Heating Options for the Whelping Area

There are many options for heating the whelping area and there are many opinions as to which ones are the best for the whelping area. It is very important to provide extra heating for the newborn puppies because they are unable to thermoregulate their body temperature.

Heating Pads

There are various different types of heating pads available on the market. The ones most commonly used are the following:

Kennel Heating Pads/Whelping Heating Pads

• these are pads usually constructed with vinyl made specifically for heating kennel areas
• usually made for outdoor enclosures for outdoor kennels and runs
• usually there are very basic temperature controls and settings that are vague and approximate
• requires manual monitoring to keep at a stable temperature or adding a third party sensor device
• can range in price from $30 to $100 depending on size and materials used
• check materials, some can have a lot of off-gassing of chemicals
• check build quality, some may be easily chewed/broken

Reptilian/Seedling Heating Pads

• usually waterproof and very thin to accommodate substrate in reptile habitats and greenhouses
• accurate temperature control
• easy to clean
• made of safe materials, no off gassing
• can be expensive at $50-$200 depending on size
• not as durable, vulnerable to chewing

Human/Baby Heating Pads/Electric Blanket Type

• usually made of safer materials especially if for babies
• really range in price from cheap to very expensive
• varies in temperature control, some have timers that can be dangerous for whelping use
• some may get too hot for puppies and dams
• vulnerable to chewing
• difficult to clean unless they are water resistant

Space Heaters

Infrared

• can be expensive but if you shop around there are good deals
• many have sensors to monitor ambient temperature
• may be overpowered for a small whelping room

Electrical Space Heater

• very cheap
• some are very basic
• more expensive ones have sensors

Radiant Oil Space Heater

• expensive
• overpowered for smaller areas
• not recommended

Heat Lamps



3 Different Types (light emitting): incandescent, halogen and infrared

• more sanitary then pads because there is no physical contact with puppies or dam
• uses more energy then other heat sources
• very cheap heat source
• can provide more variety in temperature so that if some puppies get too hot they can move away from center of heat source
• dam can also move away from heat source if she is too hot
• no danger of chewing cords
• can fall, can be a fire hazard
• must avoid place blankets/flammable items too close
• can overheat dam and puppies if not monitored
• can disturb sleeping patterns due to light emission

Ceramic Heat Lamp

• has no light output, only radiant heat
• won't disturb sleep patterns
• heat source works the same as a heat lamp but without light
• dam and puppies can move away if the source is too hot
• no chewing cords dangers
• still fire hazard if placed too close to flammable items
• can overheat, must purchase a temperature monitoring device

My conclusion:

By the time my dam is pregnant and giving birth to her puppies, it will be the coldest month of the year here in Canada. I live near Toronto, Ontario and the months of January and February are usually the coldest months of the year. I will be using a combination of heating methods and monitoring 24/7 with an alarm and a baby monitor should the temperatures get too cold or too hot. I will be able to see right away if the puppies are squished together indicating they are too cold or spread far apart indicating they are too hot.

My recommendation is to purchase the ceramic heat lamp with temperature monitor to ensure it doesn't get too hot. Mount the lamp securely and make sure there is enough of a warm spot for the puppies/mom and room to move away. As well, if you live in a cold climate and /or you are whelping during the winter months, a space heater is more insurance that the whelping room stays at a comfortable temperature. Not quite as hot as under the heat lamp but warm enough so that the mother is comfortable and the puppies don't get chilled if they should move too far away from the mother or the heat lamp.

Update July 16, 2019:

Millie is having another flare up of colitis. This may be due to her diet so she is now on a low residue diet along with her prebiotic supplement. She is no longer on antibiotics because I don't want her to be on them long term.

I've decided not to breed Millie. Perhaps I will change my mind later if she fully recovers but I really don't think it is a good idea to breed her because I know that 70% of the immune system is in the gut. If her gut isn't healthy then she won't have enough immunity for her puppies--that's just the way it is. If this colitis ends up being a chronic issue that cannot be resolved with diet and supplements then I don't believe she is healthy enough to be a mother. I am deeply saddened by all of this but I am also glad that this happening now and not complicating matters if she were pregnant.