I have, hopefully, a bitch in whelp (scan booked for next Thursday).  I am currently buying/gathering together all the things I am going to need and just would welcome other people's opinions on a couple of things.  According to the BOTB I will need two pairs of scizzors (one rounded pair and other pointed) standing in antiseptic.  I understand I may need to cut the cord but why two pairs?  Also what should I use for the antiseptic solution (would dettol be ok)?  There seems to be a lot of things on the market now designed to help save puppies lives.  Fit and Fertile sell 'puppy live saver' has anybody used this?  Also what about Dopram?   I have a small toy breed which normally has very small litters (average 2).  Any help or tips greatly appreciated.  

Please buy the book of the bitch and read and re-read it. I always have Dopram in just in case. I never cut cords, can lead to haemorrhage, best to let the bitch do it or if she doesn't tear it with your nails about 2 inches up.
Collect newsapapers by the load, lots of vetbed, Thermometer, scales, towels for rubbing puppy dry and encouraging breathing, hot water bottle, heat pad/ lamp, whelping box, nutridrops, glucose, honey or similar for bitch.
Off out now but will post more later x

Thanks for reply.  Yes I have The Book of the Bitch (BOTB) and it's now my bed time reading!  Thanks for the tip about cords.  Hopefully my girl will do it but just want to be prepared just in case. 

Thanks for reply.  Yes I have The Book of the Bitch (BOTB) and it's now my bed time reading!  Thanks for the tip about cords.  Hopefully my girl will do it but just want to be prepared just in case. 

I always find it handy to have clock and paper to time contractions and make note of birth time, placenta etc. keep a bin bag next to you also to put in afterbirths.
Would have a supply of whelpi or similar plus feeding bottles, syringe or dropper just in case.
I would also advise you to buy the best vetbed that you can afford, it I think is false economy to buy the really cheap stuff as it doesn't last or wash as well as other types.
Have someone on standby with you, hour upon hour is hard especially if you need the loo, I don't leave the bitches alone for one minute when they are whelping, I end up ringing my hubby on his mobile upstairs to wake him (eventually) to come down so I can go to loo, make a coffee or so lol.
Good luck

> what should I use for the antiseptic solution (would dettol be ok)?

I use Savlon, but Dettol is fine.  I boil the scissors (and forceps) before putting them in the antiseptic.  So, add forceps to the list, and some heavy duty thread (in case cords need closing off).  I like digital scales as you can see the readings easily when you are getting down to quarter ozs. (v important in tiny breeds) and a note pad and pen, plus reading glasses if you need them.  Also kitchen roll (for mopping up bits and pieces), plus handwipes for you (no time to keep rushing to wash hands), bin bag, antiseptic  spray (for whelping box).  Nutri drops and Dropram very useful to have in your kit.  I would also add sachets of either Lectade or Dioralyte and Puppy milk formual or the ingredients to mix one, small bottle and dropper. Instant heat pads (the kind sold as hand warmers or baby bottle warmers, you press a button and the warm up) are useful to have in case you need to do a Vet dash, and want something warm for the pups ride home. I also have a small puppy crate (I like the soft sided ones best for tiny pups), towels, kitchen roll and bin bags ready in the car, just in case of a dash to vets.  Don't forget to make sure hte car has fuel in it, and you mobile phone is charged and ready. 

With lots this this equipment you will use it for every litter, and for the rest, hopefully you won't need it at all, but by far best to have the items to hand just in case.

disposable gloves and some form of lubricant, i use KY jelly, (and i always get real dirty looks from the staff in the chemist when i ask for it)

Thanks everyone.  Sorry to be thick but what would I want forceps for?  I think I've just about got everything together now. Just hope that the scan on Thursday does show puppies or I am going to be gutted.

Hi, dont; apoloagise, it is a learnign experience.  I have only had to use the forceps twice, you need them if a cord gets cut/broken very short, or wont stop bleeding.  You can clamp the cord with the forceps while you ite off with the thread.  Hope that makes sense.  They are the kind of forceps which lock closed, they do have a medical name, but I cna't remember it.
bye
Gwen

Hemostats http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemostat

I could have used them for when my Jozi was born as her Mum chewed the cord too short causing a small wound and I ended up after the scab came off with a small late closure hernia.

Hi,
You can buy welphing kits some times of ebay they have everythink in, especially if it's your first litter.

Regards
Denese

I used Pampers bed mats for my bitch to whelp onto (I think someone on here suggested them) and they were invaluble. I'd definitely use them again. I just lined the whelping box with Newspaper, then put the bed mat on top. Because they are waterproof backed they made it really easy to clean up, I just popped the soiled ones in a bin bag and put fresh ones down.

I had loads of things I didn't need, but easily could have done, like scissors, puppy forumla, syringes, pippettes, dental tape for tying cords. Things I found useful were a bucket for the placentas, although my bitch ate most of them, digital scales with a tupperware on top to weigh the puppies, kitchen roll (lots!), lots of small towels (hand towels halved) towels to rub and dry the pups and help clear their airways (Mum did do most of it herself, but I helped her out), jug of sterilisting fluid (I use dmilton) and a bucket of water with hibiscrub in it.

Also, a box lined with towels and a covered hot water bottle to put the puppies in while I emptied the wheling box and put clean vetbed down.

I use loads of items already suggested here - but, like Dopram, which you hope you won't need, I always have a tub of Puppy Colostrum, just in case.  I've often thrown Dopram away as out of date, same with Colostrum, but when you need it, it's a godsend.  For what they cost, it's not an expensive insurance!