mother and puppies are doing great ive put them under the stairs to be on their own and they all seem really happy  its just that im worried about them overheating the mother is panting as she is hot as the weather seems to have changed rather quickly and is very humid, any ideas what the room temperature should be thanks

Hi Stanford,

Isn't it about 70deg for new born pups?

Regards
Denese

I keep my pups at 75 for the first 10 days, until they develop their shivering reflex.

the room is about 75 and the puppies are warm and fine very alert and feeding its just that the mum keeps panting and im worried shes too hot shes drinking plenty and eating not as much as i expected but i know its early days yet and her appetite will increase i think im just being a bit overprotective and fussing

Doesn't the bitch pant when they are feeding anyway, I thought that was normal???

Yes, the bitch tends to pant for a day or so at least, as the uterus contracts down after the whelping, and all her internal organs settle themselves back in their usual positions. Having had a baby myself, I know how uncomfortable that can be!

Stamford, I wouldn't worry at all, most of the books I've read have said to keep the whelping box at 85 - 90 degrees for the first week, but that really is too hot imho, my puppies are a week old, I've kept the whelping box at 75 so far. Heating is mostly through the house central heating so the borzois and I are cooking :o)  I also have a plug in heat pad and a hot water bottle. Even very young pups seem to be able to find the warmest spots don't they and mine are often found buried under the lightweight fleeces I have in there. The first 24 hours after birth a pups temperature is only 94, it takes about three weeks to climb up to 98 - 100. It's because of their initial low temperature that you have to keep the surrounding area warmer.

my problem has been keeping pups cool.  I have found that mine in the Winter don't want additional heat for more than a week, and room temperature is quite enough.

This litter and my last two (Sept 03 and May 04) have been a problem as have had to put icepacks in whelping box in a towel at one end as pups distressed with the heat.

Blimey Brainless...thats good to know....and will make me worry less about keeping the temp gauge bang on 75. I see you're quite a bit further south and presumably warmer than up here in chilly Scotland :)