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Post by pastel on Mar 31, 2008 7:35:16 GMT 1
Anyone advise please? my bitch is due in 14 days, my husband has made her a box which is 4ft x 4ft without a bottom as we have underfloor heating, he thinks that if he made a floor in the box we will loose the benefit of the heat so I am to put something down on the floor.... husbands!! what do all you
experienced breeders suggest? have a go at persuading him to make another one or what do you suggest I put down on the floor? my bitch is happily sleeping in there on a blanket now!
Also we are a farm so we are used to lambing, what extra equipment do you suggest I need? we have gel, gloves, towels and a lamp , iodine spray, do i need puppy milk powder?etc!!
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Post by marjolein on Mar 31, 2008 8:18:56 GMT 1
Mine is off the floor as well and I think that is more hygienic (sp?). You can easily clean under the box when needed. I use a heating lamp (sheep lamp) and a electric heating mat.
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greyghost
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Post by greyghost on Mar 31, 2008 10:04:41 GMT 1
Still not able to access that link I sent you??? Here are a few items off it:
a whelping box with pig rails - mine is a 6ft x 4ft box
vet bed
newspapers - LOADS
towels
honey
brandy (normally just put some on my little finger & then gently insert the finger into the pups mouth. Sometimes it needs to be done a few times.)
Would also add some cotton for tying off umbilical cords, if needed.
I also feed my bitches honey in warm water between whelps to give them a boost.
I also make up some puppy replacement milk to feed the bitch as well.
A thermometer is a good idea and a clock/watch to check the time between births. I write down the time that the pup arrives, whether the after birth arrived, and note whether the pup has had a feed of colostrum.
Scales to weigh the pups. I weigh their birth weight and then weigh twice daily to check that they are gaining weight. Any that don't put much on then get extra time to suckle.
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Post by weima on Mar 31, 2008 10:26:50 GMT 1
a whelping box with pig rails - mine is a 6ft x 4ft box vet bed newspapers - LOADS towels honey brandy (normally just put some on my little finger & then gently insert the finger into the pups mouth. Sometimes it needs to be done a few times.)  Isn't this my post on another forum I have plywood for the base of my box then some lino then newspaper & finally vet bed. I don't use heat lamps any more as I have had them smash over the whelping bax too many times if the bitch has been clumsy & also I had one burn my bitches back when she jumped straight onto it. I prefer to use an oil filled radiator now which has thermostatic control as I like my room to be about 25 degrees all the time until the pups are about 3 weeks old then I gradually turn the temp down a touch. |
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tasha
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Post by tasha on Mar 31, 2008 11:04:43 GMT 1
thought i recognised the list...
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greyghost
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YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD DOG DOWN!
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Post by greyghost on Mar 31, 2008 13:19:36 GMT 1
Hee hee yes I knicked the list to help Pastel. She has been trying to register on WW but as usual the registration process is not so straight forward. Hope you guys don't mind me pasting your bits and bobs here [ooow that sounds painful ;D]
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Post by Rachel on Mar 31, 2008 16:19:08 GMT 1
How exciting for you. I remember my first litter as though it was yesterday, I know I was not prepared at all looking back. But everything went plain sailing and Sky just had those babies so easy.
It was her fault that I now own all the Weimaraners I do.
Would love to see a photo of your German LH. I am sure it can only help the UK gene pool. I would also be very interested to see some photos of the babies as they grow up.
Good luck, and if you want any advice, you can always email me, or ask on here because everyone is so good.
Rachel with her Silvestre Dogs.
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Post by pastel on Mar 31, 2008 16:46:51 GMT 1
Thanks for everyone's help and advice, will work on the husband to put some sort of pig rail inside the box he needs some convincing!!, once I've worked out how to put photos on here will put some on!
Nicky
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greyghost
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Post by greyghost on Mar 31, 2008 17:34:49 GMT 1
Can I ask what the pig rail is for guys?
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Post by weima on Mar 31, 2008 17:45:03 GMT 1
Can I ask what the pig rail is for guys? If you have pig rails it enables the puppies to escape under them rather than the bitch sitting on them. Some bitches are clumsy so they are for protection. |
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greyghost
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Post by greyghost on Mar 31, 2008 22:21:29 GMT 1
So is there a regulation height. Aren't they more at risk when first born, surely they can't move or think to move to the safety of the pig rails at that stage.
What are the pros and cons of a pig rail.
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Post by weima on Mar 31, 2008 22:41:43 GMT 1
So is there a regulation height. Aren't they more at risk when first born, surely they can't move or think to move to the safety of the pig rails at that stage. What are the pros and cons of a pig rail. There is no regulation of pig rails at all it is personal choice. IME bitches are more careful the smaller the pups it is when they become 'bored' with the pups and the pups are moving around that they are more likely to squash them. I don't tend to have pig rails in to start with then when the pups are about 2 weeks I put them in. |
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Isn't this my post on another forum 
...to this