Favorite Things is a feature from The Vizsla News.
Vizslas have owned me for well over twenty years, and by now it’s more of a lifestyle. Over this
time, I’ve tried a lot of products, and some are here to stay. We’re introducing a feature, A Few
of My Favorite Things, where I’ll share in each issue a few staples in my life with dogs. I hope
you enjoy it and will maybe pick up a new item you absolutely love.
PRIMO PADS – WHELPING BOX PAD – $125
primopads.com/?product=whelping-box-pad
Primo Pads makes all kinds of sizes for kennels, but my specific use is for their whelping-box pads. They provide a nice cushion and are 100% waterproof. They are heat-sealed with no stitching or zippers. They come in a variety of colors and are easy to clean. Plus, they are nontoxic for that one puppy who wants to consume them.
VITA KEYHOLE 4’ X 4’ COMPOSTING GARDEN BED WHELPING BOX – Model VT17101 – $139.00
costco.com/vita-keyhole-4’-x-4’-composting-garden-bed. product.100234466.html
These garden beds turned whelping boxes have proven super useful. I use one 4’ x 4’ box for the first week with a 1” PVC pig rail along the inside edge to protect the puppies from being crushed or smothered when the mother rolls over. Slowly, I expand the whelping box over the weeks
REVIVAL PRODUCTS – BREEDER’S EDGE
OXY MATE PRENATAL – $33.29
ORAL CAL PLUS GEL – $13.76
OXY MOMMA — $20.39
revivalanimal.com/category/all-pet-supplies- pregnancy-reproduction
This triad of supplements is my go-to for litters. I use Oxy Mate Prenatal before whelp, Oral Cal Plus during whelp, and Oxy Momma post whelp. My girls love the treat of the Oxy Mate and Oxy Momma, and the tube applicator of the Oral Cal Plus enables easy administration.
PUPPY CULTURE
Puppy Culture the Original Film DVD or Streaming — $69.95
Puppy Culture Workbook — $99.95
Puppy Culture is a socialization and training program specifically developed for puppies from birth through the end of their critical socialization period, with age-appropriate protocols and lessons laid out in an organized format. The program consists of videos, books, and the Puppy Culture Workbook. Puppy Culture is a positive-reinforcement program that teaches puppies how to learn and interact. It can identify qualities in each puppy you may not have seen otherwise and can teach you how to promote their aptitudes.
WHELPWISE – $480.00
veterinaryperinatalspecialties.com/
I have used WhelpWise for every litter I have whelped. For the first-time breeder, it’s the best money spent. WhelpWise sends you a box of equipment to monitor contractions for a week before whelping. These monitoring sessions are sent with a bit of magic over the phone, and then a couple minutes later, WhelpWise calls you with a report. They also provide a doppler to monitor puppy fetal heart rates and detect early stress. All the technology is pretty cool, but the best part of the service is the 24-hour support by a knowledgeable person on the other end of the phone who can talk you through whatever may be going on in your whelping box.
GIANTEX – ADJUSTABLE MESH FLOOR CHAIR – $49.99
amazon.com
This adjustable floor chair is one of my favorite whelping accessories. Whether you’re patiently waiting for the whelp to start, doing early stimulation, taking weights, or playing with the puppies in the puppy pen, the super padded seat and supporting back make sitting on the ground for hours bearable.
By Jamie Walton
Jamie lives in Claremont, CA, with her husband Chuck and pack of reds: Chance, Skedaddle, Sloan, and Sisu. She is an avid competitor in almost all venues and a former VCA Officer.
