The Best Whelping Pads For Dogs
A lot of preparation goes into getting your home ready for your female dog to give birth. One of the most important purchases you'll make is a whelping pad. These specially designed pads line the whelping box, making it comfortable and protecting the mother and newborn puppies from cold and bodily fluids. With so many types of pads on the market, choosing the right one can seem like an impossible challenge. To help you with your search, we've compiled this list of the best whelping pads on the market.
What to Look For
We recommend keeping the following things in mind when shopping for a whelping pad for your mama dog: Is it large enough to hold the mother and her puppies for the first few weeks? Is it easy to change? Is it soft and comfortable? Our top pick was the whelping pad from Drymate, which is made with highly absorbent fabric that effectively contains urine and other liquids. We also really liked the whelping pad from Moonsea, which has an anti-slip bottom and absorbs liquids quickly. Read on to learn more about our top picks and find the right one for your pup.
Drymate Box Liner Whelping Pad for Dogs
This whelping pad from Drymate is made with super absorbent fabric that can hold up to four times its weight, ensuring your dog and her litter of puppies have a comfortable, warm, and dry place to spend their first days. Its non-slip backing protects floors from damage and helps keep the pad where it should be at all times. You can cut the pad to fit the size of almost any whelping box, and it’s easy to clean and maintain.
Pros:
- Easy to clean in a washing machine or with a hose
- Made from over 50% recycled fibers
- Non-slip bottom contains leaks and protects floors
- Can hold up to four times its weight in liquid
Cons:
- It would be nice if they came in a larger size
Moonsea Quilted Whelping Pad for Dogs
With a super absorbent four-layer quilted construction and anti-slip bottom, this whelping pad from Moonsea is ready to help keep new puppies comfy and safe. They’re reusable and made of durable materials that’ll last a long time. You can use this pad with indoor or outdoor whelping boxes, and since it’s slip resistant and waterproof, you won’t have to worry about it messing up your floors.
Pros:
- Can be used as a lining for whelping boxes, playpens, crates, furniture protection, and more
- Four-layer quilted construction absorbs liquids quickly
- Leak-proof, non-slip bottom keeps floors dry
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Cons:
- Only available in one color
SincoPet Super Absorbing Whelping Pad for Dogs
This whelping box liner from SincoPet has four layers of material that offer your dog and her litter warmth and comfort as they adjust to their new routine. It has an extra absorbent middle layer that pulls liquid away from the surface to keep your pups dry. It also has an anti-slip gel bottom that holds it in place no matter how much your dogs move around. It’s available in various sizes, making finding one that suits your needs easy.
Pros:
- Available in multiple sizes
- Absorbent layer can hold between 20 to 30 times its weight
- Stands up to multiple machine washings and dryings
- Four layers of material to keep mom and pups comfortable
Cons:
- May shrink after the first washing
Peepeego Fast Absorbing Whelping Pad for Dogs
When it’s time to potty train puppies, this whelping pad from Peepeego will help you get through the process with ease. They’re designed to fit snuggly into a helping box, and their non-slip backing ensures they won’t move around even if your puppies do. The pad’s no-leak rubber bottom helps protects your floor from messes by ensuring liquids are contained in the pad. That’s not all; its fast-absorbent material holds up to eight cups of urine and locks it away in the core, keeping your pups dry.
Pros:
- Strong enough to stand up to the chewing of puppies
- Rubber backing prevents liquids from leaking onto the floor
- Washable and reusable up to 300 times
- Non-slip bottom keeps pad in place
Cons:
- Only one pad comes in each package
Loobani Extra Large Whelping Pad for Dogs
When your large dog has puppies, you’ll need a whelping pad that’s bigger than the average, and that’s just what this pad from Loobani delivers. It covers enough space to fit most large whelping boxes and playpens, giving your pup ample room to stretch out and care for her pups. It absorbs liquids quickly, preventing them from puddling on the surface of the pad, ensuring your dogs are dry and comfortable. The bottom of the pad has a grippy texture that prevents it from sliding around, even on slick floors.
Pros:
- Fleece surface with a blanket-like texture to keep pups warm
- Extra-large size accommodates large litters
- Quickly absorbs urine, leaving the surface dry
- Machine washable and reusable
Cons:
- Not suitable for small spaces
Is it okay to use newspaper or straw to line the whelping box?
You’ve probably noticed that many breeders use straw or shredded newspaper to line whelping boxes. We don’t recommend using this material because it can irritate skin and may be unsafe for puppies. Furthermore, straw often contains dust, parasites, and bugs that could make puppies sick. Ingesting this material could also harm your puppies.
What should I use for puppy bedding?
You can continue using whelping pads as padding for your puppy while they’re still small. Whelping pads make good bedding because they absorb liquids and are soft and comfortable. They’re also durable and won’t irritate your puppies’ sensitive skin. All you have to do is put them in the whelping box and remove them when they need cleaning.
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