Whelping Assistance

Bring your litter into the world with calm, professional support. At Celestial Pet Care, we provide hands-on, welfare-first whelping assistance—from pre-whelp planning and set-up, through labour support, to neonatal aftercare and record-keeping—so you can focus on mum and babies while we handle the details.


Who this service is for

  • Pet owners expecting an at-home litter for the first time and wanting reassurance.

  • Experienced breeders who want a reliable extra pair of hands on whelp day.

  • Rescues & foster carers supporting pregnant mums.

  • Anyone who values calm, knowledgeable, hygienic support from start to finish.

What’s included

1) Pre-Whelp Planning & Set-Up

  • Whelping area check: temperature, ventilation, safe flooring, box size & placement.

  • Kit review: we help you assemble a complete whelping kit (see checklist below).

  • Birth plan: timings, contact tree, emergency vet details, transport plan.

  • Education: normal labour stages, red-flag signs, when to ring the vet.

  • Record templates: litter log, weight charts, feeding/voiding log, med notes.

2) On-Call Support (Lead-Up to Labour)

  • Message/phone support for pre-labour signs, nesting behaviour, temp drops, etc.

  • Scheduling check-ins as due date approaches.

3) Whelp Day – In-Person Assistance

  • Calm, hygienic handling: minimising stress for mum; quiet, organised workflow.

  • Clean-as-we-go protocol: fresh linens, safe waste management, disinfecting high-touch points.

  • Timing & record-keeping: presentation, sac rupture, time of birth, placentas.

  • Newborn assistance: clearing membranes if needed, drying, stimulating, assisting latch.

  • Box management: rotation, heat management, safe spacing, supervised weighs.

  • Owner coaching so you feel confident continuing once we leave.

Note: We do not perform veterinary procedures. If a clinical issue arises (e.g., prolonged dystocia, green discharge pre-puppy, haemorrhage), we escalate to your vet immediately and support you with transport/logistics.

4) First-72-Hours Neonatal Support

  • Daily check-ins or in-person visits (as booked).

  • Weight tracking and growth targets, early warning signs.

  • Feeding guidance: monitoring latch & milk transfer; bottle-feeding support if advised by your vet.

  • Environment & hygiene: bedding rotation, umbilical checks, safe heat sources.

  • Owner handover: routine schedule, red-flag list, and what to log.

5) Paperwork & Presentation

  • Professional litter pack: weight charts, milestone sheet, worming/flea log, microchip pre-registration info.

Add-on Services

  • Litter Microchipping (discounted)

  • Litter Nail Trims

  • Contract & Documentation Creation (deposit agreements, sales contracts, puppy/kitten packs with your logo)

  • New-Owner Packs (branded, breed-specific information)


Cleanliness & Welfare Standards

  • DEFRA-aligned hygiene and biosecurity practices.

  • PPE & disinfectants suitable for neonatal environments.

  • Stress-reduction first: quiet handling, minimal disruption, mum-led routines.

  • Transparent records you can share with vets or new owners.


What we bring

  • Scales, spare bedding/puppy pads, bulb syringe, gloves/PPE, disinfectant, towels, litter logs & checklists, thermometer, heat source safeguards, and a calm, organised presence.


Pricing (transparent & flexible)

Pre-Whelp Planning Visit (60–90 mins): £40

On-Call Window (3-day lead-up): £25 (includes phone/message support)

Whelp Day – In-Person Attendance: £25/hour (minimum 2 hours)

First-72-Hours Support Visit (45–60 mins): £25 each

Complete Litter Pack (branded docs & logs): £15 per new owner pack

Breeder/Rescue Discounts: available on multi-visit or multi-litter bookings

Travel: modest mileage outside Crawley/West Sussex (quoted up front)


Bundle: Whelp-Ready Package – £150

Pre-whelp visit, 3-day on-call, up to 4 hours whelp attendance, one neonatal visit, litter record set.


Service area & availability

  • Base: Crawley, West Sussex (surrounding areas by arrangement).

  • Availability: Daytime, evenings, and pre-booked overnight cover when possible.

  • Emergency escalation: We help coordinate immediate vet support when red-flags appear.


Important notes & safeguarding

  • We are not a veterinary service. We assist, observe, record, and support. Any medical concerns are referred directly to your vet.

  • You remain the legal person responsible for dam and puppies/kittens.

  • We maintain insurance, DBS, and robust welfare policies.


FAQs

When should I book?

Ideally 2–3 weeks before the due date to allow for planning and a home visit.


How long will you stay on whelp day?

We tailor this to your needs—typically from active labour through settling the litter and initial feeds. Minimum 2 hours, then hourly.


What are red-flag signs that mean “call the vet now”?

Green/black discharge before a puppy/kitten, hard contractions for 30–60 minutes with no progress, more than 2 hours between newborns during active labour, heavy bleeding, collapse, extreme distress, or foul odour. If in doubt, we call the vet.


Do you assist with bottle or tube feeding?

We can support bottle-feeding routines under veterinary guidance. Tube feeding is a veterinary-directed skill—we will only assist if your vet has trained/authorised you and deems it necessary.


Can you help me prepare buyer paperwork?

Yes—contracts, deposit agreements, new-owner handouts, weight charts, worming/microchip logs, all branded with your kennel/rescue logo.


Do you offer discounts?

Yes—breeder and rescue discounts on multi-visit bookings and litters.