Whelping Box Bedding

[DazAllison1 556]

I've a litter due in a couple of weeks and I was wondering what's the best bedding for the bitches whelping box? Atm she just has straw in it, but I think this will stick to the pups etc

[R.A.W 1,987]

depends on bitch a find ..........................carpet can be ok if the bitch is not quite and start to tear it about, thats the chance take it out the strands may choke the pups.

 

then theres saw dust which is ok

 

or shredded paper or just falt pape

 

straw but just a bit or even hay

 

And not but not least an setee

[skycat 6,172]

Saw dust is not a good idea: yes, I know that a lot of people seem to use it, but it can clog up puppies' eyes and nostrils and mouths: also very dusty so not good for a dog's lungs.

Shredded paper is OK as long as it isn't in long strips which can get wound round a pup's neck or legs, but very messy and once wet goes down into a nasty solid lump.

Straw can be dusty and full of parasites: dust mites, harvest mites, ticks etc. Spray well with something like Indorex or Acclaim when you put it down first: not while there are dogs in there. But straw is warm, though doesn't soak up wet as well as other things.

Hay: can be dangerous if it is musty (smells mouldy), can contain parasites, and also can get twisted round pups' legs, necks.

Carpet: OK so long as the bitch doesn't dig it right up and flip it over on top of the pups, and needs changing very frequently as it gets dirty and wet and obviously hard to wash and dry, only OK in very warm weather too.

Blankets: OK so long as the bitch doesn't dig it up and pups get trapped inside the folds.

 

Vet Bed: the best IMO: easily washed and dried. Moisture goes through it and leaves the top side dry. I always put several layers of newspaper underneath it to soak up moisture. Some bitches continue to scrat like mad for several days after whelping as their uterus contracts after delivering the pups, if the she does this then you could try nailing the Vet Bed (or carpet) down.

 

Whatever you use it is a good idea to check bitch and pups several times a day, and during the night, to make sure she hasn't accidently buried any pups in the bedding, as there is more likelihood of her squashing them if she can't see where they are when they are very tiny. It all depends on the bitch and how she behaves, but Vet Bed every time for me, and it lasts for years and years and you can use it as normal bedding afterwards.

[weasle 1,119]

What ever you use gets pushed around so cardboard stays down keeps pups of the cold floor.

[paulus 26]

cheap cord carpet and not the posh carpet with pile if the bitch is a scrawker secure it at the edges a few screws and lengths of wood, 2 pieces of carpet are better, one down and one drying after disinfecting daily,

[nothernlite 18,028]

vet bed

[socks 32,253]

Vet bed or shredded wax paper ......