Whelping box
A litter box is a box made of various materials that is used in dog breeding during the birth and rearing of a litter of puppies . It protects the puppies in the first weeks of life from drafts and crushing by the bitch and simplifies hygienic care.
The height of the side walls and the entrance are dimensioned so that they cannot be climbed over by the puppies, but on the other hand they allow the mother to get on and off easily. Often the height of the entrance can also be adjusted to the increasing size and mobility of the puppies by inserting boards. The floor can be lined with a so-called puppy bed or the like, which on the one hand protects against the cold and on the other hand absorbs liquids. The required floor space is based on the size of the animals to be housed in it. A low, all-round railing is usually attached inside the box. This prevents puppies from getting under the mother if she turns over during childbirth or while sleeping.
Since litter boxes are only needed for the puppies' first weeks of life, they can usually be easily dismantled for space-saving storage. However, there is also a patent for a collapsible litter box.
Litter boxes are also used in the rearing of domestic cats . However, these are not always accepted; many domestic cats choose to give birth outside of their home.
swell
- ↑ A. Wehrend (Ed.): Neonatology in dogs: From birth to weaning . Schlütersche, 2007, ISBN 3899930371 , limited preview in the Google book search
- ↑ Patent US5497729 : Collapsible Whelping Box. Published March 12, 1996 , inventor: CS Lord.
- ↑ B.-A. Sugar (ed.): Compendium of animal hygiene . 5th ed., Lehmanns, 2016, ISBN 3865418414 , limited preview in the Google book search
- ↑ P. Jackson: Obstetrics in Veterinary Medicine . Urban & Fischer / Elsevier, 2006, ISBN 3437314025 , limited preview in the Google book search