OMG, Bitch ate newborn puppy??!! - Page 2

Eating dead or dying puppies is a survival characteristic. In the wild, animals clean up all the evidence of a birth and that would include eating the dead and dying puppies. Some bitches do it, some don't, but most will not mother a fading puppy or attend to a dead one. Eating live healthy puppies is cannnibalism and is seen in the dog world and in livestock such as swine. With swine cannibalism is genetic and most sows that eat their young are never bred again and end up as Oscar Mayer bacon. It's important to identify which behavior is which.If I had a bitch that ate a healthy puppy, I would not breed her again. However, if the puppy were already dead, I would not condemn her for doing that as it is an instinctive survival behavior.

I agree with james on this one, this female would never whelp another litter, we had a female back in 1990 who ate two of her pups,we never bred her again, you may never find out why she ate this pup.

If the female ate live thriving pups, yes there is something wrong with her and she should never be bred. But, if she ate a dead, deformed or otherwise unhealthy pup this is very normal. I would expect any good healthy mother animal to do the same. This is their instinct of taking care of their young and cleaning up after themselves. Just because it makes you sick doesn't mean it is not normal for her to do. As long as she takes care of the live puppies you should have nothing to worry about, just watch her.

Toching a bit on what Makolady posted above. If the bitch ate a thriving pup it is a serious issue. I have read long ago that this can be caused by a hormone insufficiency. Which hormone, progesterone or estrogen or the balance of the two (2)-I can't say as I do not remember. However in this case the bitch will usually kill all of the puppies because she is not in a "mothering" mode and senses that the puppies should not be there. It also caused a bitch to neglect the puppies. If I remember correctly, the only true diagnosis for this condition will come from a tested blood sample. If this is the case the bitch can be treated before and during the next time that she whelps and nurses. I wish that I could remember the websites where this topic was published but I cannot. How is she now doing with the other puppies? Bob-O

Hello again and thank you all for the help.After the stillborn she had no more so we only have a solid blk male who is doing great,very healthy.She is mothering him as well as any mother could.Although we will probably take James'advice and spay her since she is not having large,healthy litters and is only four years old and otherwise perfectly healthy.

Check her thyroid level before you spay. Just my advice. :) Good luck!

Lisa, how many pups in her first litter? the one she did fine with? Then, how many times was she bred 1x, 2x, 3x ? was she bred to the same male? You mention she is otherwise perfectly healthy, do not skip the next cycle. Breed her back to back after you get her super shape again. IF you really like this dog, and she produced better than herself progeny the first litter, then you need to consider that too. She also is a good mother with the surviving pup, after all. I have one super female, small litters, one surviving pup, but WOW, what a super pup she is. I've had that happen twice now (two different females) that a single pup is just superb.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff190119.htm

After reading the above link, if anyone would like to know our experience with Cindy Heimenz of Fenwald Kennels please feel free to e-mail me at Niko7777@aol.com. It was an extremely heartbreaking experience which I have refrained from making public until I read her diatribe. She should not be one to cast stones when her own breeding ethics leave much to be desired (in my opinion). Perhaps she remembers Niko von der Mausespitz, we will never forget him. Debbie and Larry Zarrilli Irvine CA P.S. I should just sign this with Debbie, as Larry has let it go. Unfortunately, 12 years later, my phone conversations with her were so memorable I have not.

The link above (to the ripoffreport) is jawdropping reading...who in their right mind would write something like that?