Reproductive Services
Delivery & Cesarean Sections in Lincoln, AR
Welcome to Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln. When it is time for your pet to deliver, we can help by providing delivery services, or advising you on how to safely monitor a delivery in your own home.
Understanding Whelping Support & Cesarean Sections
Delivery day is exciting, and it can also be stressful. Most dogs whelp their puppies without trouble, but some need a helping hand, and a few need surgery to deliver safely. Knowing you have an experienced team behind you makes all the difference.
Certain types of pets require cesarean sections for delivery, and that will be done within our hospital by a qualified veterinarian and trained staff. Breeds with large heads and narrow hips, such as Bulldogs, are well known for needing C-sections, and any dog can need one if labor stops progressing.
Some C-sections are planned ahead for breeds that commonly need them, while others are done when labor isn’t progressing safely.
What to Expect When Your Dog Delivers
Planning ahead helps delivery day go smoothly for you, mom and her puppies. Here’s how we help:
Getting Ready at Home
Before the due date, we can talk with you about setting up a quiet whelping area, the signs that labor is starting and how to safely monitor the delivery at home. A pregnancy ultrasound can help you know how many puppies to expect.
Knowing When to Call
Call us right away if your dog has strong contractions for a long stretch without delivering a puppy, rests for hours between puppies when more are expected, seems weak or in distress, or has dark green or bloody discharge before the first puppy arrives.
Cesarean Sections
When a C-section is needed, it’s performed within our hospital by a qualified veterinarian and trained staff.
Care for Mom and Her New Litter
Once your pet has delivered, Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln will follow her recovery and monitor the health of her litter through deworming and first shots.
Why Choose Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln for Delivery Support
Our hospital puts the same level of care and attention to detail in our canine reproductive services as you do with your kennel. Whelping support is helpful for first-time breeders, breeds that commonly need help delivering, females that have had difficult deliveries before and any owner who wants peace of mind.
- Delivery services or home guidance: We provide delivery services in our hospital or advise you on how to safely monitor a delivery at home.
- In-hospital C-sections: Performed by a qualified veterinarian and trained staff.
- Follow-up for mom: We follow her recovery after delivery.
- A healthy start for puppies: Puppies are born with a developing immune system and are commonly affected by intestinal worms, so we monitor the litter through deworming and first vaccinations.
- Conception to birth: Support at every stage, from breeding to delivery.
See how we support you from conception to birth on our reproductive services page.
Plan for a Safe Delivery Today
Call us before the due date so we can help you plan ahead for delivery day. For after-hours emergencies, please contact LocalVet Urgent Care at (479) 332-4999, 2559 East Huntsville Rd, Fayetteville.
Call us at (479) 824-3299 or visit us at 2157 E Pridemore Dr. in Lincoln. We’re open Monday through Thursday 7:30am–5:30pm and Friday 7:30am–5:00pm.
Delivery & Cesarean Sections: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my dog is having trouble delivering?
Call us if your dog strains hard for a long time without producing a puppy, rests for several hours between puppies when more are expected, cries out in pain, seems weak or has dark green or bloody discharge before the first puppy. These can be signs of a difficult birth that needs veterinary help.
Which dogs are more likely to need a C-section?
Breeds with large heads and narrow hips, such as Bulldogs, are well known for needing cesarean sections, and very small or very large litters can also lead to problems. Any dog may need a C-section if labor stops progressing. Our veterinarian can help you plan ahead based on your dog’s breed and history.
Can my dog deliver at home?
Many dogs deliver safely at home. Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln can advise you on how to safely monitor a delivery in your own home, including setting up a whelping area and knowing when to call. We also provide delivery services in our hospital when your dog needs more support.
What happens after the puppies are born?
Once your pet has delivered, we follow her recovery and monitor the health of her litter through deworming and first shots. Keep an eye on mom’s appetite, energy and discharge, and make sure each puppy is nursing and staying warm. Call us if anything seems off with mom or the puppies.
How do I schedule delivery support, and what if my dog goes into labor after hours?
Call us at (479) 824-3299 before the due date, or visit us at 2157 E Pridemore Dr. in Lincoln. We’re open Monday–Thursday 7:30am–5:30pm and Friday 7:30am–5:00pm. For after-hours emergencies, please contact LocalVet Urgent Care at (479) 332-4999, 2559 East Huntsville Rd, Fayetteville.