To have a healthy and happy adult dog, it is important to regulate their temperature as puppies to make sure that they are comfortable in their environment. Heat lamps are an important and easy way to achieve warmth, especially during the winter months and the first few stages of a puppy’s life.
What Are Heat Lamps?
Are Heat Lamps Safe For Dogs?
Heat lamps are generally safe for dogs, but if they are not installed properly or used the correct way, it could result in injury or even death.
Precautions to take for safety when using heat lamps
- Make sure that the heat lamp is far enough away from the dog to prevent burns.
- Look into safety features such as an automatic shut-off on the lamp. Automatic shut-off will turn the lamp off by itself when the optimal temperature has been reached, this reduces the risk of burns and catching fire greatly.
- Anti chew cords, make sure to invest in a lamp that has this safety feature, especially if your pup loves to chew. This will prevent electrocution.
- Mount lamps up high above where your dog is sleeping in the kennel, or dog house and that the cords are nowhere near the animal.
- Do not use straw as bedding, it is a fire hazard. Use flame-retardant blankets or beds that will withstand heat.
- Make sure that you stick to at least 70 degrees for safety
- Make sure the bulb is at a maximum of 250 watts to prevent burns.
Why Is It Critical To Keep A Newborn Puppy Warm?
The warmth is comforting to puppies and it aids in sleep, but there are more reasons why it is crucial for puppies to stay warm when they are newborns:
– Body regulation – Puppies cannot regulate their body temperatures at such a young age. You’ll notice that a liter of puppies always huddle together with their mother to stay warm, but if puppies are orphaned or you just adopted one, it is important to keep them warm with a heat lamp and warm bedding.
– Hypothermia – Puppies are more susceptible to getting hypothermia because they cannot regulate their temperatures on their own.
– Fights off disease – Puppies who are kept at higher temperatures during the first moments of their lives with a combination of vaccinations, have a higher chance of not contracting CHV (Canine Herpesvirus). Studies have recently shown that puppies kept at warmer temperatures diminish the symptoms and have an increased survival rate.
What Are The Ideal Temperatures For Puppies?
It’s important to keep newborn puppies regulated to keep them thriving. Here are the recommended temperatures for puppies, make sure to gradually reduce the temperatures by these timelines:
Newborn – 7 days: 85ºF to 90ºF
8 – 14 days: 80ºF to 85ºF
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15 – 28 days: 75ºF to 70ºF
What Wattage Should Heat Lamps Be For Puppies?
Best Heat Lamps For Dogs
To ensure that your pet going to get the best heat lamp possible to stay warm, it’s important to sift through a lot of products to find the best match possible. To get started here is some information on popular heat lamps:
Zoo Med Ceramic Heat Emitter
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Long-Lasting
- Emits infrared heat without light
- Made from ceramic
- Has three wattage options including 60w, 100w, and 150w
- Versatile, not just for reptiles, can be used for dogs and brooding chickens
Cons:
- There are some complaints from customers that the bulb started burning on its own and emitted a burning rubber smell.
- Some customers received broken products or products that wouldn’t power on when it arrived.
BYB – 110w Ceramic Heat Emitter Lamp
Pros:
- Perfect for terrariums, brooding chickens and dogs.
- Lasts for 10,000 hours
- Works in high humidity environments
- Made of high purity pottery clay
- High energy efficiency, Ni-Cr Alloy resistant wire
- Can be run 24 hours
- The circular emitter can cover a greater surface area
- Mountable and portable
- Good for dog houses and kennels
Cons:
- Reports that the bulb will work for a short amount of time then quit working.
- Fire hazard reports
- Product arrived broken
Evergreen Pet Supplies, 75 Watt Infrared Heat Lamp Bulb
Pros:
- Top-rated with a backed customer warranty
- Ideal for night time heating, and good for nocturnal animals
- Compatible with all enclosures
- Has a quality tested lifespan of 800 – 1000 hours of heating time
Cons:
- Reports of the bulbs exploding randomly
- Blew out quickly within days after the first usage.
Zilla Premium Reflector Domes
Pros:
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- Topped with ceramic sockets to withstand the heat of a 150-watt bulb
- Black exterior and white reflective interior powder coat adds to the durability
- Fits regular light-emitting bulbs and infrared.
Cons:
- Reports that the lamp stops working
- The ceramic plates separate when changing the bulbs
- Bulbs blew out quicker when using the lamp
- Arrived without vital components
- Shorts out easily
Hoke Flexible Clamp Lamp Fixture
Pros:
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- A fully adjustable head that can be rotated 360 degrees.
- Wire and switch ensures safety
- The bulb will purposely blow as a safety feature if the wires or circuits short out, it will not work until the problem is fixed
- Can be used for dogs, reptiles, chickens and UV lighting for growing plants indoors
Cons:
- Could blow a lot of bulbs
- Could stop working altogether in a few short months
