. Never serve cold drinks to your pets.
Woofilicious tip: Carrots have a crazy amount of beta carotene which produces vitamin A. Papaya is rich in vitamins A, C, E and K that help strengthen your dog’s immune system and increase their energy levels which is extremely important for lactating mothers.
Nutrient Composition/ 100 gm as per USDA :
|
Raw Ingredients |
Protein (gm) |
Fat (gm) |
Ca (mg) |
|
Papaya |
0.47 |
0.26 |
29 |
|
Carrots |
0.93 |
0.2 |
33 |
Do you have more interesting names for these pup drinks? Tell us in the comments below! Do try them at home and let us know how your dogs liked them!
If you have any questions regarding your pet, feel free to call us on +91 8431620000 and our team will get back to you at the earliest!
Happy pet parenting!
*Disclaimer: This blog is vet-approved and includes original content which is compiled after thorough research and authenticity by our in-house team of vets and content experts. It is always advisable to consult a veterinarian before you try any products, pet food or any kind of treatment/medicines on your pets, as each pet is unique and will respond differently.
