Hi Just wondered how long I should use heat pad for.?. Pups are 6 days old , doubled their birthweight and looking very contented. Mum and pups are in dining room and thought that I would continue with the pad at nightime only now. What do you think.

I leave mine down for at least 3 weeks - I have quite a big whelping box though and so pups and mum can sleep on the non heated part if they're too warm.  At 6 days puppies still cannot control their own temperature so I wouldn't rush to take it away - especially as the weather seems to have turned for the worst (at least in my part of the country).

i have just taken my heat pad out and my pups are 4 wks today i personally would keep it in a bit longer than 6 days old as at the moment mum is prob still in there a lot but in another wks time or so she wont be in there as much so at least they will have the heat pad to snuggle up too

Thanks for your replies, will keep it in a bit longer.x

I have actually never used a heat pad previously, but am planning to buy one for a litter that is due late November. I have just been on the internet looking at heat pads this morning, before I noticed this post. I would be very grateful if anyone who does use heat pads, could offer any tips or points to consider when buying one of these.

I go by the behaviour of the pups. 

With my breed I have found they start to avoid the heat pas by about five days, so I then only put it on at night to be on the safe side but after two weeks have it off unless it is very cold at night or outside.

With other breeds, especially with short coats, they crave heat.

Ive never used them before but with this litter being a tiny short haired breed ive found it great. I use the snuggle pad that you heat in microwave and it really does stay warm for 8 hours.:). I still use it at night and pups are 5 weeks old. But they are small so big breeds would need a couple and it does depend on the breed as thicker coated dogs wouldnt need it for as long.

i bought my heat ad from petnapltd you can find them on ebay i paid £12.95 for mine and its medium sized it also came with a in car adapter so if you do need to take puppies in the car to the vets you can plug it in and the pups can be kept warm.

i've got a petnap heater and have just put it to the test - fab. both mum and babes very contented with it particularly at night.  i paid a bit more and had one with the non chewable lead as i plan to use it for the next 4 weeks and no teeth quickly become big teeth!!

Thanks for your replies. Have had a look at the Petnap heater pads and cannot decide which would be most suitable...metal or vinyl.
I use a Newdog vet bed in the whelping box (which is like a Vetbed but with an enclosed stiffened panel behind to prevent rucking up) and I can't work out which heater would be suitable with this. I believe it's safe to put a metal one inside the Newdog mat, but am a bit concerned in case it overheats. Has anyone used this? and was it O.K.?