Whelping Services

Hands-Off Whelping Service

This service is designed for responsible breeders who are not available at the time their female is due to have her puppies.

The patient is dropped off at Elon Oaks Veterinary Hospital two days prior to her due date. The patient is kept with an EOVH veterinarian (boarding at the clinic during the day if the DVM is working that day, staying at DVM’s home otherwise) until 2-3 days after whelping. 

This service must be reserved a minimum of four weeks prior to the due date (in other words, at the time of pregnancy confirmation). Payment is due at the time of reservation. The price for this service starts at $2800. If the patient/puppies are kept for more than 6 days, an additional boarding fee of $50/day applies. If a patient requires a planned c-section, the estimate range for this service is $1500-$2500 and a deposit of $1500 is required at the time of hospitalization. 

Additional requirements for the Hands-Off Whelping Service: 

• The patient must have been examined by an Elon Oaks Veterinary Hospital veterinarian within the past 6 months. 
• The patient must be up-to-date on the following vaccinations: DAPP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza), rabies, and bordetella. 
• The patient must have had serial progesterone measurements to identify ovulation date. If this testing was not performed at EOVH, the results must be made available to our hospital prior to reserving the service. 
• The patient must have had a negative brucellosis test within the past 6 months. If this testing was not performed at EOVH, the results must be made available to our hospital prior to reserving the service. 
• Pregnancy must be confirmed prior to reserving the service. 
• Client agrees to provide the patient’s normal diet to limit the development of GI upset. 
• Patients on a raw diet are not eligible for this service. 

Disclaimers and Informed Consent: 

• The team at Elon Oaks Veterinary Hospital takes every precaution to ensure that the patient’s birth plan proceeds as intended. However, due to the unpredictable nature of whelping, changes to the plan, including proceeding to c-section, may be necessary to protect the lives of the patient and the puppies. Furthermore, although we take every precaution to maximize successful outcomes, we are unable to guarantee the delivery of live puppies or the survival of the patient. All clients using the Hands-Off Whelping Service must consent to treatment as deemed necessary by their EOVH veterinarian. The Hands-Off Whelping Service does not include intensive care services such as performing a c-section or tube feeding the puppies. If these services need to be performed, the client will be notified and additional costs will apply. If it is determined that the patient requires a c-section, the estimate range for this service is $1500-$2500.
• Client must consent that they will typically receive only one update per day on the status of the patient and her puppies. 
• Client must consent that they understand the patient and puppies will be at a medical facility where other potentially infectious animals may be present. EOVH takes every precaution to minimize contamination risk, but it cannot be guaranteed. 
• Client must consent that they will provide their own secure and appropriate area for the patient and her puppies after they return home. EOVH does not provide these, but can provide a list of recommended supplies.