Petnap Whelping Supplies

When whelping puppies, it is very important to be prepared, having what you need on hand is essential for a successful and easy whelp. Whelping Kit   Things you should have prepared include the following:   Phone number for you vet and on call vet in case it is out of hours. It’s a good idea to a friend or other family member available to call on if required. If you do need to make a dash for the vets make sure you have some around for child care. Keep the car with plenty of fuel in the last thing you want to have to do is refuel on the way. ....That’s the emergency part out of the way although everyone hopes not to have to go down that route. What would you need in your whelping kit? Well typically one of these whelping kits from Petnap has everything you ever likely to require.   Contents: * 2oz bulb syringe / nasal aspirator * Scales (up to 5000g) (If purchased with) * LED Torch (inc batteries) * Scissors (sterile, nursing) * Stethosco...

  A  whelping box , also known as a birthing box,  whelping pen and nesting box is used in order to protect the puppies after the whelping process is completed and during the early stages of life when they are most vulnerable. The whelping box keeps them safely contained away from the cold, most whelping boxes also contain rails or poles around the lower edges of which we get asked all the time what these are for and the short answer is they stop the mother crushing the puppies up against the sides of the box which could cause the puppies to become suffocated as well as being crushed. At petnap we sell 2 types of nesting boxes, Disposable Cardboard and Reusable Plastic whelping boxes. Both of these boxes will cope with the duration of the whelping process normally around 6 to 8 weeks before they then move on to a more suitable environment like a play pen as they become ever more adventurous. We stock 5 sizes in both types giving you plenty of choice as als...

  Cats love a comfy cat bed to curl up in.That's why cosy cat beds are a must for every cat. Everyone knows that cats like to sleep, fact, they spend an average of 16 hours a day sleeping so if anyone needs a good cat bed, it’s our fluffy friends. However finding a cat bed that they like is easier said than done! There are so many cat beds available to buy, with a wide range of colours, styles, sizes and prices. Although cats seem very happy to sleep anywhere, they will always enjoy having a comfortable cat bed they can call their own, so it’s well worth spending some time trying to find the right bed.   To help you in this search for the purr-fect bed for your pet look at our range at www.petnap.co.uk

 Dogs spend almost half their lives sleeping, so it’s important to get them a bed that’s comfy, supportive and made to last.   Just as every puppy should have a crate, every dog should have a bed. Like crates , beds offer your pup a sense of security and a place of her own, a place to get away when they are tired or just needs quiet time. Chances are, it will become their favorite spot in your home.    When we are thinking about dog beds , the same considerations apply. For instance, older, arthritic dogs are going to need greater support from their dog bed, while hairless breeds may need a warmer bed they can nestle into. Big dogs will require more space to spread out, so a flat, rectangular bed would be more beneficial.

  Many cats and dogs just love curling up for a nap in the warmest spot they can find. A pet heat pad is the perfect way to guarantee there’s a cozy place for them, whatever the weather. This can be especially useful for older pets, or those with a litter of puppies or kittens.   These include a removable, washable cover. This pad is also thermostatically controlled, meaning it heats up to the body temperature of your pet, but won’t overheat above this.   Pet heating pads are for every four-legged friend that loves a toasty, cozy spot to nap in. Cats and dogs both!

A dog bed is not just an accessory, but a safe place where your fur friend can enjoy the comfort, warmth, and security they deserve. A Heated bed provides warmth to your dog’s body keeping them comfy even on the cooler days. Dogs love the warmth and comfort  heated dog beds  provide rather than the chilly, cold and hard floor. Newborn puppies can find it hard to cope with cold weather. If you live in a cold area, then having a heated bed for dogs can help your puppies survive through the harsh winters. On the other hand, an old dog with weaker joints would also love to retire in a warm, cozy bed for the winters. Take a look at Petnap’s website here

My cats and dogs just love curling up for a satisfying nap, in the warmest spot they can find. A petnap heating pad is the perfect way to guarantee there’s a cozy place for them, whatever the weather. This can be especially useful for older pets, or those with a litter of puppies or kittens. If you're concerned about keeping your pup warm this winter, Petnap  has a heat pad that promises to keep your pooch the perfect temperature all year round. The clever pad works by reflecting your dog's heat back to the heat pad, keeping them warm as they sleep, with no need for blankets or turning the heating on at night-time. This pad is designed to heat up to between 38 and 40 degrees C approximately 20c above the ambient air temperature. Once your pet lies on the mat, which is the normal body temperature of both cats and dogs. If you work away from home for long hours, and would love to offer your beloved pet a comfortable spot to snooze while you’re away, then providing them...

Puppies are a playful element to bring into any household, with their boundless energy and enthusiasm. Getting them settled into any new house is vital for their and your wellbeing, and really accentuating that family household feeling as soon as possible. As with any member of the family, you want them to feel at home and as comfortable as they can be. With a new puppy in the house it can be difficult to entrust leaving this endless bundle of energy alone whilst you go to bed, or have to pop out to run an errand. Despite wanting to give them free reign to explore and tire themselves out, we also have to think about creating some boundaries and teaching them about structure and rules. It can simply also be down to not wanting the house to be turned upside down upon your return. For when you leave the house it is ideal to create a boundary, be it choosing a room (usually the kitchen) to kit out with their food and water, gated to prevent your puppy exploring the rest of your house....

Whether you have a litter of puppies, an outdoor boarding facility or a beloved pet who feels the cold over winter, there is a Flexiguard Heat Pad that is ideal for you! All cats and dogs are susceptible to feeling the cold over our long winters but none more so than the young, elderly or those recovering from an illness. For proprietors of catteries and kennels, the challenge of this variety of pets all with differing needs is something that may be faced during the colder months, particularly those with outdoor runs. The Flexiguard Heat Pad is your answer! Suitable for use at home, in a veterinary surgery or in  kennels and catteries .  Available in three different sizes and powered by mains electricity, the Flexiguard Heat Pad for cats and dogs is designed to be left on continuously at a minimal running cost – less than 1p per day! Manufactured to high standards from aluminium to effectively conduct heat, the pad should be covered with a specially designed Cosi Co...

You will need important Whelping supplies to be ready if anything happens while your dam is giving birth. A good whelping supply list must be complete although there is a very slim chance for you to use it; you should actually wish not to use it. Yet, your  whelping supplies  have to be easily and quickly available at all times during your bitch’s end of pregnancy. While the dam is giving birth, you should stay well away to supervise the whole process. However, if anything requires your intervention, use gloves to be as sterile as possible. Do not manipulate and handle the puppies or the dam with bare hands, you could pass on your dirty microbes to them. If you read our post on how to give special care to new born puppies after birth, you will know to keep track of each puppy’s weight as the progression of weight must be noticeable and follow some pattern. Speak to your vet to get the breed’s “normal” weight for the first couple of weeks. You will need t...

Whether you are breeding your first litter or you are a professional breeder – as you approach the date your bitch is due to whelp you will be excited, anxious and vigilant! If you are planning to breed from your dog it is recommended to wait until they are a minimum of two years of age. A dam will have her first season around 6-9 months of age and this will repeat in a cycle every 6 months. After mating the bitch will carry the puppies for a gestation period of 63 days – you will notice during this time she becomes larger, her teats grow and towards the end she may start to “nest”. This is the process of making a bed she feels is safe to give birth to her puppies, it is an evolutionary response to the hormones caused by the pregnancy and is seen in wild dogs and wolves where they need to find a location away from predators and the elements. You can help your bitch chose a suitable area to whelp by providing a  whelping box  – this can be anything from a cardboard bo...

Joint issues such as arthritis and rehabilitation from injury are an exceptionally common occurrence in pets. As the cat or dog ages, degeneration to the capsule will occur which hold the adjacent bones together caused by general wear and tear to the joint. This is the cause of the condition, arthritis – the inflammation and friction in the joint cause’s pain and discomfort to the pet which, left untreated, will continue to deteriorate and cause suffering to the pet. Arthritis is very common in larger breeds of dog – such as Labradors, German Shepherds and Great Danes and therefore it is useful to think about preventative measures earlier on in their lives before the pain and discomfort starts to set in. It is not as widely known, but cats will also suffer from arthritis as they age, particularly those who have been very active when they were younger.  It is possible to help support your pet with medication from your veterinary surgeon such as anti-inflammatories or joint suppor...

A  whelping box  is in short, a box of sort that is used for the bitch to give birth to her puppies in and is the puppies home for the first stage of their life. At around 7 weeks into pregnancy, we need to start thinking about the whelping box. Let’s have a look at an easy way to work out which size whelping box you’re going to need, remember you should be doing this at the 7 week point at the latest as ideally you should have the whelping box set 2 weeks prior to the due date. The advice we give when selecting the correct size whelping box is to measure from the nose to the base of tail add several inches for the incorporation of puppy rails and free room and then go for the next size whelping box up from this measurement. (This is advice only and is ultimately down to the customer to select the correct size) The puppies will remain in the whelping box usually around  4  to 6 week, this is when they become more animated and therefore need more space to get a...