How do you keep a nursing bitch cool in this hot weather? Sophie is getting quite warm we have put sheet ice blocks in the fridge to cool them  not freeze and we wash her underside and face each hour with a cool cloth it seem to work but what else can we do?

The main problem is we need a method that will cool only Sophie and not the puppies.... any idea's would be greatly appreciated.

When I had a summer litter I had a fan on, just high enough for mum, but not low enough for the pups.

Yep Fans, to be honest this is why I don't like litters in the Summer.  so much easier to keep pups warm.

You do need to watch pups don't overheat too. 

How do you know if a puppy overheats?

If the puppies are huddled together they are cold. If they are not touching one another, are restless and seem to making a goldfish out of water type of sound or are very limp when picked up then they are too hot. Obviously these are the extremes, but in this weather you need to be vigilant. So basically anything other than contented puppies is something to be looked at.

Also their mouths and tongues will be very red, almost purple.  they will often get too hot just after feeding from Mum due to the exertion.

One way of cooling down the whelping/Nursery area is to use freezer packs covered in a towel.  Empty pop bottles with frozen water.

Cheerz guys.... I did the pop bottles yesterday which are good, Iv just put a fan on mum now and ill just have a look in the pups mouths. Im quite surprised as they are only 2 days old and are really really active.

If they are active then they are doing well :-)

I never knew about the tongue colour, so I've learned something new today :-p