At Thanksgiving our dog had her first litter of puppies and killed all four of them. I was told sometimes they do not know how to care for them. Is this true?
2006-12-27 12:49:39 · 21 answers · asked by chris 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
we left her lots of food and water.
2006-12-27 13:34:53 · update #1
if people handle them too much or if there sre something wrong with the puppies then the mother will then kill them as a way to protect them...
2006-12-27 12:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by Carrie H 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In truth, there is no certified reason why dogs may kill their offspring. However, it was once proven that dogs indeed kill their own puppies because of both hunger and aggressive feelings.
Often, if a puppy isn't in good health conditions at birth, the mother may gnaw on it until it is dead to put it out of its misery. This is common, and also gruesome.
Therefore, why do some humans kill their babies, suffocate them, beat them, and all that? Sometimes, they just don't have the compassion for their child.
Do not worry; this is common between all animal sub-species. Fish eat their offspring often as well. Its the balance of nature and the circle of life!
2006-12-27 20:56:35 · answer #2 · answered by Diamonds_R_4Ever 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Animals have an innate sense of mental or physical illnesses! So when they sense something is off with their offspring(any animals), the will kill them to ensure that when they become of breeding age, their illness won't be passed on.
Or, if it's an animals first litter, they don't know what to do, so they kill the babies. It's not rare, but it does happen more often then it should! When your animal is about to have babies, you should try to be around when they go into labor. That way you can see how she's going to react to the litter. If you see that she is trying to kill them, take them from her and raise them your selves, in a place that she doesn't like, or can't get to!
It's perfectly normal for mother's to kill their babies, in the animal kingdom that is! It's not a sign of mental illness or anything. Although if it happens more then twice, I'd get her fixed! Don't worry about your dog, until she is pregnant again, if you allow her to.
Also, the more agressive the breed, or the animal in general, the more likely they are to kill their offspring. Wolf breeds are the most common in killing their pups.
2006-12-27 21:02:25 · answer #3 · answered by Pluto 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here are some websites for you to look over
Could be trying to protect puppies - Here is an article about taking care of the puppies when they are born - http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/puppies2.html
Also, first time mothers do not know what to do and they end up killing their young...due to the Internet being full of junk I couldn't find you a good article on this after several searches BUT I bet you could call a local vet or shelter and they could talk to you for free at length about it on the phone with you.
2006-12-27 21:09:03 · answer #4 · answered by Sara F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With first time mothers they are very nervous about caring for puppies. You need to closely watch the dog when she is having the puppies. You need to make sure they are all feeding properly and that the mother dog doesnt roll over on them and sufficate them. Sometimes the mother dog needs help caring for them and that is when you have to interfer sometimes.
2006-12-27 20:55:16 · answer #5 · answered by kittymorris21 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OMG! that is so sad. I have heard of it happening. I heard that if the puppies are touched by humans when they are first born then the dog smells that scent on them and will kill them because of that. I don't know all the logistics behind it but I believe it has something to do with them being touched by a human before there a certain age.
2006-12-27 20:53:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that they can instinctively sense that something is wrong with a puppy and knows it is better off dead. I have never heard of a dog to kill the whole litter, though...
2006-12-27 20:51:54 · answer #7 · answered by mystery_me 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nature can certainly be cruel sometimes. Animals often kill their young if they think they are misfits. I had a cat that I had to remove the sack from the kittens to save their lives, the mother was a first time mother and was too frightened to do it. Shortly after she picked up on what to do and from that point on she was okay. When your dog becomes pregnant again stay very close and watch what is happening to judge how to help her.
2006-12-27 20:54:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes new moms sometimes make very poor parents.
I had to help my pug have her first puppies. Then after she had it I cleaned it off and went to show her the pup so she could continue cleaning it. I then had to catch her because she bolted from the pup. It was very funny. She eventually got the hang of motherhood.
They also sometimes do not feel safe and will kill her pups.
2006-12-27 20:53:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Usually, the mom knows that something is wrong with the pups. If the mother is too young, she may not know what to do with them, but this is uncommon. I have never heard of a dog killing her pups because she is hungry.
2006-12-27 20:55:26 · answer #10 · answered by garden_anne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋