Aside from time and patience, you need a whelping checklist before your dog gives birth to help make the experience as comfortable and safe for her.
Buying dog breeding supplies can be a daunting task. For a first-time dog owner, it’s hard to know where to start. This article will help you find whelping supplies for your pregnant dog.
Below are some dog breeding stocks every dog breeder and every dog owner with a pregnant dog needs.
Whelping Box
A whelping box is where your dog can give birth and protect her babies. The box should be big enough for the female dog to move about, but small enough for her to keep an eye on her puppies. Your dog should be able to easily walk over a step to get out of the box, but it should be high enough that the pups can’t accidentally stray out when mom isn’t looking.
Whelping Mat
A whelping mat is a whelping box liner or bedding for your dog and her puppies before, during, and after whelping. You can also use blankets and towels as beddings.
Digital Thermometer
This is used to see when whelping will occur. 10-14 days before your dog’s due date, you should start taking her temperature. When the temperature dips to 98-99 degrees, it’s time to get ready for birth.
Heat Lamp
A heat lamp is an infrared lamp with a protective cage around it for safety. The heat produced by the infrared lamp keeps your puppies comfortable in their whelping box.
A heat lamp is necessary because newborn puppies cannot regulate their temperature yet. Puppies can only start to create their own body heat when they reach the age of two and a half weeks, which is when they develop the shiver reflex.
Puppy Scale
Weighing your puppies can help you keep track of their development and identify early warning signs of danger so you can intervene swiftly.
Weigh scales can also provide you with valuable information about the puppies’ overall health and well-being.
Bulb Syringe
Rubber bulb syringes are a must-have for cleaning mucus from the mouth and nasal mucous membranes. They clear mucus and fluid from newborn puppy airways and nasal passages. They’re also useful for cleaning tiny cuts.
Hemostat/ Dental Floss
A hemostat is used for clamping the umbilical cord. After clamping, you can use unwaxed dental floss to tie the umbilical cord.
Medical Scissors
You’ll need disinfected scissors for cutting the umbilical cord if your dog couldn’t do it.
Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies for cleaning and keeping the whelping box clean after the birth. You’ll need blankets, paper towels, a scrub brush, laundry detergent, and more.
Other Things You Need to Know
●Mama is allowed to eat the placenta, but no more than 2-3 at a time. She can get an upset stomach and diarrhea as a result.
●Mama shouldn’t nibble on the umbilical cord. Dogs have a tendency to chew it down too much, which can lead to problems. To avoid these, use the hemostat to crimp the umbilical cord and scissors to cut it, then tie off the cords with unwaxed dental floss.
●Clean out the airways — mouth, nose, and throat – using your aspiration bulb.
●Dry each puppy quickly with a disposable cloth, check sure he’s breathing, and then leave the rest to your dog.
Dogs are fully capable of taking care of themselves during the entire whelping process. However, when things go wrong, that’s when you or your vet need to intervene. Just make sure you have all the dog breeding supplies you need for whelping on your checklist and just allow nature to take its course.
If you need pregnancy supplies, visit MR Diagnostic Services. They have pregnancy tests at affordable prices.
