Need help with Pups on the way (their here!)

[cward]

I'm sure y'all are gettin tired of this but I think it's my last question
In the kiddie pool should I put shavings or somethin?  I've put cotton in my dog houses but wasn't sure if o should do the same for them

I use hay and then keep it fresh for winter pups!

[ChaseG]

Thank y'all
And thank you britt I was wonderin aboutthat as well. I kno a few vets around here pretty good so I'll call around.

[southtexasff]

I have used a kitty pool before but I had problems with the pups sliding as they push forward when feeding.  I really recommend something with the piggy rails.  I know they have saved some of my pups from getting smashed by the momma.  Another thing I have done and I guess it depends on the momma is let them nurse as long as they can.  I had some bulldog pups that were nursing still at 8 weeks.  As long as the momma dont mind the teeth.

[craig]

i like straw,  you will want to change out all the bedding after the pups are born cause it will be wet and nasty.  southtexas has a good point on sliding put down a rug or old quilt under the straw, when you change out the bedding.

[UNDERDOG]

i like straw,  you will want to change out all the bedding after the pups are born cause it will be wet and nasty.  southtexas has a good point on sliding put down a rug or old quilt under the straw, when you change out the bedding.

X2....I like the straw real good for just keeping the dogs warm in winter period, but it is harder to find down here than for y'all Craig.....reason I said papper was just for the first coupple days cause it will need changed regularly. I use a dog igloo with papper and a carpet and old coat over the door when cold then after the first coupple days I put down carpet and hay or if lucky straw.

The stew seens to last longer and don't pack real tight,kinda stays fluffy.

[UNDERDOG]

Another thing I do is get baby formula and suplement the gyp with a scoop or two over wet food the last 3 weeks or so for all the extra vitamins,seems to help them from dropping so muuch weight keep her on a scoop or two a day till weaning then use it when you wean also.

[craig]

what no straw.....   

[ChaseG]

Alrighty. I believe I'll go with the rug and paper at first then after she has them I'll go to the straw.
Thank y'all again. This has helped me out a bunch and is greatly appreciated

[UNDERDOG]

what no straw.....   

I am sure it is around somewhere just harder to find down this way....I found some in Conroe last year and got enough for the winter. I always used hay till I was at Bobs one time and seen that straw...I like it much better but harder to find.

[pigstkr]

whatever you use dont use shavings before the pups are up and about.....i lost over half a litter of real nice rednose pits....the shavings are small enough where the pups shovel it up in their mouths while they are scooting to the mother for feed.....thus they strangle or choke to death.....i learned the hard way......just a thought......pigstkr

[craig]

Chase,,
   you have pups yet ?

[ChaseG]

Thanks pigstkr I won't do that.

No sir not yet. Should be by the end of this month tho!

[Peachcreek]

Hey Chase, you have gotten some real good advice so far, but one thing I want to mention is parvo shots. IMO it is better to call your local vets and see who will give you the best deal on shots than it is to buy them at a feed store. Once you take them out of the fridge and they reach a certain temperature, they are no good and really dangerous to use. Back when I first started raising pups, I learned the hard way. I was buying from the feed store and within 24 hrs of giving the shots, my whole litter was sick with parvo and I have heard of this happening to several other people. Some of my friends order theirs from the pet supply magazines and haven't had any problems. Not sayin all feed stores don't take care of their stock, just sayin if the litter is really important to you, it is something to take into consideration. When you do pick up your shots, be sure to take an ice chest or at least a bag of ice to stuff them inside until you get home. Hope you have some healthy pups.        Britt Garcia

i was gonna add this same thing. i learned the hardway too. now i buy shots at the vet they cost just alittle more but they always fix me up with a ice pack and cooler. I think it was 10 bucks a shot but i feel the feed stores might not care to much if they are kept cool or not. the other thing is my vet said they are not protected from parvo until they have had THREE shots 6 weeks 10 weeks and the last one at 14 weeks.. i have been doing this and no problems knock on wood..

[uglydog]

Another method I use, because I don't like straw or shaving in my concrete kennels it gets in the drainage system and clogs up everything. If you are on dirt is okay.

But, I like to get old carpet and cut it to the size and shape of my whelping boxes, it gives the pups good traction, insulates them from the cold and makes it comfy for the momma dog to lay down with out getting elbow sores from the hard surface below.
Its usually free as people throw carpet out all the time.
So I have several peices to rotate out when it gets too dirty, I take and hang up and take the high pressure water hose to it and let it hang dry, and just keep rotating them.

There are a million plans on the internet for whelping boxes, with rails to keep momma from laying on the pups when they are real small. that are easy and cheap to build.
I use a 4X4 size box made out of 2X10 boards, its heavy enough to keep the carpet scraps in place when the carpet size is cut just a littler bigger than the box size.
You can make a puppy rail out of PVC pipe that is screwed to the 2X10 about 2-4 inches up from the floor, to give the puppies a place to rest from being layed on and suffocated.

I can also put a heating pad under the corner of one side of the carpet, or hang a heat lamp over the top of the whelping box.

[Scott]

I'm with Krystal, old carpet...or those cheap area rugs from the dollar store work real good.

[ChaseG]

Thank y'all again. I don't guess I've seen the whelping boxed before. I like that idea so I can do the piggy rails. And the carpet sounds a lot easier to mess with than straw or news papers so I think I'll go that route. Thanks uglydog

[jwdeltx]

I built an eight by eight coup with ¾ marine plywood floor two feet off of the ground. I used heavy 1x 2 wire and 2x4’s. The whole thing is six foot tall with four foot clearance between floor and roof. I use it for a whelping pen or hospital pen when I get dogs cut up. I put the gyp in it a week before she is due and do not let her out until the pups are weaned, the pups stay till they have had all there shots.
   I also have had a very bad experience  with parvo vaccines , I raised a litter of pups two years ago and lost the best pup at six months old even after three shots. I will not by from a feed store again and will not use fort dodge vaccine again!! I only use Pfizer  vaccine.

[sportsman]

good luck with them pups, glad to see youre gonna do what you can to make sure they all turn out with an advantage, I hate how some folks say if they make it they make it, especially in summer and winter

[ChaseG]

just gunna update yall. i didnt get to make a whelping box i never got the extra money to buy the wood, but i got four pups on the ground they were born today. shes had 6 so far. their lookin good. 3 lil girls and a boy. i will post some pics tomorrow.

thank yall again for the help

[craig]

thats great !!!!!!   let us know if have any questions