WHELPING OF PUPPIES-^ 



%The above arrangement, for small breeds {up to cocker in size) can be a large box or a per- 

 manent stall in the kennel building. 



% Dimensions vary with the breed. The center piece is grooved for an extra bar to be put 

 in when the puppies are large enough to crawl over the baseboard. 



• There can be a strip extending about three inches above the floor on all four sides as a 

 refuge for the puppies should the mother be in danger of rolling on them. 



%A — compartment for mother and puppies. B — resting refuge for the mother. C — sliding 

 bar; th^ lo7cer bar also can be taken out so thai quarters will be enlarged. D — protecting 



strip for puppies. 



Needed Supplies in Advance 



It is well to obtain in advance cer- 

 tain supplies useful when the litter is 

 actually arriving. We suggest some or 

 all of the following: 



Clean newspapers for the floor 

 while the mother is whelping; paper 

 handkerchiefs, soft cloth, or clean 

 rags for drying the puppies, cleaning 

 the mother, and cleanup uses. 



A bucket for waste material and 

 afterbirths ; a wash basin and a towel 

 for one's hands, with very mild dis- 

 infectant; a clean blanket for the 

 bitch and puppies to rest on. 



Brandy for use if the puppies need 

 it immediately after being born — two 

 drops in a teaspoon of warm milk; 

 a teaspoon; scissors sterilized in boil- 

 ing water ; vaseline ; eye dropper for 

 emergency feeding of puppies. 



Is Bitch in Whelp? 



; There is no sure, easy sign for the 

 inexperienced breeder to observe. The 

 swelling of loins is not noticeable 

 until after the fifth week. The pres- 

 ence of feti (puppies) in the womb 

 can not be determined before four 

 weeks. At that time they may be as 

 large as hickory nuts. Place the 

 bitch on her side and have her facing 

 you. Put one hand underneath, the 



other on top of her abdomen. Move 

 the fingers along the abdomen. One 

 maybe able to feel the swollen tubes 

 on each side, and the puppies in them. 

 The breasts begin to enlarge with 

 milk content at about six to seven 

 weeks after mating. 



Bedding for Whelping 



The whelping quarters, whatever 

 they be — ^box, blanket, stall or room, 

 should be arranged several days in 

 advance so that the bitch may become 

 accustomed to them. 



Do not have a whelping box too 

 large as puppies may wander away. 

 Bed it with a rug or tack down tight- 

 ly an old blanket. Do not use rags 

 or cloths as puppies may be suffocated 

 in them. Newspapers can be used 

 altho there is some danger of ink 

 poisoning. 



Simply a hard, clean, dry, crackless 

 wooden floor in warm weather is an 

 ideal whelping and nursing bed. See 

 illustration of special whelping box 

 on page 4. 



Whelping quarters, if not in the 

 home, should be heated. The typical 

 poultry brooder stove with thermo- 

 stat (cost about $15 to $20 complete) 

 is satisfactory. A large oil stove also 

 may be used. Note the illustration 

 above. 



