WHELPING KIT - MUST HAVES!!

[rickyspringer]

hello guys, as a first time breeder I am seeing the recommendations you lot have to include in a whelping kit, all info and advice taken on board,

i have done an awful lot of research, my head is always in the book of the bitch, but keen to hear your views,

kind regards

[vicky payne]

First your vets phone number, and their out of hours number. Check where out of hours work is done and if it's not at your usual clinic drive out there so you can find it easily in a panic in the middle of the night!

You will also find it useful to have clean towels, lots of newpaper or puppuy pads/incontinence pads. Vet bed is good for whelping boxes as fluid will go through it to an absorbent layer below BUT new stiff vet bed is safest unless you can devise a way to fasten it down as pups can get buried as mum digs.
Baby snot bulbs are good for clearing airways, or if you want to save money you can use drinking straws and suck; but take care not to suck too much!
Scales are great to record birth weights and their growth and either mark each pup to indentify them or if they are splody photograph their coat patterns.
You don't need to cut or tie cords. If mum doesn't chew the placental off tear it off at least and inch from the pup.
Heat pads and heat lamps are vital even in warm weather.
Dopram drops used to be great for reviving pups but are now discontinued
Oh, and a good supply of coffee/tea and chocolate for a long night!

[TG-ZAC]

Check I have all of the above, just a matter of waiting now........

She was due lastnignt so I hope she hurrys up, I have had enough of waiting now

[Martinp]

blunt scissors for the cords if needed if you do choose to use your finger nails to tear you must no put on the cord or you will cause a hernia (just use blunt scissors its easier and safer nails only if it arises you must break the cord inside the bitch) vanilla ice cream for inbetween each pup couple of spoonfulls always helps them go faster between ive found.
dont panic at any moment make sure you have a number for someone you can ask advice as your mind will go blank on 1st litter lol.
dont be to soft when drying , pay attention to your bitch you know her better than anyone , always go with your gut feeling rather than the vet bill fear.

hope there crackers mate good luck.

[Sgurr]

Torch and a flexi lead for when the bitch wants to go out in the middle of the night. Torch is to check that she is not dropping a pup and the lead is to keep her with you.
Get the car ready just in case with a box with blanket and hot water bottle for any delivered pups and an area where the bitch can be comfortable should you have to go to the vet. A second person in the car is a great help but if it's just you, then you need a crate for the bitch.

Good luck!
Sgurr

[Rothievale]

New dog whelping mats are a must, vet bed with a plastic insert so that it can't be rucked up. I have 3 sets of them and they've lasted many litters.

[Spaniel Jim]

Last litter of 9 my bitch had she did the whole lot and i didn't even get to see any born.they were several days early as well. Hopefully it will be the same for her next litter in a couple weeks.never had any come on the due date or after always early!always early in the night!

[rickyspringer]

thanks for great advice, just hope it goes smoothly..

thanks alot guys

[DesO'Neile]

First your vets phone number, and their out of hours number.

This is by far the most important. If you have those numbers all you need is a whelping box, fully sorted. i.e. secure, warm, rails. Mine is a plastic potato harvester's tub, about four foot square with a raised floor covered with cow mat. The top is roofed over and has holes for TWO (the lamps never blow until it's something important) heat lamps, that are close enough to keep the place warm but can't actually be touched by the bitch, at least till after she has whelped when you can lower them closer and probably get away with one but by that time you will be looking in regularly so she and the pups won't be cold if the lamp fails and you'll have the other one there ready to rock and roll.

I have this almost phobia about dogs eating newspaper. If you have yet to witness it a bitch goes through a bit before she whelps and she will shred any sort of bedding. The thing with cow mat is that you can really go at it with disinfectant and have it really clean so I don't usually put newspaper in until I think they are all out.