Hi everyone
First time whelp approching really fast now just under 3 weeks!
Been reading up lots - also have the book of the bitch just B4 anyone recomends to buy that one :)
I have got a whelping box, milk & 2 dog feeding bottles so far - just about to buy the vet bedding
But was wondering what pratical things I should really be buying in, as I don't just want to buy everything on the list and really not use any of it so please could you let me know what you would use when your bitch is whelping

Many thanks

hi
I definately used loads of gloves (stops your hands smelling) and incontinence sheets for the floor ( you could use puppy pads but i nicked mine from work)  loads of tea towels/towels for drying pups so at least 10 in case. Newspaper- tons and tons. Dry bedding for mum and pups when its all over. i had a heat mat in a corner. torch for night time. Sterile scissors in case you have to cut cords in a hurry. A cardboard box with blanket and hot water bottle in case whole litter needs to go to vet. Sheet in car in case bitch needs vet. Glucose to give to drink during whelping- tins of chicken soup to follow whelping. Ky jelly. black bin liners for rubbish. small bottle of brandy (supposed to be useful to revive pups) kitchen roll for your hands and general mess. Soft lighting (lamp) and DVD for entertainment in first stage- bottle of wine to celebrate when finished (for you not the dog!) vets phone number and phone near by. Pad and pen- i wrote down times of birth- a clock- you need to time between pups. Weighing scales which i used the day after. tippex to mark puppies the day after. keep bitches lead handy too. thats about it- i think.

sara1bee
you type too fast :-D

PLENTY of kitchen heavy duty kitchen roll, disinfectant ,
LOADS of newspaper, glucose drink for bitch, clean tea towels
(ones you don't mind chucking out) messy business whelping.
Vets phone no. sharp sterile scissors, surgical gloves,
LARGE jar of coffee !

Donna :-)

KY Jelly.:)
I had to ease the first puppy out so this was very useful :)

Something soft for your knees!!! Mine killed me after being on them for a few hours. Definately have pen and paper next to you to record the times of delivery and keep an eye on the time between pups.  It will happen in a daze and it's not till after that you sit down and take it all in.

A few small syringes from the vets are always handy to have in case a pup needs some fluids.  Sterilizing fluid or tablets if you need to use bottles or syringes - don't buy anything just use a plastic tub and clean well then sterilize.

After the pups are born I always had a small bag next to the whelping box, with some kitchen roll and babywipes. These were essential items when mum missed a poo, you could clean up and pop it in the bag.  You can never have enough kitchen roll with puppies around. 

Glucose powder from the chemist is cheap and a useful source of energy, I wouldn't be without it now.  I can't think of anything else at the moment but I'm sure there will be lots more advice.  Good luck!
A

As the advice given pretty much covers it,the only thing extra I can think of that I found extremely useful was a hand-gel.Whilst browsing the shelves at the chemist I spotted an anti-bacterial hand-gel that killed germs,without the need to wash your hands all the time.I found it invaluable and made anyone who came to see and handle the pups rub it into their hands.I also had a foot-bath outside the front-door that I got everyone to put their feet in.To my mind you can never be too careful.

Speaking as someone whose main standbys for whelping are a) plenty of newspapers and b) the vet's emergency phone number, I'm assuming people take these same hygeine precautions when they have a new baby themselves? Anti-bacterial handwashes and footbaths for visiting relatives ... ;)

LOL JG. :) That reminded me of when I had one of my babies, and the midwife asked to wash her hands during a home visit. She found a bottle of Hibiscrub and used that instead of soap, and was impressed with how hygienic we were having Hibiscrub available. I didn't have the heart to tell her the Hibiscrub was for bathing the cats in!!

My own main requirements: Lots of newspapers. Lots of towels and flannels in case pups need rubbing or cleaning. Several vet beds as they need washing frequently. Having the whelping box close to a comfy armchair or couch!  MOBILE PHONE so no need to leave the spot! (Whether it is for calling the vet or texting experienced breeder at 4 am like I do LOL.) And having a smaller box of some sort to safely put the pups inside whilst the bedding is being changed -I also find this invaluable during the birth as the mum can otherwise step on the pups (and get them all wet with blood again after they have been washed) when she gets preoccupied with giving birth to another.

In my expereince m6y btches get very upset if I put pups in a box even right next to her, so I end upwith trying to keep the pups on the heat pad on Mums teats betwen births, and then trying to keep them from being doused in more birth fluids, while next is born.

So yes lots of old clean towels.

Also I shred newspaper to use in the whelping box for whelping and after for under the Vet bed.

Tear a newspaper along the spine and then tear down the shortway into inch dwide strips, and cam in a big bin bag.

Much easier for mopping up the birth fluids t6han trying to get wads of paper out from under the bitch.

Depending on your flooring (my girl had the pups in my bedroom), I found it useful to cover the whole floor in a heavy duty plastic sheet to protect the carpet.

Must be different bitches, different ways Brainless -if I tried that my pups would go flying as the mum doesn't stay still at all but keeps moving about and pulling at the vet bed etc. :) Like the idea of shredding the newspaper, now why did I never think of that?! :)

I never give the Vet bed until whelping finished so scrabbling around in the shredded paper less problematic for the pups I just fish them back onto the heat pad. :D

My bitches tend to go asbout an hour or two betwen whelps, and at least 20 minutes so I like to get pups latched on from the start, and the girsl constantly wash them throughout, except when actually whelping the next one.

I don't shred the paper as my girls really like to get their teeth into things whilst having their contractions, so like a good pull at the paper.

Just a few things for you, pillow, blanket etc. as I end up sleeping on the sofa or the floor :d

Depending on your breed, I have westies, I use face cloths instead of t towels, I find them easier to use to dry off puppies, I usually have them over the radiator so they are nice and warm to heat up puppy and dries them off easier.

Thanks everyone for all the info got my note book and pen out writing it all down!!!

Mabel is really slowing down now and lolloping around the place just 21/2 weeks to go now so better get my backside into gear and get the stuff in.  :)

Will keep you all informed when the time comes and no doubt be on here asking for help and extra info
Cheers everyone
Suzi

Do you want the papers we didnt use.  Weve got at least three bales of unread newspapers?

Sent you an email back already echo but just incase you don't get it   YES PLEASE!!

When you get the chance could you phone us please
Cheers ;)

Suzi