The Best Whelping Kits For Dogs
When you have a mama dog getting ready to bring a litter of puppies into the world, you need to be prepared to help her in any way you can. With a fully stocked whelping kit on hand, you'll have cord clamps, disposable gloves, syringes, bottles, and other useful supplies to help with the delivery. To ensure you're prepared for this special day in your pup's life, we've rounded up a few of our favorite whelping kits for dogs to help you pick.
What to Look For
When researching whelping kits for dogs, it can be overwhelming because many of them are similar. To narrow down the best ones on the market, we asked ourselves these questions: Does the kit include items for during and after birth? Are there enough products to accommodate litters of various sizes? Is it easy to sterilize the products in the kit? With these things in mind, our top pick is the whelping kit from Reddoudou. This kit includes alcohol pads and wipes to thoroughly sterilize the clamps, scissors, thermometer, and stethoscope. And there are even small syringes and a bottle that can be used to provide additional feedings if the puppies need it. For large litters, we love the whelping kit from Little Heartbeats Whelping. Designed to handle up to 12 puppies, this kit will ensure you’re prepared for any number of newborn pups. Keep reading to discover your new favorite whelping kit for dogs.
Reddoudou Whelping Kit for Dogs
Preparation station
Whether you’re preparing to deliver your first litter of puppies or you’re a seasoned pro, you always need tools to help you through the process. This whelping kit is stocked with essential items and a few extras to ensure you get the job done safely and smoothly. Before delivery, you can prepare the clamps and scissors by sterilizing them with the included alcohol pads and wipes. And after delivery, you can make use of the aspirator and syringes with various nipple sizes to help the new pups grow strong and healthy.
Pros:
- Includes two plastic liners to keep your floors clean
- Most items in this kit are reusable
- Items are packaged separately, so they stay sterile until needed
Cons:
- Only includes enough cord clamps for five puppies
Reddoudou Deluxe Whelping Kit
Prepared for anything
If you want to ensure you have everything you could possibly need to deliver puppies at home, this whelping kit from Reddoudou is for you. Use the disposable plastic sheet to prepare your space and open the sealed clamps, syringes, and other items as needed to keep them clean. This kit includes gloves and a variety of alcohol wipes to sterilize tools throughout the process. And there are enough umbilical cord clamps and colored puppy collars for up to 12 newborn pups.
Pros:
- You can put trash and used tools on the stainless steel plate to keep them out of the way
- The collars are soft and adjustable
- This set includes syringes and various nipples for feeding
Cons:
- The towel isn’t as absorbent as it could be
Little Heartbeats Whelping Deluxe Pro Whelping Kit
Fully stocked
When dealing with a large litter, complications can arise throughout the birthing process. This huge whelping kit from Little Heartbeats Whelping provides you with a range of supplies, so you’ll be ready for whatever happens. The high-quality scissors, umbilical clamp, and stethoscope are all made from stainless steel, which is easy to sterilize with the included alcohol wipes. And this kit even comes with paperwork to document the puppies’ vital information at birth and track their growth.
Pros:
- Designed to use with up to 12 puppies
- The headlamp is useful if your dog is delivering her puppies in a dark room or closet
- You can purchase refill kits to replace the disposable items for future litters
Cons:
- Not as affordable as other options
Reddoudou Puppy Whelping Kit
Back to basics
Since mama dogs have instincts when it comes to delivering their pups, your job is to make sure everything runs smoothly and the puppies get the care they need after birth. This affordable whelping kit includes the bare minimum in terms of tools and supplies. There are plastic cord clamps, record charts, and fabric collars for each puppy. And you can make use of the umbilical clamp, thermometer, and aspirator as needed.
Pros:
- The thermometer is waterproof and flexible
- Non-toxic materials
- The charts include space for vaccination records and microchip numbers
Cons:
- The record charts are small and not waterproof
Sezons Premium Pet Supplies Whelping Kit
Ready to eat
When there are a lot of puppies in a single litter, it is common for one or two to struggle to eat as much as their siblings. Having supplies on hand to supplement the puppies’ meals is vital if you want them all to grow up healthy and strong. This whelping kit is specifically designed for small pups, and it includes various syringes and bottles for easy feeding. Using puppy formula, you can use these items with the various nipples to feed them by hand.
Pros:
- Small cleaning brush included
- Also designed to feed newborn kittens
- You can attach the feeding tubes to feed premature pups
Cons:
- This set only includes one bottle
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important items needed in a whelping kit?
If you only want to purchase a few items, we recommend getting protective sheets for your floor, towels to clean and wrap up the puppies, umbilical cord clamps, and sharp scissors to cut the cords if your dog doesn’t do it herself. But there are plenty of optional items that you can add to your whelping kit that would be helpful in an emergency situation. These could include a headlamp to use in dark rooms and an aspiration bulb to clear the puppies’ airways.
What is the average number of puppies in a litter?
In general, dogs will have five to six puppies in a litter. But small dogs like dachshunds can sometimes only deliver one puppy. While larger dogs like golden retrievers can have up to 10 or 12 puppies. It is best to take your dog to the vet for an ultrasound once you know they’re pregnant. This way you can prepare to help them deliver a specific number of puppies when the time comes.
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