Shopping List- Things to Purchase IMMEDIATELY for Your Pregnant Dog

Your dog is pregnant? Congratulations!! Don’t waste a second- there is so much to do! First step- time to go shopping before those puppies get here.

You’ll need all supplies at least 2 weeks before the due date. That’s when you’ll want mom calm and adapting to her whelping area. Be sure you’re calm too as she will feed off of your emotional state. That means no last minute shopping- be sure you are well prepared for any outcome.

What do you need to feel totally relaxed in the final 2 weeks?

Shopping Item 1: Lots of Information

There is simply NOTHING that will give you- and your momma dog- more peace than knowing what to do in the case of a complicated birth.

Not only the birth- do you understand puppy development for the first 12 weeks of life? Can you recognize what health issues constitute a visit to the vet? Are you prepared for advertising and finding the perfect homes for every puppy?

If you need a little help with any of those or many other common questions, here is the resource for you! Just follow this link and you’ll have all the information you need.

Shopping Item 2: Whelping Kit

Second most important is a kit that contains all the basic items to quickly step in and save a puppy’s life in case of common puppy emergencies.

You’ll want a kit that contains: gloves for sterile whelping, cord clamps/scissors in case mom does not bite the cord, a bulb syringe in case a pup needs help to breathe, and bottles in case a pup does not nurse right away.

Here’s a link to our whelping kit, which also provides charts to help you organize yourself and all the information about an entire litter of puppies.

Other items that may be helpful during birth:

1. An old towel to dry puppies.
2. A bottle of 5 Hour Energy or Karo syrup. If a puppy is born with no energy, one drop of this in the back of the mouth can help them get enough energy to nurse.
3. Karo syrup or butter. If mom does not naturally lick the pup’s bottoms, a dab of karo or butter on their butt can help get her instincts to kick in.
4. A can of formula just in case a pup cannot nurse. Here is a link to a great newborn formula. A little goes a long way with this stuff. Once the can is opened, it expires in the fridge after only a couple days. You’ll likely only need about 1/4 of the can in that time frame, so I recommend freezing the milk in small baggies so that you can make the entire can last.
5. Coconut oil or Vaseline for lubrication. Use a feeding tube or your finger to insert the lube around a puppy who is stuck in the birthing canal. This can also be helpful for taking mom or pups’ temperature.

Item 3: The Birthing Area

To create a proper and comfortable birthing area for your precious momma and babies, you’ll need the following items:

1. A Whelping Box. Vital for containing the puppies indoors while allowing mom to come and go as she needs. Yes, I recommend raising the puppies indoors at least for the first 3 weeks during the newborn phase when puppy deaths are more likely.
2. Whelping Mats. Whelping mats keep the puppies warmer than a hard surface, allow them appropriate traction for nursing, and maintain better cleanliness as they are easy to machine wash.
3. Heat Lamp and Heat Pads. Young puppies need to be warm. Their body temperature is higher than a human and drops in temperature can be fatal. Heat sources are vital to their health and safety.
4. Painter’s Plastic. I am a strong advocate of keeping my floor totally safe from the bodily fluids that will be present in the whelping box. Even with the whelping mats in place, I prefer an extra protective layer of plastic.

Shopping Item 4: Measurement and Monitoring Tools

Puppies need frequent monitoring to be sure that they stay healthy.

1. A Digital Thermometer. You can take your puppies’ temperature rectally. A newborn pup should have a body temperature around 95 to 99 degrees F. In week 2-3, the pup’s temperature should rise to 97 to 100 degrees F. By week 4, the pup should maintain his body temperature of 100-102 throughout adulthood.
   • Note that the thermometer can also be used to predict when mom will go into labor. You can learn all about how to track mom’s temperature in our Whelping Kit!
2. A Baby Scale. Puppies should be weighed every day during the newborn phase to be sure that they are growing consistently. Later on, they can be weighed every week.
   • See our Weight Charts in your Whelping Kit!

Item 5: Cleaning Supplies

Maybe this is the downside to the glorious job of raising sweet puppies… but there are lots of messes in your future.

Here’s a few things to purchase so that you can provide your sweethearts with a clean environment:

1. Lots of hand soap and hand sanitizer
2. Paper towels
3. Cleansing/disinfecting wipes
4. Safe cleaning spray
   • Bleach is not safe for puppies unless it is completely dry. If you choose to bleach the whelping box, be sure to give adequate drying time before returning the puppies.
5. Extra gloves
6. Laundry detergent for your whelping mats

Shopping Item 6: Supplies for Exercises

Puppies need exercises, not just laying in a whelping box. There are lifelong benefits to puppies who are raised well including better health and better socialization.

3 newborn and older puppy exercises can be learned in our Whelping Kit. Here are a few items that will get you jump started:

1. Scent items for ESI such as Essential Oils. Many around the house items can be used, but essential oils are a easy and quick way to accomplish this.
2. Desensitization items. Many around the house items/sounds/textures/experiences can be used, but the following are especially helpful. If you don’t have one of these items, consider purchasing.
   • Umbrella
   • Bell
   • Whistle
   • Vacuum
   • Toys that make noise
   • Textures such as carpet squares, fake grass, or a bit of hard wood
   • Kinesthetic toys such as: Slides, wobble board, stairs, etc.

Shopping Item 7: Health Supplies

Stay in close contact with your vet throughout your puppies’ 12 weeks at your home. Each litter could need different things. A vet may recommend probiotics, flea/tick medication (although this is more common for older pups), antibiotics, antihistamines, etc. if the right situation presented itself.

The most common puppy medications are dewormers and vaccinations, likely to be recommended by your vet in the first 12 weeks of life.

Item 8: Dog Food

After about 3 weeks old, the weaning process begins. Puppies will slowly transition from nursing to eating dry puppy food.

You’ll need a high quality formula to mix into soaked kibble as you help the puppies adjust to the new diet.

1. High quality formula
2. Kibble- be sure to buy puppy-specific dog food. It is higher in protein and fat for growing bodies.
3. Don’t forget the puppy dishes! I like these dishes which help to keep the puppies out of the bowl (they will happily walk right through if the center isn’t raised).

Shopping Item 9: Grooming Supplies

Caring for puppies requires cleanliness- hygiene is so important for health! Keeping your puppies clean will keep disease and illness away.

1. Nail Clippers. Trim puppies’ nails at least once a week- especially when nursing. Long nails can cut mom, inserting dirt and germs into the cuts. This can be one cause of mastitis, but is easily avoided by trimming nails.
2. Shampoo and Towel. Don’t bathe a puppy until around 4 weeks old because they cannot regulate their body temperature as a newborn. Use a gentle shampoo for the puppies.
3. Brush. Select a brush that best fits your breed’s needs.

Item 10: Photo Equipment

In order to help the perfect families find your cuties, you’ll need to take great pictures of the puppies.

1. Camera. An IPhone camera could work great, or you may prefer to purchase a starter camera.
2. Props. I recommend adorable props- fake or real flowers, pillows and blankets, baskets, chalkboards, chairs, etc. If a holiday is coming up, use themed decorations to show off your cutie pies.
3. Backgrounds. Putting a home-y background behind the puppy creates a loving appearance to the picture. It helps the family imagine this darling baby joining their family. Outdoor or indoor puppy pictures are lovely and offer variety.
4. Photo Box. While not necessary, a photo box can provide consistent lighting for an inexperienced photographer, which can help your pictures turn out right the first time. A photo box saves me. Instead of worrying that I missed the perfect moment, I know that I’ve captured it when I use my photo box.

Item 11: Older Puppy Pen

As your puppies grow, you’ll need to adjust their living area. For detailed information about how to create a perfect puppy area for older puppies, check out our post here.

1. Water Dishes. By 3 weeks old, puppies need water available to them at all times.
2. Toys. By 4 weeks old, puppies are ready for toys- and lots of them! All different kinds, all different sounds, as much variety as you can provide for maximum learning and development.
3. Play Pen. By 4-5 weeks old, puppies are ready to be introduced to your backyard! As long as you are careful to avoid exposure to germs, the yard is a great place for puppies to play and learn about their environment. You can even begin potty training! A puppy play pen can help if your yard is not fenced.
   • Note: Watch for signs that the puppies are too hot or too cold. Extreme temperatures are unhealthy for the puppies.

Shopping Item 12: Go Home Packets

When the puppies are ready to transition to their forever families, you’ll want to send them with a “Go Home” gift.

1. Records. My FAVORITE thing to include in my gifts are records that show how the puppy was loved and cared for all his life. These documents can show his reaction to exercises or how his personality changed as he grew. Click here for a bundle of all the documents for you to share with your customers!
2. Toys. Including some of the puppy’s favorite toys from my home brings the puppy joy and familiarity in his new environment.
3. Puppy Food. A gallon ziploc of the puppy’s current food allows the family to slowly transition the puppy to whatever puppy food they choose to feed. OR gives them a jump start on the current food if they want to keep the puppy’s diet consistent. Be sure to include directions to guide the family on how to slowly transition the puppy’s food. An unaware but well intentioned person might jump from one food to the next too quickly.
4. Puppy pads. So helpful for traveling with a newly potty trained puppy.
5. Scent Item. Step 1: Rub a blanket or stuffie all over mom and littermates. Step 2: Let them play with the scent item. Step 3: Send it home with the puppy! It’ll smell like his family and help him feel comfortable.
6. Leash, collar, puppy treats, chew sticks, bone, etc. Any fun items that you want to throw in to show the family that you care!
7. Information. Any help you can offer to the family about how to train, the puppy’s schedule, how to groom, how to feed, etc. to help them step in seamlessly into the puppy’s life!

Wowie, that’s a few items! With this shopping list, you’ll be ready for anything from birth to 12 weeks!