Dam killing/eating her young - Page 1

A breeder-friend of mine has a GSD bitch that just whelped a litter of 8, and killed and ate all the pups after she had them. The first couple hours she acted normal, licking the pups and letting them nurse.  When she left her to rest after the labor, and went to check on them 2 hours later, all the pups were killed/eaten.  My breeder friend was very distraught over this, and at first was going to return her to the original breeder, but since is having second thoughts, as she really wanted to keep her excellent lines, and keep a pup or two from the litter.  Has anyone on here had this happen before, why would it happen, and can anyone share any input for her??  Anything may help!  This was her first litter, the bitch is 4 yrs old, a W. German showline with high drive. The sire was a W. German showline with only moderate drive.  Thanks in advance!

wow..that's ugly....but it happens,who knows why?!(#1)if a bitch didn't feel comfortable with her surrondings..this could be a reason(#2) would a "nervey" type bitch be more apt to do this?.(#3)bitch not acclaimated to whelping enviorment...these are just questions i have in my head about this particular behavior,i've seen this myself....the bitch in question cannot tolerate THUNDERSTORMS,she totally looses it .i guess this may be a subject for future research by prospective breeders...good luck

reason why - what vom ost see said - but whatever the reason there is no good reason to breed this female again.  Spay her and place her.  Her bloodlines are not so valuable that her bad temperament and nerve problems should be bred.

molly

Not all bitches make good mothers and I don't care what the bitches pedigree is. I agree with everybody else. The bitch should not be bred again. Have her spayed and find a forever home for her.

My dad's Dane did that and the vet recommended Prosac (or something similar, a happy drug).  If I remember correctly though she did it again when off the drug, so in that case, she never did turn out to be a good mother. 

  Sows will do this too, while having birth pains, but are usually good moms when finished and raise their piglets.

Could be a type of difficiency in her diet.  I have heard of a bitch having a normal litter and raising it and then eating a puppy here and one there in the following litter.  Blood work was done and the bitch did have a dietary difficency.  Started her on a raw diet and it never happened again and she had at least 2 other litters after that that were fine!

Vickie

Things I have heard:
1) When becoming a mom for the first time when older. Not sure if 4 years would be considered older...
2) Hormonal unbalance
3) Read on another forum a calcium deficiency
4) Reasons mentioned above, not comfortable in the setting etc.

all above reasons not to breed her again.  Not good mother, not healthy, something imbalanced (temperament, nerve, hormones, nutritional balance) - whatever the reason, she isn't a good mother so should never be bred again.

molly

I agree too molly, gotta be the worse thing to witness. Not worth risking another litter just to see if she will change.