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Most nutritionists agree that copy is the most carping stress encountered by a womanly dog. While the healthy masculine dog may sire hundreds of puppies without whatever stress whatever , the womanly is called upon to utilize tremendous amounts of power and nutrients during pregnancy and lactation. If her feeding program does not amply give these nutrients and power , she volition gain them by using up her own corpus tissues. If neither dietary nor corpus sources of nutrients and power are available , a jam of difficultnesses volition result.

The manifestation of an insufficient diet during early phases of copy may take upon several forms. Those most liable to be recognized are:

1. An "out of condition" appearance of the dog. This may not become perceptible until after the pups are born. An actual loss in corpus weight throughout gestation may arise , but is unusual in most instances.

2. An uncontrollable diarrhea following whelping and throughout much of lactation. This is most oftentimes seen when she must increase her food intake excessively to confront increased lactational demands because the food she has been eating is poorly digestible or menial in calories.

3. The "fading puppy" syndrome. The puppy may appear normal at birth , but several hours to several days latter it is found crying or whimpering and chilled. It is off by itself , apparently disowned by the mother. Attempts to reunite the two are generally met with failure. The puppy's stomach volition be empty and its corpus volition be dehydrated. When weighed , it volition weigh the same or less than the day before.

4. Anemias. When an anaemia occurs as the result of a dietary dearth during copy , it volition be give in both the dam and pup. When both mother and pup are anemic , the first office to look for its cause is the diet.

Once pregnancy is terminated by the whelping of the pups , an insufficient diet during lactation is most liable to appear as:

1. Lactation failure (agalactia). This is a finish failure of the mammary glands. The dog produces no milk at all from which the pups may be nourished. These pups blubber continuously , fail to gain weight , and unless prompt remedial feeding is started , the pups volition perish.

2. Lactation hole (dysgalactia). While the mammary glands are practicable , they are unable to produce adequate amounts of milk to fully befriend the pups' finish nutrient needs. The pups are restricted in growth rate and may become stunted.

3. Deficient milk. The milk , even though it may be produced in adequate amounts , is deficient in one or supplemental nutrients.