whelping kit, whats in yours?

[CarraghsGem 92]

ive seen a few people have had problems with whelping + rearing litters

thought id put down my recomendations for a basic emergency whelping kit;

 

*heatlamp,

*whelping box

*newspapers

*puppy colostrum

*liquid calcium (dont give to bitch prior to whelping without guidance from your vet)

*iodine

*nursing kit (bottles + teats)

*sterilised scissors

*lubricant;- vaseline/medidine are useful

*book of the bitch

*nutridrops for the bitch as well as pups

*towel for drying pups if bitch is exhausted.

*vets phone number/s to hand + phone credit if needed

 

some people keep dopram v to hand but i dont believe in reviving a pup, its un-natural and i have doubts over whether the pup would ever make a good-un if it cant survive the first few days of life un-aided.

 

 

ive probably missed something here, let me know what you think

Edited September 2, 2010 by CarraghsGem

[Chid 6,844]

dog shed at the bottom of the garden so i cant hear any noise

[Chid 6,844]

dog shed at the bottom of the garden so i cant hear any noise

 

 

couldnt agree more but you forgot ya heat lamp carraghsgem must be doing a triple heart bypass

 

dont need a heat lamp the mother should keep them warm

[skycat 6,174]

That's a pretty good list, but what's the iodine for? I've read in some books that the breeder puts iodine on the ends of the umbilical cord but I've never done this and never lost any puppy to infection. The umbilical cord seals itself off automatically after birth and providing you are whelping the bitch in clean surroundings I can't see how its necessary. Just my opinion.

 

Re the heat lamp: I agree, a tired bitch and new born pups need to be really warm: some pups take a long time to dry off during which time they can chill very easily if the dam is continually drenching them with the birthing fluid from the next pup as it comes out. Better to be warm than cold. I've even used heat lamps in the summer at night if the sky is clear: the temperature can drop quite quickly just before dawn, plus a warm bitch will recover more quickly from the fatigue of labour than if she has to struggle to maintain her own body temperature.

 

Even if you think the kennel/whelping are is warm enough: sit in with the bitch for 20 minutes in T shirt and shorts without moving and you'll get a true indication of whether or not the area is warm enough. If you feel cold just sitting there doing nothing then you need to make the place warmer.

[runforyourlife 361]

oh no theres that word again, "whelping" thats the word i put on the most hated list on here, lol....

 

Wow, its a fine labour with all that gear you have there... you gona go to the pride of peaks show?

[CarraghsGem 92]

That's a pretty good list, but what's the iodine for? I've read in some books that the breeder puts iodine on the ends of the umbilical cord but I've never done this and never lost any puppy to infection. The umbilical cord seals itself off automatically after birth and providing you are whelping the bitch in clean surroundings I can't see how its necessary. Just my opinion.

 

Re the heat lamp: I agree, a tired bitch and new born pups need to be really warm: some pups take a long time to dry off during which time they can chill very easily if the dam is continually drenching them with the birthing fluid from the next pup as it comes out. Better to be warm than cold. I've even used heat lamps in the summer at night if the sky is clear: the temperature can drop quite quickly just before dawn, plus a warm bitch will recover more quickly from the fatigue of labour than if she has to struggle to maintain her own body temperature.

 

Even if you think the kennel/whelping are is warm enough: sit in with the bitch for 20 minutes in T shirt and shorts without moving and you'll get a true indication of whether or not the area is warm enough. If you feel cold just sitting there doing nothing then you need to make the place warmer.

 

ive never really needed needed the iodine when its come to pups, but its always there just in case, i aways put a dab on their tail after they've been docked, guess old habits die hard! lol

anything with antiseptic propertys is useful to keep in your emergency kitt, guess iodine was just the traditional offering !

Edited September 4, 2010 by CarraghsGem