|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
03-27-2011, 05:17 AM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lake City, FL, USA
Posts: 8
| Whelping box? Hello, New here. Currently my Leia is having her first [& last, might I add] litter. We had an oppsie accident on February 19 with my mothers male chihuahua so we'll be having a cross-breed litter (chorkies, if you must), on or around April 23rd. Leia is my baby girl, and very spoiled so I'm trying to make her as comfortable as possible. It's getting quite hard because she is getting so large. She can no longer jump on the bed, and prefers to only lay on her side. She looks miserable, and it makes my heart ache for her knowing she has 3-4 weeks to go. But, she definitely seems to enjoy the nightly belly massages I've been giving her. I've researched a lot about the whelping process, since this will be my first time also experiencing that, I've gotten prepared with the supplies - bought a whelping kit online that includes everything from gloves to feeding tubes. So my question is, should I make her a whelping box, or not? I've read a lot that people use the "under the bed" plastic containers, but I'd prefer to make one if necessary. If so, does anyone have any "model box" pictures or blueprints so to speak that I can base mine off. I've been looking online but most boxes with instructions seem to be for large breed dogs and quite confusing. I was thinking of something along the lines of having it be a whelping box for the time being and then adding a bottom piece to it to turn it into a bed later on. Is that even a good idea or will germs live on the wood? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you. |
Welcome Guest! | |
03-27-2011, 06:33 AM | #2 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland
Posts: 520
| Firstly, weclome to YT! Your baby is gorgeous! I don't use a whelping box so can't help you with designs- I use a Moses basket to begin with, the into a plastic indoor rabbit hutch set beside my bed (first with the plastic-not mesh- lid off then as they get bigger putting it on) so momma can get in and out, then they go into a puppy playpen- made by cheeko.... So there are plenty of options! Have you read here yet about getting X-rays done to tell you how many to expect? I have just had a litter of 7, and there was no way I would have been expecting that! If she is getting so uncomfy already it may be a larger litter... And do you have someone who can help you when the time ces? Remember she will need help; it's up to you to tear sacs, cut cords, clear airways, which I'm sure you know what with having the whelp kit! Just double checking! Just feel the need to add, you will get many opinions on here, but all with the best of intentions for your baby girl- so please bear that in mind and don't go on the defensive- we want to help things go smoothly for you, her and her babies! How old and how big is she? Her size will not only impact on the whelp and nursing, but may also impact what whelping box design to go for...
__________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..." |
03-27-2011, 06:34 AM | #3 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland
Posts: 520
| Double post, but the 2nd was better!
__________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..." Last edited by bellemarie; 03-27-2011 at 06:39 AM. |
03-27-2011, 06:43 AM | #4 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland
Posts: 520
| My phone hates me and edited the wrong double post- I had added to it saying about the plastic vs wood... IMO, plastic would be far more sanitary than wood, but you could still use the same design, just with plastic instead... I'm sure there are loads of people who pretty much make whelping boxes in their sleep that could help you edit it from wood to plastic!
__________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..." |
03-27-2011, 07:17 AM | #5 | |
Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,564
| Quote:
I am concerned from reading your post, however. If your counting is right, I wouldn't expect your girl to be so large as to be miserable at this point. The pups do most of their growing in the last 3 weeks so she will get much bigger. How big is Leia normally? Have you seen a vet yet? Do you have any idea if she can safely carry a litter? You need to know this as you don't want to endanger her. Any pregnancy carries a risk, but some girls just shouldn't have babies, either due to size, structure, health, etc. I suggest you take her in ASAP to get a vet's assessment of her condition.
__________________ ORANGUTANS ARE DYING FOR THE SAKE OF CHEAP PALM OIL....AND YOU USE IT!!! http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/ani...m-oil-you.html | |
03-27-2011, 02:11 PM | #6 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lake City, FL, USA
Posts: 8
| Ok to answer questions Leia is normally 7lbs, she's on the large size and the father is 8lbs. Yes, we've been to the vet twice (once right after it happened, and then again on Tuesday the 22nd. Dr. Addison, here in our town.. highly recommended). He said she looks wonderful, and I'm doing everything right (her diet is good, shes gaining just enough weight, etc). He said that we could do an x-ray once she hits about 8 weeks and should be able to tell my counting spines and skulls how many babies to expect and he is on call if anything were to happy that weekend that she is due. Leia looks miserable to me, because she normally has an amazing temperament, very happy and outgoing [loves car rides, going to the beach] and now seems to be more reserved and quiet. She is 2 years old, and in otherwise perfect health. My timing is right on the nose because it happened during my nieces party which was held on Feb 19th - I had to lay on the floor with her to keep her relaxed during the period of time when they were tied together because I supposed it freaked her out enough to want to run, and there were no other dogs around her before, or after that. I hope that answers everything. But, the whelping box. Seems that plastic rules over wood due to sanitation issues? I'd rather her be clean and safe that have something that is cute, I was thinking of the box in regards to long term, but I suppose that is right about needing to keep it clean. When thinking wood, my fiance and I were sketching plans of doing a 3'x3' area, that the puppies can sort of grow into as the time progresses. |
03-27-2011, 06:25 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lorain Ohio
Posts: 1,882
| Hi and welcome to YT. I just wanted to say that Jim (Woogie ) is one of the best people on here for help and support. My baby girl just had her first and last litter and Jim helped , and is still helping me, through all of it. He is a very wise man when it comes to breeding and whelping so get all the information that you can from him. As far as whelping boxes go, my son and I made ours out of wood. It is way to big but that is good for when the puppies grow. I had everything ready for Sadie weeks before she was due. The puppies are three days old now and all are doing good, Thank God. Best of luck with your baby and her puppies. |
03-27-2011, 10:04 PM | #8 |
Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,564
| Glad to hear that Leia checked out fine at the vet. Not sure what you've researched, but I always put this link up for expecting Moms. Dog Breeding and Canine Reproduction by Debbie Jensen. Dog Breeding and Whelping guide for dog breeders. It's a great site that has lots of useful info. Good luck on the whelping box. I've seen some members post pics of their set-up here before. Maybe one will see your thread or you might do a search on this site. I'm useless for that as I have my girls whelp their pups in my computer room and I just set up an area in the corner there. Works for me, but most do use some type of box.
__________________ ORANGUTANS ARE DYING FOR THE SAKE OF CHEAP PALM OIL....AND YOU USE IT!!! http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/ani...m-oil-you.html |
03-28-2011, 08:55 AM | #9 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lake City, FL, USA
Posts: 8
| Thank you! I'll check that link out. We decided to go with the plastic container and found a plastic "pen" type thing at walmart for $50. So we'll just transition them over once they get to "big" for the plastic container. Just really thought of the whole sanitation issue. I appreciate all the advice. Thanks again.
__________________ Leia-Monster's Mommy Leia's due date: April 23rd |
03-29-2011, 05:53 PM | #10 |
Living My Yorkie Dream Donating Member | Congrats on your upcoming litter & for researching on all you can do for a safe whelp for your Leia. I have had 3 litters so far (with my 4th on the way in a couple of weeks), and each time is as exciting and nerve-wracking all over again. I see that you have decided to go with the plastic container & x-pen......this is what I was going to suggest to you. I have used an under the bed plastic tub for each of my litters and it has worked out well. It is easy to clean and when not in use, it stores blankets, towels, rugs, and such for the next time. Ive attached a link to a picture of my set up from one of the earlier pregnancies we've had. Good luck to you and Leia.............keep us posted! http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/2748894-post201.html
__________________ |
Bookmarks |
Tags |
chorkie, first litter, whelping box |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart