hi all what do i need to preper for whelping ,thanks

The Book of the Bitch first of all. Make sure your bitch and stud dog have had relevant health checks for the breed, are of good type (by showing them and winning with them) and most importantly have excellent temperaments.

If we can keep this thread with sensible information, I will branch it so that we can keep it as a reference thread. Can I ask any further replies to be added to the original post, as it makes it easier to remove unwanted posts and keep this thread as information only. Many thanks

Hi Cath, you need a lot of stuff if this is a first litter. The first thing you should buy is the Book of the Bitch available from Amazon.co.uk

Other stuff, probably forgetting half of it-

- a whelping box big enough for your bitch to lie down comfortably with room for the puppies when they are bigger but still feeding from mum.
- loads of newspaper to soak up the discharges at the whelping and for mum to tear before the pups come. I put pads of it under a vetbed
- vetbeds to fit your whelping box. You will be constantly washing and drying these so you will need several. I buy a full roll of new vetbed for each litter which cuts up to leave me with 5 beds.
- a heat pad and/or heat lamp
- a room thermometer to check that the room is being kept warm enough for the pups when they are tiny.
- a clinical thermometer to check mum's temp pre-whelping.
- KY jelly or better, Obstetric Gel 
- arterial clamps in case mum doesn't tear the cord herself. You can abrade the cord with your finger nails but I prefer to tear it with two clamps
- antiseptic to keep your clamps in
- Veterinary Nutridrops for a pup that is not feeding well.
- Dopram V for pups that do not breathe well.
- Puppy Colostrum in case for some reason mum can't feed the pups.
- a bitches' milk replacement such as Esbilac, Welpi or Lactol in case you have to hand feed or supplement
- a suitable feeder for your puppies size. The Canac feeder is recommended for many breeds but for my giant breed pups I use human baby bottles with premature baby silicone teats. I also have various sizes of feeding tube to hand but unless you know how to tube feed there is no point in having them
- rough sterilised cloths in case you have to help a pup out and for drying pups. Towelling is good
- a good torch to follow mum outside with when she is due to whelp
- scales to weigh the pups

Hi,

Please find below a ready made kit that I have taken from a website you can buy this kit online,  if you want the website just PM me, it has everything you need in it for the actually whelping.

1x Stethoscope- for listening to puppies heartbeat.

1x disposable birthing pad- this measures at 90cm x 60cm and is great to have down for your bitch to whelp on, it is very absorbent, with a waterproof backing, making cleaning up much easier for you! We use these on our girls and find them a lot better than old blankets as you just throw them away leaving you with less washing.

10x disposable medical aprons-These are great for keeping you clean as well as helping to keep things sterile to bitch and pups.

10x surgical vinyl gloves (latex free) hypoallergenic

10x alcohol prep wipes- to clean medical instruments before and after use.

1x kidney dish- to keep medical equipment sterile

1x stainless steel medical scissors- to cut puppies umbilical cord.

1x medical stainless steel artery forceps-used to clamp puppies cord

1x 25ml bottle of iodine tincture- this helps in the drying out of the umbilical cord, use twice daily on cords till they drop off and continue for one day after.

1x bag of cotton balls- for applying iodine to pups umbilical cords.

1x tube KY jelly 42g for lubrication.

2x 5ml syringes- used for administering feed/fluids/or medication as well as for clearing amniotic fluid from puppies mouth and nose

2x 2ml syringes- same as above

1x 250g tub of sherleys lactol milk replacer- Highly recommended for orphaned animals, puppies and kittens born into large litters, as a weaning aid and as a nutritional supplement for pregnant animals.

1x feeding kit- consisting of one bottle, one bottle brush and 3 teats for administering feeds.

1x plastic box to keep all your whelping kit tidy.

1x digital thermometer- to indicate when whelping is near, if keeping a record you will know this when your bitches temperature drops.

1x temperature chart- to keep a record of your bitches temperature.

5x 5 generation pedigrees

5x puppy data sheets- this sheet tells you-birth information of each puppy-markings of each puppy-development of each puppy-vaccination dates given to each puppy-worming dates of each puppy as well as dates and records of each vet visit with puppies.

1x litter weight record sheet- this is a chart to write down the weight of each individual puppy for each day so you can watch their progress. This is especially good as you will know if one particular pup isn't gaining much weight and you can then act on it before it becomes a bigger problem.

1x litter birth record sheet- this is a chart that tells you the time puppy was born-gender of puppy born-colour of pup-markings of each puppy born as well as weight and time between births and a record of placentas passed.

As well as this essential kit, you of course need a whelping box/crate with plenty of blankets, sheets and towels and the ever essential hot flask of coffee. :-D

And a bed of some kind next to the whelping box big enough for you!

A quality bitch and a waiting list for your puppies. :)

Go into Ebay, they sell complete welping kits on there. approx. £42.00.
if you can't find it email me.

Make sure your car has enough fuel to get you to and from the vet.

Keep the back of the car ready, so that if necessary, you can put your bitch straight in and rush to the vets.

Don't drink any alcohol from about a week before the puppies are due, and for a few days after they are born, in case you have to make an emergency dash to the vet.

Hi Cath keep your vets phone number very close to hand , if at all possible enlist the help of an experienced breeder who you and your bitch know and trust
You may need matchsticks to prop open your eyes and most of alll lots of patience , love and compassion for your bitch
good luck.

Great advice also don't forget to check that you have wormers
for both resulting pups and their dam...
Best to check with your vet as there are alot of different worming products
on the market.

The most common are Drontal and Panacur.