whelping box temperatures - Page 1

How warm do you guys keep the whelping box? Right now I have 3 day old puppies and I have the whelping room at about 80 degrees F. And the bottom of the whelping box is at about 90. How long should I keep it at this temperature? At what age can I lower the boxes temperature? And what should I lower it too? I don't want to cook any of them but I don't want them to get cold either. Any help would be great. Mysti

I find it's easier to gauge with mom in there. I did the 90 degree on my first litter, couldn't figure out why mom kept trying to move the puppies out of the box. I learned, lol. I now keep a heating pad in the box for the first couple of weeks and use a heat lamp if needed. Basically if the puppies are scattered everywhere, too hot, bunched up in a tight pile, too cold. Loosely piled is good. I normally put bath mats on the bottom of the box as well to give them traction as well as retaining some heat from the lamps/heating pad. Most of my females like it between 75-80 Angela

Ditto to what Angela has said, with the exception of the heating pad. I put a heat lamp in ONE CORNER and the pups will go there if they are cold, but they also have the option of going to another area if it is too warm for them. I keep the lamp up when it is cool, until they are 4-5 weeks old. Congratulations on your new litter! :)

Mysti, what you are doing sounds okay. As you are aware baby puppies must be kept very warm until their bodies can regulate heat. If you can maintain 90 degrees on the bottom of the whelping box, then that is good. It's a bit hot for the dam sometimes, but of course they don't spend all day in there and when they are away the puppies do need a heat source, especially when they sleep. It takes about three (3) weeks for their bodies to be able to regulate temperature well. They still need to stay warm, but the most critical time has passed. By the time they are six (6) weeks old, they usually tolerate 70 degree air temperatures, and their bedding temperatures can be lower, as well. Bob-O

i use a therma whelp lamp and cradle sold by jb wholesale cradle reflects heat tn warm pups top and bottom. i am not sure of the exact temp but it does keep pups warm. i keep whelping room at 80 and with no drafts, i have never had a chilled pup. at 4 weeks i drop temp 1 degree a week. at 7 weeks i take temp down to 70. hope this helps.