Preparation For The Big Event.

[erdog3]

This is an information link, under construction.
Please do not post replies here...Thanks Ellierat.

PICTURE 1...Plans of a home made Heated/Whelping Box, with overhead light/heat source.

PICTURE 2...My Whelping box, with underneath heat source. Light globes are fitted on each side. You can change the globe to alter the amount of heat.
The top for the base is fire proof cement sheet. Also fairly easy to wash off as it is waterproof too.

PICTURE 3...The top of the box fits snuggly on top of the base, all fixed in. The design was made so it could easily be taken apart and moved as the pups progressed. So once they were off the heat, the bottom was removed and only the top surrounds left for them to sleep in. The box is 1mt squared...right size for a Labrador.
Boxes must be the right size for your breed, what you do is measure your dog laying down, the box must be big enough to fit rails, and leave enough room for her to stretch out comfortably to nurse, but not too big that the pups get LOST..

PICTURE 4...Here they are at appx. 3 weeks, direct heat is no longer required,
the base has been removed and they can come out of the box and walk around.

FOR THE WHELPING:
There is a long list to prepare for the Birth of Puppies.
YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING:-

Vets phone number, handy and easy to get at.
Heated whelping box, with full safety rails.
A quiet place, (with electricity supply) to put the box.
Thermometer.
Antiseptic.
Good snub nosed sharp pair scissors.
Plenty of small towels/rags.
Warm water, in a bucket.
Plenty of newspaper.
Clock.
Pen and paper.
Prepared mat to fit into Whelping Box.
Milk and liquid glucose.
A kettle to boil water.
Non tippable bowl for drinking. (dog)
Good sized rubbish bin or bag.

FOR YOU:-
Something to sit in, it's always, always a long NIGHT. (lol)
Some refreshments for yourself.
A tv or radio.

Still thinking...will update as I remember.

Place your heated box where you intend for her to Whelp, as this is where she will stay for appx. 3 weeks. Make sure no other dogs or animals have access to this area. (or small children)
Line the box with a thick layer of newspaper. I mean really thick, appx. 3 good sized newspapers.
Do not try to move her or the box after whelping, this is both upsetting and confusing to her, it can make for hard suckling for the pups. She will try to take the pups back to that same spot, where whelped.
Make sure you get her used to the box appx. 2 weeks before Whelping. Even placing her favourite blanket, toys and food in the box.
Make sure fresh water is always available.
In the last week, remove any food, toys, blankets etc, and rip up some newspaper into shreds and place on top of your layers. This will encourage her to scratch and rip herself. It also makes for easy removal of wastes from Whelping, without taking up your underneath layers.
It will be quite wet, and messy, pups have individual water bags, just like humans. You want as least mess and wet as possible on the floor of your box, as you will be removing all the paper and placing a mat there once Whelping is finished.
Now is also the time to get those safety rails fitted if not already done.