Just read a post about dopram v and whelping kits ready bought. Interestingly I noticed that JeanSW chooses to buy everything seperately and fresh each time she has a bitch in whelp. Im in the process of getting my wheping kit ready (the only thing I havent got yet it dopram v) Im hoping I can get some at the vets because its really hard to find online. With my last litter I got it from hyperdrug with no problems whatsoever.
So Tiegan is due her babies in 13 days and was just wondering if you breeders could do a list of the things you have in your whelping kits, just to make sure I havent missed anything.
Thankyou
Amy

is dopram v available again now ? its been out of stock everywhere.

I brought a large whelping kit off ebay. It has everything Im likely to need in it. I think the only things i need to get extra are the dopram V (if my vet will supply it for me) and scales that measure in oz, which I already have and some Tums. I also have nurti-cal.

Ill also be interested to see what I may have missed. I dont want to take any chances. x

Here's another thread on the same subject - hopefully you'll find some good info in there

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=1185188

tiegold
Like you, I've always bought Dopram V from hyperdrug, so will be speaking to my vet about it next time I see him.  No litters on the horizon, but just so that I am not left high and dry.

One of the things I would recommend (as you have 13 days to plan it!) is the obstetric gel that hyperdrug stock.  I don't know if you already use it Amy, but I find it a million times better than KY jelly.  It is more slippy, and getting a stuck pup loosened is a breeze.  And a bargain at around £4.  I always fill 4 syringes as soon as a bitch goes into labour.  If it's not needed, fine - I can squirt it down the sink.  And I am talking about a toy breed, so guess you would need more for larger bitches.

But I've used this bottle on my last 4 whelpings, and have loads left.  Bargain!  :-)

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Obstetric-Gel-550g/productinfo/OBS9006362/

Thought I would post this, as folk often don't know what to buy for the best, and I would recommend this to anyone.

I used lamb lube!!!

It's brilliant stuff, can help in a mating, a whelping, in wiring a house .... so many uses :-)

> so many uses

hair gel,,,,  oiling the rusted up brakes on the bicycle!  :-)  :-)  :-)

That looks like a good option.  i was going to get KY Jelly.  This looks far better value as well as being better, thanks JeanSW.

I'm starting to get things together as well.  i thought about the whelping kits but there's a lot in them that I either haver have or no of much use.

Oh yes, good use for hair gel, wouldn't have thought of that. Not that I have a bicycle any more :-(  Will look for other things I don't want to go rusty to apply it to.

I think I might order some of the obestetric gel you mentioned. Tis exactly the same as lamb lube but about a third the price I paid at the vets!! Ta :-)

Thanks everyone, JeanSW thats very helpful...i do already have the exact same bottle. I bought it for last litter but never even opened it as we didnt need it. The syringe thing is very helpful though, never would have thought to do it like that. I take it you squirt the syringes up before trying to move pup? Also what size syringes do you use for your toy breed? Just so I can get an idea of how much I would need to use

Thanks everyone, very helpful.
Amy

Isabella, what do you use the tums for? Ive also got infacol here too just incase :-)
Amy

tums is used for calcum ,vet told me to use them too!
xxxx

> I take it you squirt the syringes up before trying to move pup?

Most definitely!   I use 4 of the 1ml syringes for Chi's and Yorkies, just insert them evenly around pup, vulva is quite pliable.  Then, basically - squirt!!  :-)

When you need to move fast you will be so glad that you filled the syringes at the start of things.  As I said, you can squirt it down the sink if not needed (it's cheap enough.)

If a bitch gets too dry you don't always need to manipulate, as the next contraction just plops them out.  Naturally this doesn't happen if the head is caught on the pelvic bone.  If I had larger bitches to whelp I would just fill 6 of the 5 ml syringes. 

I have used it on a thermometer prior to taking temperature, just so it slides in easily.  It is great stuff.  (Don't tell anyone how good it is at that price!)  They will catch on, and double the price.  :-)  :-)  :-)

Jean do you use a bit of feeding tube on the syringes, or just as they are?

I have also just oredered some of the gel you suggested. x

Thats great Jean, thanks very much!! Lets hope we dont come across that problem but at least now Ill be more prepared if we do :-)

Ive got tums in the house, previously used for myself. Do you just give them if there is a problem or do you give them at a certain time and how many?
Thanks again

i think thats a good idea isablla ;0)
xxxx

> do you use a bit of feeding tube on the syringes, or just as they are

No, I've never used anything on the syringes.  I just ensure they are brand new, and only take them out of the paper when a bitch starts labour.  I have never had a problem gently inserting them (I don't do them all together, but do space out where I put them.)  To be honest, I've never had to insert them very far anyway.

I usually order syringes in 10's and always have a variety of sizes in stock.

> No, I've never used anything on the syringes.

Ok Thanks Jean.

The things I ordered from Hyperdrug yesterday, arrived today. Fab service, very impressed!

> Fab service,

I've used them for years, and they have even phoned me once when I ordered some show leads that were out of stock.  They wanted to know if I was waiting for the rest of the order (in case anything was urgent.)  I can't fault them.

tums is used for calcum ,vet told me to use them too!
xxxx

why do you need to use tums after she has had her babies, it it just to help with milk supply???

yrlance im interested in this too...I have them here in the house but not sure whether to use them.
When should they be given, why do you give them and how many do you give?

Thanks everyone :-)
Amy

1 of my girls was showing signs of lack of calcium and vet told me to use tums ,4 aday all at same time (large breed 38kg
xxxx

what are the signs of lack of calcium?

sorry,just bumping my question - what were the signs of lack of calcium?

Signs of acute calcium deficiency are confusion, staggering around, muscle tremmors, falling over, losing consciousness and a very high temperature and excessive panting . If a newly whelped bitch starts showing signs like this get her to the vet ASAP as it can be fatal and they will need intravenous calcium.
Usually happens within a few days of birth but I know a bitch that had a couple of episodes when the pups were 2 weeks old.

If a bitch is eating well you should not need to supplement with calcium but occaisionally a bitch will go off her food and in extreme cases refuse to eat very much at all. In these cases I would add a calcium supplement.

thank you x x x
We have been adviced to give our bitch ( she is on day 48 ) calcical (sp ?) or canival ? 3 tabs a day but are torn because everything you read says not to supplement because of risk of eclampsia.Its such a worry this whelping malarky! you get so much conflicting advice and are torn between advice from breeders you respect and books ! grrr

Who advised you to supplement during pregnancy? There is a lot of anecdotal evidence (including reports from vets; when treating cases of eclampsia all the breeders have said that they'd given extra calcium) that calcium supplements during pregnancy actually increases the likelihood of eclampsia post-whelping.

It's impossible to say whether the bitches would have developed it anyway, but in no cases was the bitch not supplemented.

This clears things up, thanks..
Yvonne x

Well I know of a case where the bitch was definitely not supplemented before hand!

It certainly happens without supplementation as well - and also that not all supplemented bitches will develop it; it just seems to increase the likelihood.