In this review for the best heated whelping pads, we’ll be going through a comprehensive buyer’s guide that features some of the best whelping heating pads on the market.
In addition, we also have a shortlist of our top 5 top picks that you can check below.
Whether you’re a new or experienced pet parent, we’re sure that you would like to allow for the best environment for both mum and pups. A whelping heating pad can play a crucial role in making this happen.
A good whelping heating pad will provide an even and consistent heat source ideal for heating a mother dog and her newborn puppies. Remember that your whelping space will determine whether you need a heat lamp or a heated pad for whelping. You should also have a space heater on hand and all three ready regardless of what your final decision will be.
It is important to note that heating pads should be used with extreme care as they can burn or injure if misused or not properly used. However, an excellent whelping heating pad can make a world of difference for your dog during those crucial first days after she gives birth.
Keep in mind that buying the best whelping heating pad isn’t always an easy task since there are so many available options to choose from. So we have put together a list of our top 5 picks, which you can check out.
In a rush? Here are the top picks!
- Pros
- Features rigid ABS exterior, 5-1/2 feet steel wrapped cord to deter biting
- Durable ABS exterior
- Perfect for whelping
- Adjustable by user
- Used by breeders, pet owners, and veterinarians
- Outdoor or indoor use
- The water-resistant feature is ideal for dog houses, porches, garage floors & living rooms
- Exceeds USA/CA electrical safety standards
- 110/120-volt electrical current only
- Cons
- The fleece cover may not be durable.
The K & H pet products‘ original lectro-kennel outdoor heated pad with free cover is a nice, cozy place for your dog and pups to rest their body during the cold months of winter. You can set it up anywhere you want or need it to be so that your dog feels at home indoors or outdoors.
K&H heated bed may not feel warm to the touch when your pet is not on the pad. That is normal!! You can test the pad by placing a large pillow on top of the residence. After about 20 minutes, feel under the pillow. It will feel warm, not hot. It’s also easy to use.
Plug it into any household outlet and come back in an hour or so when your dog is nice and warm. This heating pad for dogs is great because it can be used inside or outside, comes with a free removable fleece cover for easy cleaning, and will keep your dog nice and warm no matter where you put it.
The heated mat automatically responds to temperature changes to warm your pet’s normal body temperature. It’s perfect for sheds, garages, barns, or any sheltered area your outdoor pets hang out in. This product has been tested & certified by MET Labs to exceed USA/CA electrical safety standards and runs on only 80 watts. This product has over 1,900 positive feedback.
Features
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
- Over 1,900 positive feedback
- Thermostatically controlled
- Includes a free washable fleece cover
- Tested & certified by MET Labs
- Designed by K&H with over
- 20 years of experience
- 3 sizes: s/m/l
- Four color options
- Pros
- Conserves energy
- Auto-off function
- Prevents burns caused by excessive heating
- 7-layer protective structure with UL-certified heating wire protect pets
- from burns
- Crafted with a soft PVC envelope with waterproof and flame-retardant function.
- Warms newborn pets, pregnant pets
- Removable, washable, and ultra-soft velvet cover
- Individual switching ensures a constant temperature
- Dual resistant chew resistant cord protection
- Cons
- Large size may run small
The Toozey pet heating pad is an excellent product that your dog or cat will love. This heated bed for dogs will keep her nice and cozy during the cold winter months. It warms to his average body temperature, perfect for pets who like to snuggle up or find warmth in cold weather.
It features an LED controller that can adjust the temperature easily with six temperature settings (86-131℉/30-55℃) to accommodate the right temp for whelping. The electric pads for pets with timer function provide four auto shutoffs ranging from 4 to 24 hours, conserve energy, and prevent burns caused by excessive heating.
The timer LED can be shifted down one level to tell you how much time is left. We like this heating pad for whelping because there’s a 7-layer protective structure with UL-certified heating wire to protect pets from burns. The heated whelping pad also features a soft PVC envelope with waterproof and flame-retardant function.
Additionally, there’s a built-in intelligent temperature sensor in the heating pad to prevent overheating to protect pets. It’s essential to remember that pets should not lie on the heated pad without a cover. This product features over 3,900 positive reviews.
Features
- Over 3,900 positive reviews
- LED controller for temp controller
- Crafted with six temperature settings (86-131℉/30-55℃)
- Timer function provides four auto shut off ranges from 4 to 24 hours
- Affordable
- Unique heating pad design
- Built-in temperature sensor, 55 ℃ / 131 ℉ overheating protection
- Fixed interface to prevent electrical leakage.
- Pros
- Easy to clean with a clean cloth
- Cover can be machine washed
- Crafted with an all-steel covered cord to prevent chewing
- Features an inner PVC envelope enclosure (IP 68 waterproof.)
- 8-hour anti-aging test before product leaves factory
- Fitted 83'' chew-resistant cord wires have 2.1 M chew-resistant cord casing.
- Highest-grade V-0 flame retardant capability.
- Cons
- Only one color option
The PETNF dog heating pad for whelping features over 2,000 positive reviews and is one of the most popular heating pads for dogs today. The whelping heating pad from PETNF is available in 4 sizes and has a temperature regulator with six levels.
PETNF timer heating pad for whelping pups and mum has an auto shut down when you wanted. The timing system has six levels. We like this heated whelping mat because of the soft PVC envelope that’s both waterproof and flame retardant. This product has the highest-grade V-0 flame retardant capability.
The PETNF dog heating pad is the perfect solution for all your pet’s aches and pains, no matter how big or small! This dog heating mat has a plush 7mm thickness, so it’s safe to lay under your pet during everyday use. Its soft cotton exterior is both comfortable and durable. The cover of the heating pad has a special non-slip rubber backing which prevents it from sliding around on smooth surfaces.
There’s also an adjustable thermostat, meaning you can set the PETNF dog warming pad to any temperature (between 95°F and 150°F) for optimal relief of discomfort. The non-stick surface on the heating pad makes it easy to clean, and you can even throw the cover of the heating mat into your washing machine for an added layer of convenience. The pad will stop heating with time! We like the 2.1 M chew-resistant fitted cord casing to prevent pets from getting electrocuted if they chew on the wires.
Features
- Over 2,000 positive reviews
- Features 4 sizes, including 2XL for large breeds
- Blue color
- Temperature regulator with six levels
- Auto shut down
- Cord casing
- Outer soft fleece cover machine washable
- Affordable
- PVC fire resistant & water resistant sponge
- Temperature regulator with six levels. (86-131℉/30-55℃.)
- Pros
- Suitable for whelping & newborn pups
- Extra-long cord extends 5.91 feet with a 4.92 feet steel-encased chew guard.
- Made of fireproof material
- Easy care & washable cover
- IP67 waterproof
- Easy storage
- Chew resistant cord
- Super comfortable
- Cons
- Only one color
This is another PETNF whelping pad that’s heated. This model features a small, medium, and large sizes and works well for small to medium breeds. The design features an air valve, and the pet heating pad combines flannel covers and a constant temperature heating system that consistently maintains temps between 100.4℉~107.6℉ with 19.6”x15.7” sizes.
It’s also crafted with an anti-bite power cord design, and the extra-long cord extends 5.91 feet with a 4.92 feet steel-encased chew guard. Furthermore, it’s crafted with fireproof material to ensure optimal safety for your pets. We like this model because it can be used indoors or outdoors and is offered at a reasonable price. This product features over 1,000 positive reviews.
Features
- Affordable
- Outdoor/indoor heating pad for whelping
- Auto thermostat heating
- Features 3 sizes
- Over 1,000 positive reviews
- Pros
- Smooth, washable cover
- Crafted with water-resistant material (PVC)
- Suitable for whelping
- Adjustable temperature setting
- Temperature sensor inside warming mat can avoid overheating to protect your pets.
- Cons
- Only one color option
Gentle enough for pets, the upgraded version of the dog heating pad is made of a soft and comfortable plush fabric outside with a replaceable electric warming inner pad, which provides warmth for your pet in winter. The built-in thermostat will automatically stop the heating when the desired temperature is reached to maintain the pet’s safety.
Time setting 1-12 Hour Heating pad will be auto power off to provide safety for your pets. The Riogoo pet heating pad features a seven-layer protection structure with UL-approved heating wire that will prevent your pet from getting burnt.
This has an auto-off function and a safety design, such as low voltage protection and overheats protection, to provide maximum safety for your pets. This model comes in 3 sizes, from small to extra-large, to meet all your needs. This product features over 3,900 positive reviews.
Features
- Affordable
- Auto power-off function
- 3 sizes: (M, L, XL)
- Color: grey
- High-quality pet product
- Auto power-off function dog heating pad
- 7-layer Protection Structure with UL-approved heating wire
- Temperature sensor inside the warming mat can avoid overheating to protect your pets
- Over 3,900 positive reviews
What is a whelping box?
It’s very hard to understand what a whelping box is for pups if you are new to the world of breeding dogs. A whelping box is also known as a doghouse or maternity pen, which are all basic terms for the same thing. So it’s necessary to make sure you have a whelping box to keep your dog safe and warm during the process of giving birth.
VCA Animal Hospital adds that “A whelping or nesting box in a quiet corner of the living room is preferable to an anxious mother constantly leaving her puppies. Once your pet has finished whelping, try gently moving her and their new family to your chosen place. If your pet insists on being near you with her puppies, allow her. A whelping or nesting box in a quiet corner of the living room is preferable to an anxious mother constantly leaving her puppies.”
What is a heating pad?
A heated whelping pad is a great way to keep your female dog and newborn puppies warm and comfy during the whelping process. This means that she’ll be able to stay relaxed and calm as her puppies make their way out of the womb, even if they choose to come out on a cold day!
It’s important to ensure you have all of the essentials available during the whelping process. Heating pads are used during birthing and in the whelping box. This provides a warm environment for the newborn pups to sleep in. They should be placed on either end of the whelping box so that there’s plenty of room for the dogs to move around in. If pups get overheated, they can move off the heated pads.
Heated pads should always be covered when in use. Pet experts recommend that if the temperature is too high, your pet will feel uncomfortable because dogs and cats’ temperature is 33.8-67.6 ℉ (1-2°C). Before using a heating mat, check with your veterinarian for the best temp setting to ensure optimal safety for your pets.
Pre-birth care
Your dog will need regular veterinary care as well as a pre-breeding examination before the birth of her puppies. To have a safe and pleasant whelping experience, you’ll need to prepare ahead of time so that your dog does not go through any potential risks.
What to look for in a heated whelping pad?
A good whelping heating pad will have a temperature control mechanism that will allow you to regulate the heat produced by the pad. This is especially important during the early stages of labor, where you need low heat.
To ensure that you are buying the very best whelping heating pad for your needs, we have put together this comprehensive buyer’s guide, highlighting some of the more essential features of an excellent whelping heating pad. Here is a list of what you should consider when looking for a whelping heating pad:
Size and shape of the whelping heating pad
The size and shape of a whelping heating pad will be directly related to how you plan to use the product. For example, an excellent whelping heating pad should be large enough to cover most, if not all, of a mother dog’s body. In addition, a perfect whelping heating pad should have an area where you can place the newborn puppies so they won’t be in direct contact with the mother dog.
Heat provided by a whelping heating pad
The amount of heat produced by the whelping heating pad is an important consideration. A good whelping heating pad will have a consistent and even amount of heat which can mimic the mother dog’s body temperature. Whelpmate explains that it is necessary to place a rug/towel/rubber mat under the whelping box to insulate from the floor during the winter.
However, in summer, have the whelping box straight on the floor with the heat pad underneath. This will allow the cool floor to cool the base area that is not in contact with the heat pad. This gives a more significant temperature differential to enable your pups to thermoregulate more efficiently.’
The safety mechanism used in a whelping heating pad
A good whelping heating pad will have some safety mechanism that makes it challenging to overheat the product. For example, safety mechanisms such as automatic shutoff and low-temperature settings will make it hard to overheat the whelping heating pad accidentally.
The maintenance required by a whelping heating pad
A good whelping heating pad should be easy to maintain and clean after each use. This is especially important during the early stages of labor, where you will be cleaning up after each birth.
The best whelping heating pads not only make a perfect warming bed for the expectant mother, but they also offer a comfortable and cozy place for newborn pups to stay as well. This is especially important in the early days when tiny puppies still have thin skin that needs protection from drafts and cold surfaces.
Large size convenience
While you can purchase a few small ones, getting a sizeable whelping pad is easier. These pads should cover 1/3 rd. of the whelping box, allowing pups and mum to move away from it.
Digital
A significant advantage of buying digital is that you can set the temperature to whatever you want. You will be able to regulate it during the early stages of labor when mum needs a lower temperature.
Non-slip backing
A non-slip backing means they won’t move around in the box with mum, which could potentially cause injury to her or the pups. Heated whelping pads are designed to keep a mother dog and her newborn puppies warm during those crucial first days immediately after birth.
Claudia Bensimoun is a writer who specializes in dog content and veterinary topics! Aside from writing for We Love Doodles, Claudia also writes for other major dog blogs like Fido Friendly, Animal Wellness Magazine, and the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA). She has a ghostwritten over 50 different dog e-books. Her passions include animal welfare, veterinary research, and wildlife conservation.
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