mother wont stay with puppies

Question
QUESTION: Hi
my 22 month old Border Collie had her first litter last night - she was scared of the first puppy but did all the work with the subsequent 7. Suddenly she growled and wanted to leave them. She is reluctant to get in the whelping box/feed them but doesnt want to leave them either. She is digging on the floor around the box. Should I force her to go in to the box or is this an abandoned litter?

ANSWER: Hi Kerrie.  Wow, I'm sure this is very stressful for you.  Let me ask you a few questions so that I can get a clear picture of what might be going on.

Is the whelping box in a secluded area, away from traffic, drafts,  other pets, and people wanting to look at the new puppies?  Too much activity can cause a new mother to abandon the litter.

Are you offering your new mother lots of help?  Some well meaning humans want to give the new puppies and mother a lot of help.  It is natural for new grandmothers, but the mommy can see this as a challenge and will give up the puppies.

What coverings do you have in the whelping box?  Lots of clean towels is the best medium for the whelping box.  Is the digging outside the whelping box on carpet?  If so, she might be trying to find a place to hide her puppies.

I am offering these questions in an attempt to get you thinking about what might be stressing out your new mother.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com

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QUESTION: Hi Penny, thanks for your help. I remembered a girl I used to work with who breeds Aust Kelpies and rang for help. She came and injected calcium and syntocinon and we have a different mum and puppies. Milk now coming down nicely. She also felt that since Ella had not "pooed" she might be feeling a bit yukky. Thankyou for your concern and advice.

ANSWER: Hi Kerrie.  Thanks for getting back with me and the great news!  I'm so happy that you found the right treatment for your new mother.  Now, both of you can get back to enjoying the new puppies.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny Diloreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com

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

QUESTION: Hi, my bitch is now reluctant to leave her puppies for longer than a minute and is constnatly grooming and feeding - thankfully. However, is it normal for her to be aggressive towards them at times? Every so often she growls and takes a fair nip at one - usually the first born pup. I have seen it four times, and he is never doing anything more than crawling around the box.I know they can have a favourite, but do they dislike some pups? I admit to being fearful for this little fellow. I handle the pups as little as possible as I realise this could upset her, but sometimes you ahve to touch in order to move one out of being squashed or to change the bedding.

Answer
Hi Kerrie.   I'm sorry for the delay in replying to your question.  I am having a new floor installed in my home and the darn contractors keep disconnecting my internet cable and my phone lines (ugh).

Enough about my problems, lets talk about your new mommy.  When you wrote you mentioned that your new mommy is reluctant to leave her new puppies.  Is this still the case, or has she setteled in to her new role as a mother?

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and again want to apologize for the delay in getting in touch with you.  The contractors are about finished, and I think I will not have any more problems with my internet.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com