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Poll
heat pad for whelping small breeds or a heated whelping bed
Heat pad |
3 |
100% |
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Heated bed |
0 |
0% |
|
I ordered a heated whelping bed but as it was too small I returned it and was going for a larger size, however I have also bought a heat pad and I seem to remember reading on here that this may be a better option as the pups would naturally navigate towards the warm source, whilst the bitch could be kept from overheating. My breed is small so I want to make sure thier body temp is maintained, and initally thought the heated whelping bed was a great idea, but now I am not so sure?
ETA: All whelping will be done in the walk in wardrobe in my bedroom on the top floor of the house so it's quite warm anyway.
By jas
Date 11.01.07 19:46 UTC
Never used a heated bed - I doubt that one existes big enough for my breed! I use a heat pad and the pups do head for it keeping Mum cooler. I also keep the temperature in the whelping room high for the first 3 weeks. It's hot for Mum - and for me too as I sleep in the whelping room when the pups are small - but fingers tight crossed, I don't lose many puppies.
By Dill
Date 11.01.07 21:36 UTC
I used a heat pad when I was breeding Burmese cats :) I preferred it as the mother and kittens could be in a cooler part if they wanted. The pad only gets warm if they're lying on it, in fact I used to put a telephone directory on it to check it was working before using it ;)
When I had pups I made a big den for them out of the whelping box by covering it with a blanket which hung down a few inches. It kept the den warm and dark which the bitch and pups seemed to like.
By LucyD
Date 11.01.07 21:48 UTC
One of my books says to get a heat pad which covers part of the whelping box, then the puppies can choose whether to be warmer or cooler. That's what I'm going to do. :-)
I've got a heated pad too. Think it's made by Petnap? they are about £30 new. The ones with chew-proof cord. I got mine off Ebay for £3

from a Cat Rescue place.
By GoldenGirl3
Date 13.01.07 01:29 UTC
Edited 13.01.07 01:33 UTC
Great stuff everyone thanks. I had the confirmation that the mating 4 weeks ago of my bitch was successful, so I am now engrossed in reading and re-reading TBOTB & many other recommended reads. This will be my first litter so I am a tad nervous, but have located a private vet who will do emergency home visits out of hours and operates an ambulance service, so I am feeling much more 'supported' in case things are not straightforward. Some members from here have been exceptionally helpful to me too.
I managed to pick up a second hand petnap heat pad through ebay which arrived today. I am going to abandon the idea of a heated bed as I think the option for a cooler area seems essential really.
I also ordered some pro-fleece vet bed material, just for my dogs crates, but I have read that this is no good to be used over the heat pads as due to the thickness the heat doesn't permeat (which makes sense). Does anyone here think any different?
I thought I would let Mum whelp on the pro-fleece as the top stays dry and I can keep pups nearby on the heatpad with a different covering. Then when it's all over transfer to permanent clean bed for all with the heatpad in one area. Make sense?

I use the heat pads under the Vet bed and the heat does come through.

I just use newspaper for welping, as some bitches tear the bedding to shreds, newspaper ends up like confetti and the bitch finds it easier to nest in the newspaper, dont know if any one else uses this? Mine welp in a cupboard with a heat bulb and my gas ch boiler in in there as well so its really nice and warm, not too hot. Once welping has finished I then change all the newspaper for vet bed with the rubber back, bought from www.stocknutrition.co.uk. I dont use a heat pad until I move the litter out of the welping box roughly 3 wks of age into my living room in a cage with heat pad and puppy pen attatched so they can hear all household noises.
By Brainless
Date 13.01.07 11:29 UTC
Edited 13.01.07 11:32 UTC

I use newspaper but once whelping is finished I top clean paper with Vet Bed. It is much nicer for the pups as it lets liquid pass through and pups are never lying in the wet, and also gives good traction.
You do have to watch that the bitch doesn't dig it up and a pup gets trapped underneath. there are now special vet bed pads with a back envelope so that a sheet of stiff waterproof card can be inserted to stop this danger.
Couldn't imagine rearing pups without vet bed, especially once the risk of crushing is over,a nd pups are on the move. It gives them somewhere warm and dry to lie.
All this is great to know thank you. I am going to look for the envelope vet bed as I agree the facility of dry top is very desirable.

Can't seem to vote again, same message upgrade in process

.....I use heatpads and vet bed.
By Blue
Date 13.01.07 20:15 UTC

Couldn't vote neither Sharon :-(
I use Heat pad, vet bed and I buy packs of white unprinted newspaper . Blish for white puppies. :-)

Pam, Where do you get the packs of unprinted newspaper, did not know you could get this. Would be really handy as you say especially with white pups.
By Blue
Date 14.01.07 00:27 UTC

Hmmm I am not sure I want to give away my secret ;-)
Cash and Carry. Most Cash and Carrys will have it as the chip shops use it. Quite big packs £8 each pack, cant remember how many sheets are in it but I will have a look and come back and tell you later on when I go out to the grooming room. It is loads and loads in one pack though. I generally use a pack per litter. I then continue to use it in the puppy pen for youngsters I am running on..

Thanks Pam, much appreciated. Hope the pup is coming along nicely.
By gwen
Date 15.01.07 19:25 UTC

I am in the minority here, as I use a heated bed, but for the delivered pups, instead of the "treaditional" cardboard box and hot water bottle idea. I don't use a heated pad in the whelping box, but a heat lamp. this allows me to use the thickest vet bed, and the heat source beams directly down, allowing a cooler area away from the lamp. Worked for me for years. My whelping box is made with the sides separate from the base, so the vet bed is located directly onto the base and the sides fix down over it, keeping the vet bed in place even with the most enthusiasatic digger. The bitch enjoys the digging, no chance of the pups getting misplaced under a rolled up vet bed or shredded newspaper.
bye
Gwen
By jas
Date 15.01.07 22:52 UTC
Edited 15.01.07 22:54 UTC
I whelp onto a vetbed covered layer of newspaper and replace the newspaper and the vetbed once the whelping is finished. My breed does not dig much in preparation for whelping but if I had one that was avid to dig I'd leave her with just newspaper to shred to her heart's content.
Like you, I couldn't imagine whelping without multiple vetbeds. When the pups are small they have a heat pad in one corner of the whelping box, under the vetbed, and they do gravitate to that area as the heat comes through fine.
Interested to hear about the vetbed with the card - hadn't come across that before.
Yes I wonder if Brainless would know where I could lay my hands on one fairly swiftly? Please share or PM me Brainless if you get a moment.
Thanks everyone for all the feddback, I wasn't able to vote either, maybe the poll functions been disabled?
I'm loving the sound of chip shop unprinted newspaper for whelping mainly because I have a bit of a phobia about newspaper print (it's a long story). I don't run my own business so how could I get hold of some, any ideas?

Here you go:
NEWDOG
Newdog unique non ruck whelping
mats and disposable whelping boxes.
Tel: 01749 870979
Web: www.newdog.co.uk
Email: enquiries@newdog.co.uk
Thanks Brainless you're a star and don't live up to your nickname ;)
Brainless I am just about to order some bespoke whelping mats from the new dog co - do you use the heatpad under them? I will ask when I order.
VERY reasonable prices, I am using the big boxes my Arden Grange dog food is delivered in for whelping and am having the mats made the same size, so saving a small fortune.
Answered my own question, but thought I'd let others know.
The whelping mats are excellent value and Elaine who works at New Dog was very helpful. I've ordered 2, may order some more later on once they've arrived and I have checked them out and double checked the fit of the made to measure size I requested.
The mats can be used with heated pads so long as you place the pad between the stiff polypropelene (sp?) and the upper vetbed material; lead to heat pad can be fed through velcro fastening.
I've lined the whelping box with newspapers and covered that with generous amount of cross shredded porous paper from my filing cabinet (old bills etc) for her to dig.
Will this be ok as I intend to keep pups in small box with heat pad til my girl has finished and then swap for new bed already lined with whelping mat and heatpad?

You may find your birth will not be happy with her pups in a box, none of mine ever were (would gt very upset if I removed a pup, and you want them suckling to hlp further births) I just played around with keeping the pups already born on the heat pad while th bitch got on with it,a d tried to keep them from getting wet again from the next birth.
I keep removing the soiled shredded paper and adding fresh throughout whelping so as to keep the bitch as dry as possible.
Tar a newspaper along the spine and then down the shortest length into strips, it is very therapeutic while you wait for the bitch to whelp. I put th shredded paper into a large sack and then toss as much as I need into the whelping box.
A nice lady in Belgians showed me years ago.
:) Thank you so much. I will probably attempt to handle it the same as you with keeping the pups as close to mum and suckling if poss.
I am feeling more prepared now as I have got things quite well organised. I am just speaking to pals who're more experienced, and I've enlisted the help of a vet who will come to my home, as well as a pet chauffer who can transport me quickly to a 24 hour hospital if need be.
I'm less nervous and more excited. Would liked to have gone over to Essex to watch my friends dog whelp before my own was due, but it's not going to be possible with this particular dog, maybe with a different one at a later stage.
I am hoping that my newly found confidence will rub off on Mum as she's whelping. I'm not a foolish person and am very sensitive to my bitch so I think if I remin calm and follow my intuition then I should do ok. It's just that it's the first time and I am on my own with my trusty BOTB & several other recommended reads. I just want to make sure I don't let my bitch down by not being as prepared as I could be.

Glad im not the only one with a newspaper print phobia........arrrrrr one of many!!!!!!!!!
hi, my dog is small to medium so i use a childs inflatble paddling pool! the sides are soft so if a pup does get stuck behind mum it doesn't get squashed as the sides give. I also use a single electric blanket (variable heat setting and cheap from argos) to put under the vet bed - i protect it with newspaper. I plug the blanket in when she's in labour(i am a midwife so its labour to me!) and keep it close by with towels wrapped inside then when a pup is about to be born i remove the others and put in the warm towels and blanket. I am lucky enough to get hold of incontinent sheets that i change after each puppy is born, they're absorbant with plastic backing. Puppy training pads would be good. If you need unprinted paper go to your local chippy as this is what they use, I'm sure they'll sell you some at cost. My husband has a fish & chip take away and i know he would do this.
once all is complete i then use vet bed with electric blanket underneath half of the paddling pool so mum can move away from the heat.

I can just imagine mine with a kids paddling pool :D It would be shredded in seconds, but tinies I suppose it works well.
It is the same with whelping boxes some breeds a sturdy carton will do the Job, with larger stronger breeds it has to e more durable.
Lorripop you must have read my mind as I picked up a pack of the unprinted paper from my local chippy this afternoon :)
My new dog bespoke whelping mats also arrived and I am dead chuffed with them!
As you are a midwife can I ask you if you read my other post on scales tht midwives use for the 1st 10 day period visiting mums and babies?
Do I need puppy gurads for the side of the whelping bos really? I can get them from new dog but hadn't ordered them at the same time as the mats. I am dealing with Chi's so mum's not a huge weight anyway but................is it better safe than sorry or am I just being a neurotic worrier? LOL
By Lorripop
Date 26.01.07 08:33 UTC
Edited 26.01.07 12:42 UTC
we dont use the old fashioned scales anymore they are big electronic ones. I use my digital kitchen scales with an old plastic ice cream tub on them, they work well and as my bred is small to medium there even ok when the pups get a bit bigger - slightly more of challenge as they are much more wriggly!
My paddling pool will last us until around 4 weeks as scotties have little legs and cant jump over the sides - the one I bought (from ebay) has 3 blow up rings to it. I think if i had proper whelping box I would use rails just in case - my Florence tends to ignore cries if the puppy is behind her, I always have to rescue it.
Thanks Lorripop. A lined ice cream tub would be an excellent addition to my WW scales :-)
I am so pleased with some anti ruck whelping mats I bought that I have decided to order a large fitted crate one for my GSD who rucks her anti slip vetbed in her crate all the time, so I will order some bespoke rails in the hope it will stop Mum andangering the pups by squashing.
I am showing my age with the old fashioned midwifery scales on the other thread! hee hee

I use kitchen scales, and once they get over 4 pounds I use a fishing scale and put the pup in a strong shopping bag and hook the handles on the scale and weigh. It gives 4 ounce demarcation so if it is in between I count oz, accurate enough by that stage. Gos up to 12 pounds.
That sounds similar to the old midwife scales I was speaking of Brainless.
I love those anti ruck mats so much I am going to order a huge pair of them for my GSD's crates as the non slip vetbed I have is usually all over the shop when she's been in there for just a few mins and I have to climb in and straighten it up. Making sure I get out before my sons push me in and lock it whilst laughing at me!
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