After asking advice from various people in my breed, I have found that whilst some use heat lamps for new born puppies some also use heat pads.  Can anyone advise which is the easier/efficient. The pups will be born and raised in the house.  How long would I use the heat lamp on the pups?  I am thinking along the lines of 2/3 weeks (weather permitting).  Thank you in advance :)

Depends on the breed.  My own breed I don't find they want the heat after about 10 days, even in winter, but their whelping box is made into a cave and covered over so quite cosy.  I have in fact had more problems with pups getting too warm and having to bring them down to the kitchen earlier where it can be cooler by using the open back door.

Except for breeds that are thin coated I find few breeders now want to use heat lamps with litters born indoors.  the heat Pads are less intrusive and can be used so the bich doesn't have to lie on it.

Thank you brainless, are you able to advise on a make or heat pad at all and where to buy?  Thank you for your reply.

I have two.  One is a vinyl one from Hyperdrug, anf the other is a metal covered one.  Can't say which is best, as long as yur bitch isn't a chewer.

I did once borrow one of the ones for snakles which I liked as it was a flat piece of stiff plastic with the wires embedded in it, so beautifully flat.

I have a smaller breed and have used both heat pad and lamp BUT I honestly prefer the heat pad for young puppies and probably won't use the heat lamp again.  The heat pad is also great if a bitch has a section and their temp is a bit lower as heat coming through the body is supposed to be more beneficial. I would rather have it personally than not. The puppies move off it when the get too warm themselves.

http://www.petnap.co.uk/acatalog/product_Information.html

Yep Blue that is the one I first had.  I bought the vinyl one from Hyperdug as it is flatter, but think I prefer the metal one.  with smaller litters I ahve found them useful to reassure me that the pups are not cold at night.  With larger litters I usually find they don't want to lie on them, so switch them off, but I use them whilst whelping the bitch for the pups to lie on while the litter are being born.  bitches in my breed would not allow you to take their pups out of the way while whelping, so it does help try to keep them dry while the next ones are born.

Thanks Blue, Brainless thats exactly what I am looking for. :)

Hi Brainless, totally agree I think at whelping time that is when the heatpads are worth their weight in gold. I personally don't like the room too hot during whelping for the bitch so when dried the puppies happily lie on the pad in the corner if need be.   I find I keep it switched on for the first few days day and night and they by a week they are only on at night or if I think they are not as warm as I like.    I also bought one of the microwave ones to use for emergency in the car etc incase I cant get hot water or am delayed etc. I wouldn't use it in the whelping box at home but for heat at the emergency stage at the vets or in the car it is good. ( just have to be careful it is covered well as it is hot)

I have had pups born in the car and then pups to bring back after a secton and used it with success in a little cardboard box :-)

I've never used either (pups raised in the house), and never lost a pup ...

I have both for my springers but found I didn't need either with the cavaliers as they were in the house.Infact they are far too hot especially during the day,I'm leaving the door open most of the day and have turned the welping box round so it faces the door and they can get a nice little breeze to cool them down

Kia Mummy :-) hope you don't mind me saying and don't want to nitpick your post but just in case the OP doesn't know it is important that she makes sure there are NO drafts at all in the first few weeks , drafts kill puppies. In fact drafts can cause chills which are are believed to be the single biggest cause of puppy deaths in the first week.

I do know what you mean when they get a bit more mobile after a couple of weeks they can get hot which can also be harmful if too hot.