calming nerves after whelping...HELP! - Page 1

I have a female that just whelped a nice size litter & she is driving me nuts, because she doesn't want to lay with them, then when I let her outside, she wants back with them. She will lick them, and try to care for them, but she seems nervous & clumsy with them (stepping & laying on them). I know this can happen with a first time mother, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can give her to relax her a bit, or anything I can do so she'll be comfortable just laying with the litter. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!

I also wanted to add that I have put the pups in a dark, warm place & she still was wanting out...so now I have them in a swimming pool, so I can make sure they are nursing....

Kristen, Be very careful with swimming pool !!! Lots of smothered puppies like that. You need whelping Box! Maybe she just wants to be with you, this whole thing is new to her ? if so she may not be used to being away from you, Sit with her with the pups or next to the box, so that she knows your not abandoning her, so that she feels comfotable to stay with the pups knowing you're there too, leave for only short periods of time, like 30 seconds come back spend 10 or 15 minutes with her leave her for 60 seconds come back another 10 or 15 min. keep doing this until you work the time up for hours of gone and her being comfortable knowing you'll be back, seems almost like a serparation anxiety with her. Hope this helps, I don't know of any calming remedy that you could give her that would not adversely effect the pups as well, righ now everything she gets they get as well, right through the milk. Best of Luck to you. Keep us posted.

I don't mind sitting with her, but I haven't had but a few hours of sleep the last two nights. Thanks for the advice...I didn't really think of her wanting to be with me....DUH!! My brain is a little impaired right now..lol THANKS!

I sleep and stay in the puppy room for the first few weeks, I don't get more than a few cat naps the first couple days, it gets better I promise. I have always used a pool, so easy to clean and the pups stay more confined. I haven't yet had a smothered pup. She may just be confused and after the first few days she will be a PRO and not need you as much. There isn't anything I know of that can make her calmer, but I have given my females warm raspberry tea the first couple days after birth about 2times a day, I know I feel relaxed after a cup of tea, maybe they do too, I mainly due this as it helps with milk production and menstrual pains after birth. Hope this helps, good luck!

Everybody will probably get upset at this but I once had a bitch that had a cleff pallette puppy and I did not get it away soon enough. For 3 days the bitch looked for it and kept digging up her bedding and burying the other puppies. My vet finally gave me tranquilizers (Valium I think - long ago). It helped a lot and she finally settled down. No bad effect on the rest of the litter. Might be worth a try if your vet approves.