New mom acting funny

[jmincy]

Hey folks, Anika had her pups wednesday. She had a long labor and the last 3 pups were stillborn. She is a 3 yo working line with really high ball drive.

So here is what is weird...she is rooting around in the couch, under pillows, and when I let her outside for a little while, she dug under the shed and crawled in. She is also collecting every ball she can find and seems very anxious about it. I have been watching her temp as I am mildly concerned she could develop an infection due to the prolonged delivery of the last pups. Her temp is 102.5, so not too bad.

Any experience with this behavior?

[djpohn]

Did she deliver all the placentas? Did she get a shot of oxytocin afterward? Is her milk coming in well? Is she getting enough to eat and more importantly to drink?

[jmincy]

can't say for sure on the placentas because she was ate everything as it came out. she did get oxytocin, milk is coming readily, she is eating a third meal now, she seemed a little picky yesterday, but is eating well today, she has constant access to water.

[jmincy]

got nervous, went to the vet, all is well. Just a nervous first time mother. Puppies and mom all got a clean bill of health.

[lhczth]

Is she feeding and caring for her puppies?

[lhczth]

Both of my females seemed to want to still nest in other areas after they whelped. Vala would check into small areas. Nike would make a nest in blankets if there were any available. It stops after awhile. I wouldn't worry as long as she is caring for the pups.

Also, make sure the box isn't too hot for her or that she can get away from the heat source.

[angelaw]

My first litter, Oxana kept moving them out of the box. All the info says to keep the box warm, like near 90 degrees. Even at 85 too hot. I now keep room temp at 77, with a heat lamp in a corner if needed or a heating pad.

[selzer]

I have more trouble keeping it cool enough than keeping it warm enough. I used a lamp for the singleton pup, but never for a litter of pups.

Did they x-ray her? If her temp goes up, she could still have an undelivered puppy in there.

Do not necessarily believe you have them all out because the count was what the vet counted. Sometimes they hide. They told me 8 maybe 10 and there were 14 in there. I would continue to take her temperature at least once a day, and if she starts turning down food/water or stops actively caring for the puppies, then get her to the vet right away.

[djpohn]

I have had 2 foster recently that would nest quite a bit (dig in the whelping box - thank goodness the Velcro on the pads held) and one tried repeated to get under the bed and the other crawled under the shelves in the garage. My current foster mom is also "digging" in the planter outside the room where the pups are a little bit.

I use the pet rescue remedy for the first few days and have treated them homeopathically which seems to help them calm down or just relax. Your girl might be a bit painful if it was a long drawn out labor, especially if she delivered "dead pups".

[mnm]

Did you ask the vet for a round of antibiotics? If you are concerned about a possible infection due to the long labor, then I'd rather be on the safe side than have mother develop an infection and chance loosing her. JMO...