How to Choose and Prepare a Whelping Box

Before your dog is ready to give birth, assure that she and her puppies will have a great start in life by choosing a whelping box that will serve as the birthing quarters and the nursery for the first couple of weeks. With large breed dogs, it is imperative to find a design that protects the puppies from suffocation, also. With a little preparation, you will be ready when the big moment arrives.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old blankets and towels
• Newspapers
• Thermometer
• Heating pad
• Rubber aspirator bulb
• Colored strings
• Scissors

Choose the Box

1. Look for a box that will allow your mother dog to comfortably lie down and stretch out in all directions. It should be at least double the length of your dog from head to tail.

2. Choose a whelping box that has a door or panel that opens or lifts out if the sides of the box are too high for the mother dog to comfortably step over. She will need to walk around between the births of each puppy.

3. Consider a removable bottom if the litter will spend a few weeks in the box. Even if you constantly change the newspapers, fluids can reach the bottom and be absorbed if it is made of wood. A removable bottom allows you to take it out for cleaning.

4. Buy or build a whelping box that has safety rails if you own a large breed dog. These rails run along all four sides, a few inches above the bottom and prevent the mother from accidentally lying on a puppy that gets wedged behind her. Suffocation of large breed puppies is a common cause of death in the first two weeks. (See Resources)

5. Use a molded plastic swimming pool in a pinch. Inexpensive and easy to clean, a child’s pool can be a great place for whelping.

Assemble the Supplies

6. Stock up on old blankets, newspapers, towels and rags. You will need a large supply for the actual birth and enough extra to provide clean bedding for the next few weeks. Ask friends to donate or visit garage sales.

7. Prepare a heating box. As your mother dog delivers her puppies, she will first clean them by licking but when she is ready to deliver the next one, place each puppy in a safe box that has been fitted with a heating pad, on “Low,” and covered with soft towels.

8. Organize a basket will all the supplies you will use for the birth. Stock it with scissors to cut the umbilical cords, dental floss to tie the cords, a rubber nasal aspirator bulb to suction the mucus from a puppy’s mouth and a rectal thermometer to take the mother’s temperature to determine when birth is imminent.

Tips & Warnings

• Seal the bottom of a bare wood box and wrap it will a waterproof tarp that you can remove and clean.
• Have a number of large plastic garbage bags on hand to quickly dispose of soiled rags and newspapers.
• Buy a kitchen or postal scale and fit it with a small basket to weigh each pup as it is born.
• Ask your veterinarian what signs you should watch for that would initiate an emergency trip to his office. Be prepared to load mother and puppies and transport should such a situation arise.

Resources

• View a whelping box with guard rails.
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[FrazzledNanny]

on 3/29/2009 Thanks for the well written article on preparing a whelping box. 5*