Heat Pads Or Heat Lamps

[lawleymoon]

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just wondering what you use when haveing a litter as this is my first i not sure what is best . :cheers:

 

[stormydog]

horses for courses id say. my opinion is heat lamp supported at a height thats safe. i used abulb with a dimmer switch fitted at the wall so i could maintain a comfortable temp.

i just dont fancy any cables or sockets near dogs, ive heard of dogs chewing through cables with catastrophic results..noooo thank you !!

john

 

[Strike Whippets]

I don't use either .......I have an electric free standing thermostatically controlled heater ......Its like a flat radiator that just warms up .....I don't like heat lamps as years ago I saw what happened to some pups that couldn't get away from the heat ......

 

[dessie]

Heat pad definitely. I agree with Hannah, heat lamps are dangerous things!

I put the heat pad one end of the whelping box so that pups or mum can move away if they wish but they tend not to be such an intense heat, especially on newspaper and under vetbed and just warm most of the box comfortably.

 

[alfyn]

I have always used a dull emitter as they radiate enough heat that doesn't go directly down onto the puppies.

Like John says,make sure cables are well out of reach as i've also heard of catastrophic results from dogs chewing through the cables stupidly left within reach! :angry:

 

[Juley]

I use an oil filled radiator, tucked safely behind a panel in the small study I use for whelping. Keeps the whole room warm.

 

[saraquele]

ive only bred one litter so not the most experienced but i have whelped several litters through rescue .

with the rescues id used my utility room with an oil filled radiator , the boiler is also in there so very toasty :thumbsup:

with jan she was of course in my bedroom with a heat lamp , i had an infaRED bulb in it and my mum thought i was touting for business as my room glowed red :lol: :sweating: :- " :b

next time she will still be in my bedroom but i have bought 2 snugglesafes , like hot water bottles , that i would use initially , my house is always like a green house anyway :- " but the snugglesafes provide heat with no wires etc :thumbsup:

see always planning ahead :- "

 

[JAX]

You shouldnt really need to use any extra heat at all with the pups due September , as it should :- " be plenty warm enough .

:huggles:

 

[lawleymoon]

thank you everyone very interesting. i think im going to get a heat pad now "where do i get one from :blink:

 

[alfie]

Hi Tina,

For my first litter, of IGs, I used a heat lamp, but they were born in January so I had to be very careful to keep them warm- also Iggies just LOVE to bask! :wub:

But with Mabel (and Mini!) due beginning of September, it won't be cold (hopefully :- " ) so I think I will just use my Snugglesafe this time. I have used it before for kittens- you just heat it up in the microwave and it will still be slightly warm in the morning, they are brilliant :thumbsup:

I am going to try Seraphina's inflatable pool idea for my pups- I managed to find one in Tescos today for a fiver- bit better than an AMP cardboard whelping box for 35 quid!

Good luck - it's soooo exciting isn't it! :luck:

Liz and the Monellis

 

[lawleymoon]

i have got a tesco pool to liz bargin . where do i get the snugglesafe from :wacko:

 

[Juley]

I used a pool. It was fantastic, the babies had loads of room and didn't get squashed. The sides are soft and you just left some of the air out when the pups are on their feet. Daisy-Belle loved it and so did the pups.

 

[dessie]

I am going to try Seraphina's inflatable pool idea for my pups- I managed to find one in Tescos today for a fiver- bit better than an AMP cardboard whelping box for 35 quid!
Good luck - it's soooo exciting isn't it! :luck:

Liz and the Monellis

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I've already got a 'disposable' whelping box that has done the last 3 litters (I think!) and it is getting a bit tatty now but the inflatable pool is a brill idea. How big (diameter) is the one you got Liz?? Is it square or round?

 

[alfie]

It is round, 4 ft in diameter, 10 inches high, so tiny babies shouldn't be able to fall out. :thumbsup:

She will have her pups in an oval plastic bed, so she can use the sides to brace herself, then I will settle them into the pool when they are all born (thanks Seraphina for your advice! :thumbsup: )

Liz and the Monellis

 

[dessie]

It is round, 4 ft in diameter, 10 inches high, so tiny babies shouldn't be able to fall out. :thumbsup: She will have her pups in an oval plastic bed, so she can use the sides to brace herself, then I will settle them into the pool when they are all born (thanks Seraphina for your advice! :thumbsup: )

Liz and the Monellis

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Sounds just the right size. I whelp mine in a plastic bed as well, not so much for the pushing but because I can have it in the sitting room without it taking up too much room and being fairly portable and easy to clean!!! Once they are all here then mother and babies are up in the proper whelping box in the spare bedroom.

I can feel a trip to Tesco coming on .............. not that I have got puppies due (chance would be a fine thing!! LOL!) but one can always hope!!!

 

[Seraphina]

I am not sure about heating pads, as you just have to have the wires at ground level and going into the box. Heat lamps can be put such a way that they are out of reach. I have also seen puppies in heated whelping box getting overheated from underneath while breathing quite a cold air in freezing cold room. I use oil filled heater which is safely behind some sort of fence, usually few panels of puppy pen, and keep the whole room nice and warm. I once asked my vet about heated whelping box and he told me he has never seen pups suffering from being cold, as even in cool room they will keep each other warm, but he has seen plenty, which were overheated by heat pads or lights.

In this moment I have my gas heater going pretty much 24 hours a day, purely for the pups, but as soon as they start running around they will go to the "dog" room with the column oil heater.

 

[Seraphina]

It is round, 4 ft in diameter, 10 inches high, so tiny babies shouldn't be able to fall out. :thumbsup: She will have her pups in an oval plastic bed, so she can use the sides to brace herself, then I will settle them into the pool when they are all born (thanks Seraphina for your advice! :thumbsup: )

Liz and the Monellis

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You are welcome Liz. I hope your girl will just spit the babies out without the need of bracing herself, but some of my Whippets had to push so hard they needed it. The last 2 litters, were very easy, both girls had raspberry leaf tablets during the pregnancy and the pups just slipped out.

 

[Seraphina]

Just forgot to mention; do not judge the temperature of puppy room by how hot it is for you, it is always lot colder at floor level. I keep a thermometer on the floor, safely out of reach, and try to maintain the temperature at about 18degrees C. You know the pups are too hot if they keep away from each other, are stretched and panting. If they are on one very tight heap they are probably bit cold.