VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

TEMPERATURE

• Newborn puppies are able to maintain a body temperature about 12°F warmer than the air temperature.
• The temperature under the heat lamp in the whelping box should be around 85°F for the first 2-3 days, and then can be dropped to 75-80°F depending on the surrounding temperature.
• A temperature of 70-75°F on the far side of the box is fine.
• Puppies head toward the heat source to nurse so do not have the heat source warmer than the bitch.
• Hanging a household thermometer on the inside of the whelping box will help you know the temperature in the box.
• Puppies typically lay side by side or on top of each other to share warmth. If the puppies are scattered throughout the whelping box and away from the heat lamp, the temperature is too warm. If they are all piled on top of each other, it may be too cold.
• Puppies need the extra heat, as they are unable to regulate their body temperature until several weeks old.
• The rectal temperature of newborn puppies is about 97°F and rises each week until about 4 weeks of age when it is a normal adult temperature of 100.5-102.5°F.