Heat lamp for litter - Page 1

Can anyone tell me which type is the good heat lamp and which one can be a problem to warm a litter?

Lenny, We use an electric heater now....it tends to heat more evenly than the lamp. The entire room stays at a nice temperature and there are no "cold" spots for the puppies....and no "hot" areas for the female.

Direct answer to Lenny Clear or white bulb puts out infrared rays---- warms puppys, area, and tendency infared rays can "cook" puppys from the inside and burn skin. Red bulb filters infared rays makes "safe" heater. Comment to consider for crhuerta New born puppies, (1st 24 to 48 hours), can raise their body temperature approximately 1 degree above ambient air temperature. Add that 1 degree to your "no hot spot" temperature for the female--- subtract from normal 101 degrees and let me know how cold your puppies are? If you are going to leave it up to Mom, why bother with heater at all? Using lamp you will observe that warm puppies will scatter away from lamp, chilly puppies will seek each other, Mom, and even the lamp. Puppies are born blind and deaf but all of their "other faculties" are miracuously amazing. As puppies age that 1 degree goes to 2, 3, etc, every few days. Avoiding "drafts" can actually be of the most vital importance! Not being critical, food for thought from 50 plus year breeder. Morgan

I actually use a ceramic element, doesn't put off any light, only heat. Monitoring the temperature is very important, you don't want it too hot or too cold.

Hi Morgan Nothing is ever left up to "mom".We have installed electric heaters in the whelping room so the temperature of the entire room is kept warm....no drafts...no hot spots...no cold areas at all. We had used lamps in the past years...but the heaters have worked wonderful! We have our welping room kept very warm...as our Vet suggested...the puppies all move around/scatter the box as they should when they are warm....and as the puppies get older..the temperature is regulated so it is comfortable for them as they are able to regulate their own body heat.....we have also been breeding for several years and just found that this works best for us. I'm not debating anyone....what ever works for a breeder....go with it. Since our welping room is designed this way...it has been great! Nice to hear from a breeder thats been around for so many years! Much luck to you in the future! Robin I do agree.....keep the puppies VERY warm and away from any drafts.