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Whelping Supplies
I frequently get asked for whelping help and while I'm always more than willing to help I thought I'd finalyl take the time an dput up all the info on a webpage to save me recreating it repeatedly. Somehow I can enver find those emails I send off when I need them again. So here goes:
For the mom:
| Whelping pool | A Kiddy pool works great or you can buy a whelping box, I like an x-pen set up around the whelping pool with blankets draped over the side and top to keep it a bit warmer and secluded. Miniclamps are great for getting the blankets attached to the x-pen |
| Bedding | I use lot sof soft bedding (conforters/blankets) covered by a sheet and then a few layers of puppy pads for easy cleanup |
| Thermometer | To check mom's temperature, most girls temperature's drop within 12-24 hours of whelping |
| Nutrical | Gives a little energy boost |
| Calcium | tums, vanilla ice cream, may help prevent hypocalcemia |
| Broth/Water | To rehydrate mom during the whelp, some will drink and some will not, most of mine love homemade chicken stock |
| Emergency vet's number | Easiest to have this on hand ahead of time, just in case |
For the puppies:
| Hemostats, unwaxed dental floss | To clamp and tie off umbilical cords |
| Scissors | To cut the cord if mom doesn't do it for you |
| Surgical gloves | to use if you need to digitally exmaine themom or need to remove a stuck pup |
| K-Y Jelly | can help in lubricating a stuck puppy |
| Feeding tubes, syringes, liquid milk | A quick tube feeding can turn around a weaker puppy that's having some trobule getting started. 20 cc syinges and a size 10 french feeding tube work well for silken puppies. |
| Hand towels | For drying off puppies |
| Heat lamp | use in 1/2 the whelping pen so the pups have a warm area |
| Holding box lined with towels, hot watter bottle | You can put the pups in it when you are dealing with a new pup or if you need to transport to the vet with mom |
| Pen and puppy Info sheets | I use those from the Lindal workbook and use them to note pertinent info on each pup, weight, markings, dew claws, vigor, etc. |
| RikRak or puppy collars | Different colors for identifying pups |
| Scale | For weighing the pups at birth as well as monitoring them for the first few weeks to make sure they are gaining weight. I prefer a good digital scale as opposed to a kitchen scale |
For the Humans:
| Movies | For watching in between pups, some moms can take a long break in between pups |
| Food | To keep that strength up! |
| Beverages | Either caffinated ones to keep you awake or others to toast the new little ones. |
| Cell Phone | To have people on hand for calling for advice or help or just to keep you up |
| Whelping References | Keep your reference handy, I list a couple of good practical ones in the Library |