My girl is on day 61 so could whelp any day now and my heat mat has decided to give up the ghost!I have plenty  of hot water bottles, but am far too scared to use them incase they leak and scald the pups etc. Any idea where I can get a heat mat from urgently?Ive got no chance of getting one via mail order this side of xmas! The whelping room is dropping to around 19-20c  at night and 21-22 in the day..this just isnt warm enough is it!? Many thanks

If you can't get a heatpad how about one of those disks that you can heat in the micro?  I can't remember what they are called maybe snuggle bed (?) most pet shops sell those.

what about if you agreed to pay for express courier service to guarentee arrival, where abouts are you? is there any possibility of getting a heat lamp? the snugglesafe is a good idea too. or can you get an electric blanket (just a suggestion, dont shoot me if this is bad idea)  but when your desparate then you'll try anything wont you

I would have thought an electic blanket wouldn't be a good idea - all that puppy pee and electricity not a good mix.

Hi,

Again I'm no expert but how about something like this http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4428121/Trail/searchtext%3EHEAT+PAD.htm

Its just a standard heat pad people use for bag pain you could always seal it in a bag if your worried and you can go and pick it up rather than risk delivery as its all over the news today that all delivery is awful at the moment. It would do to start with at least and the one I have (not sure where its from is waterproof)

we're keeping our whelping box to 22-22.05 degrees as any hotter and our bitch just can't take it x

> I would have thought an electic blanket wouldn't be a good idea - all that puppy pee and electricity not a good mix.

no but if you desparate and you are able to make it safe as a very last resort - i've never used one so to be honest i wouldn't have the first idea how they work and even what they look like. :)

Warm the room and give her a whelping box with a blanket over it. No further heat will be needed if the pups are healthy.
Draughts are the killer and when the weather is this cold circulating air can be very cold indeed.

Often Ive gone to whelp bitches for people, only to return to check and find the pups are whiney and restless - or the mum is over heated from a heat lamp. Covering the box instantly settles them down.
Probably why so many people recommend Snowsilk whelping boxes.

toolz - its posts like that, that really sing the praises for CD :)

I agree. If the whelping box doesn't have a lid, put it under a table and drape blankets over it to make a cosy 'den'. If the room's warm then mum and pups will be snug in there.

If you use an electric blanket place it in the bottom of the box with some newspapers over it then a layer of plastic and then a bit more newspaper and top it with vet bed. Keep it on very low and the weight of the pups and Mum will generate the heat upwards. Baby pups up to 2 weeks do not really produce so much piddle that it will wet the blanket as Mum will lick most of it away. By then you should be able to get something better but it will do in an emergency. As has been said try to cover the box and keep out of draughts and they will be fine.
Aileen

Electric blankets mustn't be used folded, so unless the whelping box is vast then it's incredibly dangerous.

Very true...I just assume whelping box's are like mine.....6' x 6'...LOL !!! The joys of a big breed....
Aileen

like mine merlot LOL 7F BY 4FT

For a dal mine was 5' x 3', and was plenty big enough for a litter of 10!

Mine is a little larger than it needs to be...but it means I can get in there too for cuddles....
Aileen

Please dont use an electric blanket, many bitches scratch up and could easily make mincemeat of it, exposing cables etc.Add the fluids of birth and this could be a disaster.

Honestly, a covered box in a warm room is more than enough.

how high do you have your box? xx

>Again I'm no expert but how about something like this http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4428121/Trail/searchtext%3EHEAT+PAD.htm

The only problem with those heat pads is that they automatically switch off after 90 minutes.

What about asking your vet if they have a spare one until you can get one delivered, just a thought.

if i had to use the argos 1 it switching off after 90mins woundnt be a problem for me as im with mum and pups 24/7 till they leave LOL xx

I think you'd pay a little over the odds, but most vets have deliveries daily and they could order you one in. :-)

Thank you all so much for your advise. I have contacted the company i  bought the original heat mat from and waiting to see if they can ship me one urgently. I will get a micro pad incase andake the whelping box as draft free as possible. I think im going to give the electric blanket a miss, just doesnt seem safe  enough.

I have a couple of Snugglesafe discs and they do stay warm for a long time. They weren't cheap and most places online had sold out. You maybe able to get them direct(more costly) from the company in Sussex or PAH have them for sale, again a bit more than most online companies.

I had 3 Snuggle Safe discs for my litter and used them two at a time (with one always available as a 'top up' if necessary.  The pups loved them and they worked a treat.  They are expensive (I got mine rather cheaply off ebay and turned out they were local sellers), but they are worth it especially if you can source some at a local pet shop so have them in time.  And you can use them for so much more than just puppies.  I've used mine ever since for my back.  They hold heat for HOURS.

i have a heat pad you can borrow,
where abouts are you...im north east
newcastle/county durham,
if near me no problem you using it
jayne
xx

Thank you Jayne thats really kind, but unfortunately Im in the midlands xx

in desperation you could also use the wheat bags they heat up in the microwave very fast and stay warm you can buy them  usually inside teddy bears etc think they are replacing the old water bottle ... in most chemists.

are you anywhere near robinsons equestrian store cannock ? i'm sure they have a heated bed, they also sell snuggle safe.

no were near coventry.. hoping my petnap arrives b4 xmas! x

petnap are usually quick with postage.... good luck

he sent it 1st class recorded, but the weather is delaying most post..shes had her temp drop(i think lol) so hoping pups stay put another night xx

you should hopefully have 24 hours!! but my bitch had a false drop before the real thing!

If you can get to Lichfield I have one you could loan,I could meet you somewhere.

doesnt look like i'll be going anywhere, deep panting, restlessness and bed shredding has started!!!! exciting :) x Thank you though x

hope everything is ok, the suggestions on room temp etc have all been very good fingers crossed all goes well and postie comes good this morning.

Keep us updated! 

well we had a very long night! and quite a difficult birth, but we are now very proud to annouce the birth of 4 beautiful, healthy, big babies :) Mum and pups doing well and so far the pups seem very cosy snuggled up with mum. Thankd again for all the advice x

Thats great news, congratulations xx

well done :-) congrates to you and your girl xx

Thank you :) x

I make a cave by using puppy 4 pen panels, a gated one for the front and a 5th one over the top held together by sturdy cable ties and a blanket or bedspread over the top.

the one on op means there is still empty space above the pen height at the front making it easy for you to inspect pups.