Lab pregnancy

Question
The websites are awsome! I'm going out to buy a few books on it today. I do have a question about something you said. Why is it so costly? Is it the increase in appetite and the visits to the vet?
I'm feeding her Nutro (Natural Choice)Lamb and Rice Formula is that any good for her?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
My black female lab is pregnant. I was getting her fixed next month and while we were away, the dog sitters had a big oops. Anyway, she mated with a yellow lab. What color puppies will she have? Her parents were chocolate and silver lab. Can she have puppies that are that color?
I've never had a pregnant dog before. Where can I find the most information on caring for her while she's pregnant and after she gives birth. Anything you know can help. Thankyou
-----Answer-----
Hello, Just so your in the know a pregnant og is the easy part the litters care for 8 weeks is very time and money consuming...my option is a dog sitter isnt very good if you come back to a pregnant dog. The puppies can be any lab color my lab came from a yellow mother chocolate farther she is black as were her 11 litter mates...not one of another color...it seemed very intresting at the time.    I'll offer some care links because the time needed to explain everything may take a bit longer then I have at this time but I would be happy to help with indavidual questions later if you need more information,http://www.dogbreedinfo.org/breedingpregnancyguide.htm


http://www.gundogmag.com/health_nutrition/litter_062104/

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/7244/costs.html

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/whelping.html

I hope this helps if you need anything else feel free to ask, Best of luck to you and your big girl.

Answer
Hello, your very welcome. Costly because she will start eatting more so food bills go up, once the litter is weaning and starting to eat softened dry food the food bills go up you will have the litter eatting soild foods along with there mothers milks for 5/6 weeks then they will eat dry food noyl as the mother is drying up...the high quaility puppy food will add to the cost of keeping the puppies if you have 6 or more hungry mouths plus the mothers to feed it can be fairly expensive, you'll also need towels for the welping box which can be bought used or bought new or you can buy doggy blanketsfor bedding thou it will be expensive as the littering box needs changing daily to several times daily...the puppies will learn to be somewaht potty trained by 2/3 weeks if you place half warm bedding in the littering box half newspaper they will wiggle over to the paper to potty and come back...thou I cant remember if they can acctually relevave themselfs yet at this age maybe its 3 weeks... its been awhile :0. You wil need alot of newspaper or puppy potty training pads to keep yuor house clean until the puppies are fully weaned and gone to there new homes(7/8 weeks is the best age). The puppies should haev some safe toys to paly with teat they cant tear stuffing out off or bits or buttons off which they may choke on. The litter needs there first vaccine and worming before going to there new home for there own safety...vaccie/worming/check up for 6/12 puppies can be a fair amount of money even with the three+ dog discount.
And then its up to you if you want to send the puppies hoem with a pupyp kit consiting of some food they are n, a toy or two/leash or collar that sort of thing. I would have my dog ultrasounded a few weeks before birth but its not very nessairy. You will notice if you configure the costs of vaccinating the litter estamte feeding costs and bedding/toys ect ect that with the puppies money whe they are sold to there new homes you should cover yuor costs but alot of breeders fall behind and loose money with raising a single litter also you will need alot of time for teh puppies as i said you'd need to clean teh ltitering box at the very lest nce daily perferbily twice or more as they get older more offen, once they are around 3 weeks old you can start adding baby food ceral to there diet mixed with milk or puppy milk replacement warmed and offered in saucers...its a messy job and time consuming but this pratice helps the mother get some rest onc they reach this age thou she will still nurse quite alot. Nutro is the best food you can feed at lest its one of the very best without being 90 bucks a bag, natural choice is even better, keep feeding her this is a wonderful diet, once she has the litter you cna mix some puppy food of this brand with her kibble to keep her energy high and milk production up.