The American Beagler Forum

I have been using cedar chips as bedding for whelping but recently saw a tv show saying this is bad. Any opinions out there? THANKS

In my opinion I wouldn't use any type of wood shaving for bedding during whelping...whether its cedar or pine... First of all you take the chance of a pups choking on the wood shavings, and it can cause irritation to the pups... I prefer to use 18X24 pieces of carpet, and the pups get along excellent on the pads of carpet, but that's just my 2 cents worth..somebody else may have a better idea....

Jason

i used no bedding whatsoever and she is raising 9 puppies no problem...i remember the first litter i ever had i put bedding in and my gip would take it out ...so i just figured momma knows best and been doin it that way ever since....good luck yellow dog

During the actual whelping, you should use no bedding whatsoever. The mother needs to consume the placenta in order to trigger milk production and she doesn't need to ingest any bedding. Once the birthing is done, a section of tight-napped carpeting works pretty well. I've found the Scott whelping nest to be the perfect place to raise a litter just as it comes out of the box. You'll save enough pups in a few litters to pay for the unit.

Thanks guys! I have seen on some websites the the artifical lamb skin works well. I am just looking for the best as I have not been at this a while and my best resource was my grandfather who has passeed away and he told me that pups die thats how it goes. But ifg I can do better I will give it a try I am only on my second litter. I didn't lose any the first time but I dont want to lose any period if i dont have to. THANK YOU

My wife got some material that they use on matresses to keep bed wetters from ruining a matress. and we lined the bottom of the whelping box with that.

worked excellent!

When welping begins the bitches will scratch profusely in nesting, this also helps with the labor of passing the first pup. Paper, the bitch can shred & nest in seems to work the best and is easily cleaned up and replaced. We've had them even shred outdoor carpeting we put in the box for welping. Most of ours will not just lay down and start passing pups...

use sreaded newspapers or paper sreadings from a paper shreader if the pups chew on it it will come out the other end and it helps soak up the urin, and the excess blood from birth and is really easy to change.

my 2 cents

Do not use anything for bedding. I clean the box well with soap and water and place the female in when it is dry. My box is made of wood. If it is cold, I place a light under the box to warm it. If it is warm weather, I place a fan to move air in the box. Also keep the box in a shaded spot out of direct sun. The dam will keep the box clean.

What ever you do, do not use cedar shavings to let your jip have puppies in. Our female got sick after having puppies and the vet thought she had an vaginal infection. After several days she got better, but then got sick, worse than the first time. Found out that when she licked the pups clean, after the birth, she swallowed cedar shavings and they had puctured her intestines. Needless to say she was so infected we lost the dog.

We have always used newspaper and keep changing it to keep pups nice and dry and warm.