Spoken like a man!
I know women who when pregnant seriously could NOT eat what they would when not pregnant! Don't see why other mammals would be different. Hormones are changing big time.
Apart from the fact that the space in the belly is much reduced.

Far better imo to spend the extra and give her what she fancies (I had a bitch who would only eat what she could thieve, even if it was the same as what she had in her bowl), at least you can get essential proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals into her. Some can't stomach certain foods. End of. And I can tell you from personal experience that after a couple of days of not eating you don't necessarily feel hungry, and certainly not to eat something that is nauseating to you.

The bitches generally return to normal eating habits within a day or two of whelping, and in the meantime it's about keeping her happy, comfortable and in good enough condition to do herself and the pups well.

James

I generally find that traits like Pickiness etc come direct from the Dam

u just have to make sure that its nothing more serious that is the reason. if they r happy and playing around like normal then i wouldn't panic. but if they r lethargic and more reserved than usual then get them checked.

Meat pies

Chicken nuggets/schnitzel

Canned dog/cat food

Sausages

Got to keep it as bland as possible to not give her a stomach complaint, but it isn't uncommon for them to go off their food once on season or a couple of weeks pregnant and you'd probably rather she got picky now than when pregnant and you've got to worry about hurting the pups if something disagrees with her

Any of the above except Canned dog/cat food or chicken nuggets - nothing that even smells of being processed - I don't let my dogs touch anything unnatural

I would cook BBQ T Bone steaks, let her smell them cooking outside, then she would come up to investigate and then bingo she would want some and eat it, bone and all

The same would apply to freshly cooked Woolies chickens, open the bag and the smell gets them in...Take out the stuffing and bones, let her have the rest including all the juices

Cooked Sausages are good, but not pork ones

If none of that works, then try left overs ftom your own plates...sometimes they eat that because they see us eating it

But if none of that works, then you just wait it out

You tear your hair out and stress over it, but then they come back twice as hungry and you realize that you were worried for no reason

Pretty much like ladies with morning sickness

Both good points. Definitely the more bland the better because the less processed or spices/flavours added the better

Pretty much especially when they go off their food you just have to feed them whatever they'll eat and hope it doesn't get too expensive

Had some luck with a small tin of tuna or sardines added into their dinner too (in brine/Springwater) when a dog doesn't want to eat

Or just cook their beef and make it into a little stew

Even a small amount of honey on top of their dinner can coax them in

She's normally good as gold. But leading up to the season she was a kind of off and now she's on she's gone a bit sour.

My response is pretty detailed , Ill try to dull it down , bit hard but , its kind of needed to be to a degree .

First part is minerals needed , Ive used all calciums available on shelves and had problems with ALL of them , same bitches over 3 different litters etc , the one calcium Ive never had issues with pups whelping and continue with rearing is rapidvite Amino Cal ( stud formula)
Trust me Ive had vets go over the numbers and compared ALL others !
Its a no contest , get it , youll see your bitch change color the lot ! Pups grow properly without a hitch . All figures and volume quantities are on front of container for you to check , trust me it has 2 to 3 times the volume of any other ! And is swabable on race dogs as it contains the right amount of cobalt needed for brood and growing pups !
Not here to argue with Poeple telling me whelp n grow is ok etc ! I dont care , this is what has returned best results for me and a brood never missing a meal or lost weight and vets confirming the numbers .

1.Amino cal ( stud formula )
2.sprinters gold energy e
3.probiotic of your choice

You need to spread your meal out even over morning and night , no good doing 90 % volume at night and a biscuit in the morning .

Shell be more tempted with smaller portions or even split and they need to be laced with either 2 choices is all u need

BBQ chicken from coles or your own made stew , 1 ladle full over any food she wont resist
If your interested in stew I can tell later if needed ! I use both to mix it up , they need variety and choice !
Anyone who says Nup you spoil em , they are dickheads ! End of story , they arent race dogs anymore they are mothers needing anything they want !!!!

Your kibble is one of the best around , dont change , and use the puppy bag ! It has more in there so let her have it , shell be eating whats left over from the pups anyhow ?
So just let her have puppy kibble now .

Bfast
200g red meat
Ladle of stew / or bbq chook peices heated
2 toasted whole meal bread
Handful of cornflakes / or 2 weetbix
Egg yolk only
5 ml energy oil
Greek yoghurt plain full fat 1 table spoon
Boiled kettled water splashes over it and mix
Can scramble the whole egg also for change, Never seen a dog refuse scrambled eggs

Dinner
1 Scoop 7-10 ml Amino cal powder
5ml energy e oil
Black tar
Frozen veggies from coles , carrot/broccoli/cauliflower boiled and blended soft
Cap of apple cider
Probiotic every 2nd day teaspoon
300g red meat / and 50-60g pure fat suet if using premium meat
Ladle of stew / Or bbq chook peices heated
120g kibble soaked in bowl first ( boiled kettle water ) while prep meal , never serve any kibble dry ! Ever .
Brown rice 50g thats been soaked for min 4 hours in cold water and over cooked and or pasta 50g well cooked ! I alternated these so its always diff from one night to the next .

She will eat these meals 100% and your getting 50g more red meat into her this way as apposed to serving her red meat all in one sitting .

formula for pups not feeding also or large litters that brood needs a helping hand

Greek yoghurt tablespoon large
Egg Yolk only
Carnation creamy milk double volume of yoghurt
Goats milk same volume as carnation milk
Whip and stir till its light and bubbly in bowl
No liquid calcium needed , its only for 2 weeks till they go onto your soaked kibble which will have this same formula poured over the kibble with the Amino cal now added to that .

Place desired amount in bottle and heat in microwave and ready for syringe to pup

Worm your brood at insamination time with a 3 month tab so when pups are due at 14 days for their first wormer , so is your brood .

Good luck to her

She is off fresh food apparently. All weekend she wouldn't touch her Beef Mince and Black Hawk, even when served in small portions and topped with tempters like Cheese, Tinned Fish etc. On Friday she got stuck into Roast Chicken, wouldn't touch it Saturday. She ate Beef Sausages and Cheerios like they were lollies on Saturday, then she turned her nose up. Yesterday she ate Chicken Schnitties, today she's off them. I just gave her Lamb Shank and Gravy and she woofed it down. I'll grab some dried liver. It's like feeding a spoilt/fussy child. lol. She is back to her Owners tomorrow for a week or so to be served, hopefully eats for them when she is back in her old kennel.

She's been eating perfectly for months, I think her season has knocked her around.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments and suggestions.

I know its a bit off topic so I hope you dont mind Paul.

I wanted to confirm what is the best age to start feeding calcium to pups and will you see any issues with over supplementation.

Thanks

Start when you put your first bowl of soaked soft kibble out .. for some this is 2 weeks and others 3 weeks old . All pups advancements vary .

They do empty out what calcium isnt used , but it doesnt mean you can put double the recommended dose , it will weaken their bones as too much calcium in their system triggers a no calcium needed in their body structure and brittle bones will be the outcome

It would be the most crucial ingredient in whelping and rearing greyhounds !

So get the best quality one going and get your volumes right ! I mix the powder calcium in a small plastic cup with kettle hot water and mix thoroughly and then pour that into the mix of milk stated above so its evenly through the whole mix gaurenteed as apposed to sprinkling the powder directly onto food , its not even and clumpy ?