My girl hasnt been confirmed in pup yet, but im trying to compile a list of things I will order the moment she is (if she indeed is!).
Obviously I have things such as box and pen on the list...aswell as lots of vet bed, absorbant pads etc.

I was thinking of buying a whelping kit online to save me buying all the items seperately and then just add to it with extras.

Sooo, what is in your whelping kit that you couldnt do without? Also, I want to get puppy milk in just in case (and hope i never need it) what is your opinion of the best...the ones I have seen are welpi, lactol and royal canin...any others?

I am also unsure about nutridrops / dopram v ...are they essentials in your kit? Or just one or the other?

Oh and also, what is your preferred heat pad...and while were on the subject, how old are your pups before you remove the heat pad/lamp (i dont intend using a lamp). Also (sorry) what size heat pad is suitable..i figure as long as there is room for them to move off the heat and for mum to avoid laying on it it is ok..but i dont want to get one too small (my girl is a medium pastoral breed).

Thankyou

I'd be interested to know this stuff too. I went onto petnap, and am ordering their whelping kit, getting some id tags from Hobbycraft, dopham V was said to be a must to me, puppy pads for under the vetbed, and a notepad and scales to jot down birth weights. Petnap sell heat pads which I'll also be getting one of, and someone told me to get at least two covers, so you can wash one and still have one on there.

I've also heard that due to whelpi tasting so horrid, goats milk is meant to be good, but I'm not sure how well the pups will take to it and if they can handle the richness of it.

just to add here a torch and your bitches collar and lead (i just put a slip lead on) as you may have to take her outside for wee's this is were the torch comes in, if the bitch is whelping at night you need to see what she is doing in case she has a pup out doors, also take a towel out with you.

this subject was covered extensively here http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=1228626;hl=whelping%20kit#pid1228626 (hope that link works)

Lots of old hand towels and flannels, in case you need to help dry some pups OR revive them. In case you need to help a stuck pup be born, the flannels are vital as you cannot get a grip on a slippery pup with your bare hand. I have a bag full with towels and flannels that is the first thing that comes out every time a whelping or kittening is imminent, then afterwards they get washed as hot as only possible. I never use fabric conditioner when washing them as they need to feel a bit rough, it both helps with a grip and when rubbing or reviving.

Nutridrops and Dopram V have 2 completely different uses, the former is to boost energy in dam or pups,latter is to stimulate the breathing of newborn pups  so I have both.

I got 8 flannels for a £1 from the Pound shops, make sure you wash them first with no conditioner.

>Sooo, what is in your whelping kit that you couldnt do without?

Obstetric gel without a doubt.  You can save a life with it, when getting to the vet in time wouldn't be viable.   Top of my list up there with Dopram.