Our pitbull, Bella recently gave birth to a litter of 12, and they have been disapearing fast! Our pitbull is a very friendly, protective ,playful dog, there isnt a mean streak in her at all, but we went from 12 puppies down to just 3 ! A thorough search all the house produced no results, so I was wondering if in fact they eat their babies and if so, why?!! She is fed well enough and is given soo much attention! help pls!
2007-03-29 21:22:49 · 12 answers · asked by Cameron 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
This is not a pitbull specific thing - any dog, cat or rabbit may kill her young if she's not in the right conditions. Is it possible she may have got outside at all? If so, she may well have taken the puppies away if she doesn't like the area she's currently keeping them in. I wouldn't think they would disappear without a single trace if she had eaten them.
If she's not got enough privacy, or she feels stressed or is simply not a good mum, it may be possible she's feeling the instinct to get rid of, or move the pups.
Chalice
2007-03-29 21:26:59 · answer #1 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She must know there is something wrong with them. It's not just pitbulls. Cows will refuse to take care of the young. Pigs will roll over there's and kill it. Sheep walk away too. Most any type of animal will do this. I would not breed her again. It might be that she is not producing enough milk to take care of 12 pups thats a big litter. She is not eating them because she is hungry its just her insinct taking over. Just love her because she has done nothing wrong.
2007-03-30 00:45:01 · answer #2 · answered by dee g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not entirely sure about dogs but it would seem so in Bella case right! Maybe she knows they are unwell---dogs are so smart and intuitive, most people don't give them credit. Could she be sneaking them outside?? I just remember a cat of ours when I was growing up having kittens and she had 2 medium size and one that was huge, well the huge one went missing---absolutely no where to be found. I remember my mom figuring she must have got it outside some how, because even when we moved and cleared everything out NOTHING!!! So, basically I know that male cats will eat their young, female??? Now Dogs males (I think so) female---it would appear so. BUT like I said up top they probably weren't well OR maybe someone "messed" with them and they had a scent she didn't like on them.
Strange though that many!!!
Hope I sort of helped.
2007-03-29 21:32:53 · answer #3 · answered by Maggie B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't you think there would be some sort of evidence? Or could she be literally swallowing them whole?!
I find it strange, but then again I've seen other mammals do this, like rodents. My gerbils would do this, but they wouldn't eat everything, just the heads.
Perhaps another animal is getting them?
2007-03-29 21:43:04 · answer #4 · answered by Swampy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how common it is for dogs to eat their young. I have heard of mama dogs who weren't good "mama" dogs that have done that. Not all dogs make the best mothers. If this is her first litter, or she is stressed or "depressed", then maybe that is causing it. "postpartum depression" - maybe lol
A lot of times dogs will ignore or kill their puppies if there is something wrong with the puppy, the mother senses those young to be genetically defective in some way and kills them.
I would be concerned about the mother being overly stressed and just plain old not being a good mom. I wouldn't trust her with the other pups unless she seems to make a change.
2007-03-29 21:37:36 · answer #5 · answered by PBullyLuv 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dogs (all dogs, not just pit bulls) sometimes eat their young. There are lots of reasons for it, but the most common if she's eating multiple pups is that she's not producing enough milk or has some other health issue. Your best bet is to try to bottlefeed the ones that are left, she may continue this behavior.
2007-03-29 21:26:54 · answer #6 · answered by tony c 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If the pups were poorly then she would eat them or destroy them somehow. It's not unusual. Did you notice the puppies weren't quite the ticket? But to eat 9 thats a lot, I suggest you don't breed from her again, I'm sure she is a lovely dog but obviously not maternal!
2007-03-29 21:26:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
someone is not watching mom and babies very well.. Most likely they are dying and she is burying them in the yard.. I would bet she is outside with this litter..
In over 25 years of breeding I have NEVER seen a mom eat her young
2007-03-29 22:24:21 · answer #8 · answered by Mommadog 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
they not only eat there young they will eat yours too if giving a chance.
2007-03-30 10:11:30 · answer #9 · answered by BLOODHOUND 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my brothers doberman did the same thing, but would just chew em up. she had 6 we managed to take 4 away from her.
2007-03-29 21:52:29 · answer #10 · answered by squizzdajuice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋