2006-11-17 03:16:42 · 7 answers · asked by truth set free 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I've heard a lot that they will do that because they know that their puppy is sick. Either that, or the mother will completely ignore the puppy and leave it on the other side of the whelping box. (We had this experience with our Boston. She didn't show signs that she wanted to eat the puppy but she definately left it alone and ignored it, even sat on it's head. We lost it a few days later). Most animals (in the wild) will do this if they know their baby is not going to make it.
2006-11-17 06:26:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Female dogs should normally only lick off the membrane that covered the puppies before they were born & then eat the placenta that follows afterwards.
It may have been that she started to do this & then just didn't stop.
It could be that the female dog had been badly treated & malnourished before birth (so she was starving) or that there was something wrong with the puppies if this happened because it is not normal for mother dogs to eat their young.
With some things like newborn mice the mothers will eat their young if the nest is disturbed but it is very unsual for dogs to do so.
I'd recommend that you get her neutered & do not attempt to breed from her again. I'd still love her & make a fuss of her, etc. because, unlike humans, there's no way she would have done this as a malicious thing.
2006-11-17 04:26:13 · answer #2 · answered by Solow 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This happens once in awhile...my girlfriend had a corgi whelp out and she was eating her puppies. The vet said she wasnt a good mother and advised to have her spayed. Maybe something was wrong w/the pups and she knew it. Not everyone makes good mothers. Wonder if dogs have post partum depression like us women can go through?
2006-11-17 03:35:19 · answer #3 · answered by Ivory_Flame 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What your mom told you as a kid is only one of the possible reasons. Yes they will kill them if the think they are ill. They will also kill them if they think someone or something will hurt them(animal logic?) However an inexperienced mother could just get carried away and not know when to stop. Why all first time moms should be supervised.
2006-11-17 05:26:45 · answer #4 · answered by st.lady (1 of GitEm's gang) 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what a funny question? why female dog eat their own puppies after deliver. well that can be very false no female dog eat their own puppies.
2006-11-17 04:12:06 · answer #5 · answered by Sarafriday 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Um, they don't. Are you thinking of hamsters?
2006-11-17 03:22:15 · answer #6 · answered by tipper 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
they don't
2006-11-17 03:27:18 · answer #7 · answered by henry9tx8 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋