Preparing for whelping day

Over the last couple of months, other than nail-biting while waiting for the confirmation of pregnancy and now the birth, I have been assembling all the supplies I will need and even might need for the big event. Being that this is the first litter I have whelped, I am a little nervous and probably over-prepared. But my best friend and mentor, who has been through many puppy births, will be with me to calm my nerves and assist in the whole process.

My office has been converted to the puppy nursery and the whelping box is ready. The first step was to lay down plastic carpet protector over the entire room. Tricky, sticky stuff. Underneath the whelping box is a layer of thick foam tiles to insulate and provide padding. Next is a waterproof liner, and then a thick veterinary fleece pad. During whelping, I will cover it with waterproof bed pads to soak up the inevitable mess. The boards around the inside lower edge of the box are called "pig rails" (because they are also used for mama pigs). This prevents Sophie from accidentally laying down and pinning a puppy against the wall. Instead, the puppy will get pushed under the rail.

While the puppies are being delivered, I will have a little warming box with a heating pad and blankets to put the puppies in while Sophie is busy delivering the next puppy. This will keep them warm (they are unable to regulate their body temperature while they are so young) and safe during the delivery process.

Counting down the days......