Hello Everyone.....

I have a litter due and im a bit confused as to when D63 is, This wasnt a planned litter my bitch showed no red when she came into heat and i caught my boy on her on Fri 10th December (they had just tied so left them to untie),and then i separated them so im sure that was when it happened, Ive worked it out to be 12/02 is this correct?

I also have a 48"x48" whelping box for her,and the thermometer is saying that its 25c is this warm enough? (my house is open plan the box is in a utility room with a door leading to the garden)  she has vet bedding in with her i just wanted some advice on whether to get a heat lamp or a heat pad? and if a heat pad what size petnap one shall i get? She isnt a chewer so im safe with a vinyl one. Am ordering tomorrow!

Many thanks in advance:)

10th of Dec should be due 11 th Feb approx 70 deg is warm enough but it must be a constant temp not going up and down... dep on how many puppies due but would imagine for your breed the larg size heat pad.(dont like lamps myself) as mum can find them too hot .
I wouldnt put the vet bedding in until the puppies are born lots of ripped newspaper and old towels or blankets that can be thrown away then new newspaper with the vet bedding on top once puppies are born.

Is the utility room bit enough for you to sleep with mum once puppies are born as I would seriously suggest you do this for the first few weeks.

Hi thanks for your reply.....

Yes the room is big enough to sleep in already got that all planned, and the vet bedding isnt in there yet, just waiting now :)

i have a large breed and my girl had 9 pups i got the xx large heat pad it was great ,pm you now!

When I ordered my vinyl heatpad from Petnap, I just checked with them which size they recommended for my breed.  They were very helpful.
Good luck with the whelping....

Did you not know about the Alizen injection that your bitch could have had?

I did know about the injection, We had a litter planned for the next heat anyway so its just come earlier than expected thats all.

> Am ordering tomorrow!
>
>

 

Leaving it a bit late!  Blimey, this bitch could have whelped any day from 4th Feb and heatpad not ordered?

11th of February by my reckoning. 9 weeks from 10th December.

Just about the Whelping box, is it open or covered up in some way.

If you have a very open plan (or even when not) house bitches like to have a den, and ti also helps contain heat.

Can you put a dining table over the whelping box?  You can then drape a large throw or sheet over to enclose it making a cosy den.

You will need puppy pen panels anyway for a larger area once mobile and to sue to make a safe area outside for playtimes once around 5 weeks.  These could be put around your whelping box giving more height and then a sheet draped over to make the den.

Obviously you still need easy access so might want to add the cover once whelping is complete, but still gives you room for checking and cleaning.

Also regarding temperature this can vary with breed.

For example at whelping I would keep temperature high, but by about 4 days neither bitch or pups in my double coated northern breed can stand temperatures over 65'F though I have the heat pad in the box for them to move to they are all spread out as too warm.

Since 10 days old room temperature has been down to 60'F, and the heat-pad was removed at two weeks.

They will be going into unheated kitchen at 3 weeks.  They will start going outside at 4 - 5 weeks as long as it is above freezing and dry.

On the other hand some breeds crave heat.

Heat pad has arrived!

JEANSW

My Bankcard got cloned and my account was frozen,not that i need to explain myself but as your comment was a bit snotty i felt the need to.

Many thanks for your detailed response! i have had a room thermometer in for 6 days now and not once has it dropped below 25.3c i have a large throw which i intend on putting over the top over a table, the room i can divide from the kitchen using a stairgate,the room has been emptied now with just a table and whelping box, so no apparent danger:)

She is showing no signs just yet so just a waiting game.

have you got something comfy to sleep on :) not that you will be getting much ;0)
xxxx

i have 2 children under the age of 3 so havent slept for years :) xx

wishing you luck with your litter dolly4 :)

this board is a wealth of information and some very informative posts :)

We have 5 healthy pups :) mum is doing brilliant! I am very proud of her :) x

Oh wow didnt expect that lol....well done and congratulations. Do you think she's finished?

that was quick :) wonderful news
xxxx

Congrats to you and mum

Ahh thanks for your well wishes we now have 6 2 girls and 4 boys im thinking maybe 1 more to come :) xx

doing well :)
xxxx

Final count 7 :)  

5 boys
2girls

All feeding well in there clean cosy box,i actually shed a tear im sooo proud of my girl :)

Thanks so much for your advice and well wishes xxx

well done and right on the money (11th)

YES WELL DONE :) 7 is a nice size litter for large breed :) enough for mum to cope well with :)
xxxx

Well wish me luck as my Inka is in the panting stage and moved into the Livingroom with whelping box.

Please please pray my sexes are the other way, though 3 boys would be OK as long as I got 3 girls too.

My guess is 4 - 6, any one care to put in their guesses by PM. 

Barbara

Don't forget to keep us all updated on a new thread.

This is so exciting as we all waited with bated breath when you went away!   :-)

Good luck hope all goes smoothly & swiftly :)

Good Luck Barbara!

Oh my goodness...good luck Barbara hope all goes well. Any further along yet?

So as not to hijack this thread any further http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/128769.html

Have now added a pic on my avatar :))