
I found out yesterday why my newborns were acting so "strange". It wasn't the anesthetic. They were TOO HOT! Normally I never put a heating source into the box with mom and the puppies, but on Saturday night I did, as I thought it would be comfy for them all after the OP.
I left it in there (on low) most of yesterday, and then I decided to remove it late yesterday afternoon. The whole scene changed immediately! The pups started to act completely normal! It had simply been too hot to stick around Mom much and nurse all together. I had noticed that they seemed to be nursing individually, which I found strange. Since I normally never use a heating pad (I have modern floor heating in my house), I just didn't recognise the symptoms! I weighed the puppies several times yesterday, and they were gaining! This kept panic at bay, and then, once I had discovered the root of the strange behavior, all was well! Live and learn, right?