We recently found out our Poochon, Biscuit is due another litter of Cavapoochon Puppies. At the time of writing, she has a mere 2 weeks and 3 days to go. I am trying to prepare myself and Biscuit for the birth of this second litter and looking back over old notes I made the first time around. Preparing for whelping can be overwhelming (whelping is a term to describe the dog birthing process). It’s a good idea to have a list of items you’ll need in your whelping kit. A whelping kit needs to be kept at hand as the due date approaches so you’re prepared for the birth of the puppies at any time.
Essential Items for a Whelping Kit
Whelping Box
A whelping box should be at the top of your whelping kit checklist!
A whelping box is the space you create in which your dog will give birth. As Biscuit neared birth the first time around, we overthought this. I was convinced we needed a luxury bed filled with comfortable cushions. We then placed this bed in a box we had made. When it came to the birth, Biscuit did not go near this special place we had created for her. Instead, she opted to give birth in her old dog bed. It was something she was familiar with and clearly comfortable for her.
So, keep it simple and comfortable! Depending on the size of your dog, a whelping bed doesn’t need to be big. Just big enough for Mum to move around in and give the puppies a little space. Anything too big and the puppies could get lost! Ensure the whelping box has sides on it so the puppies can’t roll out of it. Make sure the whelping box is warm – so if you are using a plastic bed, put plenty of blankets in there to keep Mum and puppies warm.
Remember, Mum, will be giving birth in the whelping box and be using it to care for her puppies in the days and weeks after birth. If possible, use something with covers that can be easily removed and washed.
Water Bowl
Labour and birth are exhausting for Mum. Make sure you have a fresh bowl of water on hand for her throughout the process. Biscuit drank an incredible amount of water during the first birth. It’s also a good idea to have a bottle of water at hand to freshen the bowl so you don’t have to leave Mum to fill up her bowl.
Ensure the bowl is small and easy for your dog to access. During whelping, I found myself hovering a small bowl of water over the puppies so Biscuit could get a drink.
A dog travel water bottle would also work well too.
Towels
Towels, towels, towels and more towels! I cannot overemphasise the importance of having plenty of clean towels in your whelping kit. We began collecting old towels throughout the pregnancy and had them washed and ready for whelping. We used towels to clean Biscuit during labour, to clean her after birth and we also used them to clean the puppies too.
Whelping is incredibly messy, there will be lots of blood and body fluids. It’s a good idea to line the whelping box with towels to make cleaning much easier and less stressful on Mum and the puppies once they are born.
We also used a large amount of towels to clean Biscuit in the days following birth. Like humans, dogs tend to bleed for a few days after birth.
Blankets
Blankets can be used to line the whelping box and to keep Mum and the puppies warm. They’re also a good place to move the puppies onto should you need to change the towels/lining of the whelping box. Dogs can become rather cold during whelping, so blankets are a great way to keep her warm.
Puppy Pads
Place these at the bottom of the whelping box to keep the bottom of the box clean and prevent any fluids from leaking through onto the floor.
Round-Tipped Nail Scissors
You might need to assist Mum in cutting the umbilical cords once the puppies are delivered. Keep a sterile pair of round-tipped scissors at hand for such an eventuality. Rounded-tipped scissors are much safer to use on puppies and reduce the risk of injury.
Dental Floss
Dental floss can be used to clamp the umbilical cord if it continues to bleed. Use unwaxed dental floss to tie a knot at the end of the cord.
Gloves
It is important to keep the area and the puppies clean and sterile. If you do need to handle them, it’s a good idea to wear sterile gloves. However, if you do need to assist Mum, e.g. to remove the birthing sac from the puppy once delivered, using gloves reduces the dexterity required for such a delicate task. Keep hand wash and sterile wipes close to hand as a viable alternative.
Tissues/Wipes
Tissues are always handy to clean up any fluids or to gently clean Mum. I have a toilet roll in my whelping kit so it’s always at hand.
Plastic Bags
You’re going to need a number of plastic bags in your whelping kit. You’ll need to keep the whelping box clean and clear. Keep plastic bags to hand to throw in all those used puppy pads, tissues, toilet paper and wipes.
It’s also a good idea to have another plastic bag to hand to throw in any towels and blankets that may become soiled. Whelping can be rather chaotic and happen rather quickly, so it’s a good idea to be prepared!
Thermometer
I found it difficult to monitor Biscuit’s temperature throughout her pregnancy, so I haven’t included one in this whelping kit. A bitch’s temperature will typically drop from 38.5 degrees to 27 degrees 12-24 hours before labour. However, we found that taking the temperature stressed her out, so I abandoned this practice.
A thermometer may also be used to check the temperature of the whelping box. The whelping box should be kept between 29 and 32 degrees once the puppies are delivered.
Sterile Bulb Aspirator
Should the puppies find it difficult to breathe, you might need to clear their throat and or nostrils with a bulb aspirator. This device works by blowing air into the throat or nostril to remove any liquids. Familiarise yourself with the aspiration before birth so you can see how it works.
Scales
Some breeders weigh the puppies as they’re born. I prefer to wait until they are a few days old to weigh them so as not to stress out Mum. However, if there is an issue with any of the puppies, e.g. if they are not feeding, you will need to weigh the puppy to work out how much substitute milk to give them.
Some breeders use digital scales. We used our trusted kitchen scales for the last litter!
Identifiers
If there is a large litter or if the puppies are similar in size and colour, identifiers can be really handy. These can be bought online or made from ribbon. They can be placed around the puppies’ necks or on their legs.
Notepad and Pen
Keep writing materials handy to note down the times the puppies were born. If you do take the bitch’s temperature, it’s a great idea to monitor this in a notepad too. A notepad is also handy to jot down the weight of each puppy too.
Vet Phone Numbers
Most importantly, keep your vet’s phone number and emergency vet number on hand. Add them to your phone but also write them down. You might need to read the number to someone else.
