Weaning the pups

Question
QUESTION: Hello Melissa,
From far away Israel - please help.  Our beautiful pedigreed Border Collie has recently had 5 pups - (5 weeks ago.  She is a wonderful dog and we have been with her throughout her pregnancy and her birthing. Feeding has become very difficult over the last 2 weeks for her because they have scratched her badly (she bled) and hurt her teets. Our vet gave us a good non-toxic cream which seems to be working.  We have separated her from them so that she feed them only twice a day. They eat puppy food beautifully since 3 weeks.
However, we are concerned about the way she treats them.  At first we thought it was the weakest little female but it is not.  She grabs them, with her mouth wide open, across their fat little bodies (and tries to lift them we think).  Then she grabs them by her teeth at the back of ther heads and drags them. I think she'd shake them if she could.  They literally hide from her when she becomes like this.   I sometimes think she is really mistreating them.  We cannot leave her with them all day.  They want to feed from her every time they see her.
I'd appreciate any help you can offer.
Thanks so much.
Leonie

ANSWER: Hello Leonie;
This is "Mother Natures Way" of telling you it is Time to Wean this Litter!
She is done.
I would not put them back in with her at all!!!
So, keep her in a separate area, so they cannot smell her,
And feed them their regular puppy diet,
And start to diminish her food intake to dry her milk up!
Best wishes,
Melissa

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again Melissa,
I'm glad I wrote and that you responded the way you did because even tho' our vet suggested similar information we needed more support.   It is so difficult.  We tried it last week but it was so difficult and our female cried so hard for her puppies. We let her feed them only twice a day then but it they really hurt her  It is now a full 24 hours since we have again separated them.  Zindzi's (her name) food intake has diminished but she is swollen with milk and she is so hot in the area of her teets.  I don't think she has a fever though.   How long should this process take?
Thanks again.
Leonie

Answer
Hello back;
It will take at least a week to two weeks, depending on her "Let down" instinct~
So, be patient with her, as she is going through a tough time as well.
Be sure you keep her so she cannot hear the puppies cry, otherwise, she will make more milk!!!
You may have to put her on an antibiotic so she does not get "Milk fever"!
As some females get compacted, and it will turn poisonous in her system, so, take her back to the Vet and let him decide.
Best wishes,
Melissa