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Medical Kit:
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I place all these supplies
in a plastic box that can be locked in my medicine cabinet
between whelpings.
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- Stethoscope
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- For listening to momma's heartbeat --
or checking for babies heartbeat. When recording number of
heartbeats per minute, time for 15 seconds and multiply by
4. Puppies' heartbeats are VERY fast!
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- Lactated Ringers Solution w/line set
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- Use to rehydrate mother or puppies.
Also use as base for sugar-water solution for weak puppies.
It is unusual to have to rehydrate the bitch -- use only on
vet's advice.
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- Betadine, diluted in spray
- bottle (or squeeze bottle)
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- General skin cleaning. Bottles of
diluted solution make cleaning up faster. Discard diluted
solution after use and make up new solution with each
whelping.
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- 4" x 4" sterile gauze sponges
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- General cleaning. May also be used to
grab a stuck kitten.
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- surgical sponge
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- One side is smooth and soft -- the
other side is slight abrasive. Used to clean skin around
incisions -- or vulvar area. May also be used to remove skin
deposits from nipples pre-whelping.
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- chlorhexidine towelettes
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- To clean scissors or hemostats before
use. May also be used on hands.
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-
Alcohol Wipes
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To cleaning scissors or other supplies.
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-
Hemostats or forceps
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-
For clamping umbilical cords before
cutting. Leave forceps on for few minutes to minimize
bleeding from stump.
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Whelping Table
Equipment: |
I place all these supplies on
a baby changing table I keep in the whelping area so they are
easily accessible during and after the whelping.
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- kleenex
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- cleaning.
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- paper towel
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- cleaning.
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- small trash bags, large trash bags
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- Small trash bags for heavily soiled
disposals. Large trash bags for everything else.
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- handi-wipes
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- For small clean-ups or use on hands.
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- laundry basket
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- For soiled linen.
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- zip loc bags - small and large
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- For storing small things.
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- spray bottle of disinfectant
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- For cleaning floor of whelping area
and whelping box.
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- spray bottle of self-rinse shampoo,
slicker brush, wash cloth
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- For cleaning up mom.
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-
heating lamp or small ceramic heater
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-
For keeping the whelping area warm. I use
a 75-100 watt regular light bulb in a metal reflector, or a
ceramic heater on low placed 4 feet from the whelping box.
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- water bucket w/clip
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- For momma. Leave close by so she
doesn't have to leave the puppies for long.
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- Misc. Fasteners
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- I keep a bag of snaps, hand clamps
(all sizes), blanket pins and binder clips on hand. I use
them to fasten everything from blankets, to lamps to
paperwork and personal reminders. Start collecting them now
--they come in handy.
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Whelping Kit:
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I place these supplies in a
separate box on the whelping table. I want to be able to get to
them easily during a whelping. These are the supplies I use on
newborn puppies.
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- Thermometer
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- For checking mom's temperature. In
extreme cases (chilled puppies), you may need to record
their temp. I use a digital thermometer.
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- Thermometer covers
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- Plastic covers to protect the
thermometer from being soiled.
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- Children's Safety
- Scissors
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- To cut and trim umbilical cords.
These scissors should not be too sharp or they could cause
the cord to bleed.
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- dental floss
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- I use the unwaxed kind. I tie lengths
of floss in loops and place in a zip loc bag. The loops are
doubled over and tied as close to the kitten's body as
possible.
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- bulb syringes
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- For removing amniotic fluid from the
kitten's nose and throat. Get several sizes.
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- tincture of iodine
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- Helps in drying out umbilical cords.
Use twice daily on cords until they fall off and continue to
use on umbilical site for one more day. You can get the
decolorized kind so it doesn't stain fabric.
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- latex gloves
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- Apply gloves before reaching in to
pull out stuck puppies.
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- K-Y jelly
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- For general lubrication (gloves) or
apply around stuck kitten if birth canal is dry.
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- hand towels or surgical towels
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- For reviving and drying off newborns.
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-
Incontinence pads
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-
I use these pads to whelp on. Because
they have plastic backs, they make cleaning up easier. You
can also use them under the fleece in the whelping box after
the whelping is over. Never use after the puppies are up
and around and could potentially chew the pads.
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Kitten
Box |
This is the box you use to
place newborns in. I use a corrugated plastic mail box (the type
the mailman uses to sort mail) or a corrugated plastic cat
carrier.
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- Heating pad
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- Wrap in flannel receiving blankets
and never raise temperature above low.
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- Flannel receiving blankets
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- Warm and cheap
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- Hand towel
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- I use a hand towel over the blankets
when the puppies are young to keep the blankets from getting
stained.
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-
Bag of kitty litter
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-
Place a thin layer of regular clay kitty
litter in a gallon ziploc bag. Place between heating pad
and flannel blanket. This spreads the heat across the pad
and avoids hot spots that could potentially overheat
puppies.
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Whelping box
equipment |
I use a 3'X3' plastic
children's wading pool, thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant and
hot water. If you use a wooden box, clean with disinfectant
after applying a fresh coat of scrubbable, latex, child-safe
paint or other suitable wood sealer.
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- 3'x3' pad for under box
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- I place this under the pool to
cushion it and keep the pool off the floor. This also makes
the pool easier to heat.
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- old blanket
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- I use this in the box before the
puppies are born -- for mom to sleep on.
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-
Fleece covers for pool
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-
I place the fleece completely over the
pool -- well over the sides so the plastic is completely
covered. I secure the fleece to the box with binder clips
placed at 6" intervals. You can pull the fleece tight,
which will keep the puppies from getting under momma
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- room thermometer
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- I place this on the floor of the
whelping box.
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Additional
supplies |
Misc. Stuff
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- Whelping forms
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- Place these in a small binder or on a
clipboard.
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- For the humans:
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- Video tapes, books, food, coffee,
champagne.
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-
Whelping information
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-
Your favorite books, articles, and/or
magazines should be on hand. Hopefully you won't need them,
but having them there is always a comfort.
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