MOTHER DOG EATING PUPS - Page 2

Sorry to hear about your losses. It can be hard on dogs and owners when things like this happen.

I would have to agree that this female is not meant to be bred again as she now thinks this is what is to be of having puppies.

I once had a female try to eat her pup that was still in the sack. I found it strange that she had no instinct  but then thought that I feed her a raw diet. ( liver and raw meats)  I told her no and helped her out for the first two puppies each time telling her nice and showing her it was a baby. after that we had 6 more witout any problem. She turned out to be a excellent mother. I believe if I was not there to help her out she would have destroyed the litter.

I would try bottle feeding them - Leerburg has a great reciepe for bottle feeding  plus also remember to keep them out of drafts and in a warm light or on a heating pad (not too hot ). I would not let mom with them without you there reguardless if she looks calm (JMPO) it is a chance I would not be willing to take.

Please keep us posted on the litter.

EK

This recently happened to me, I'm not exactly sure what went wrong, the vet said it could have been a number of things.  She was 5 yrs old and her first litter, the vet said this is common in older dogs and 1st litters, she had 7 pups, she was with them for approx 12 hours, just when I thought she would be ok and done whelping, I went to bed and she ate all of them, they were all nursing and appeared healthy.  It was very heartbreaking!    

Here are some of the reasons the vet gave me:

She did not feel they were safe, she paniced and didn't know what to do when I left her, she thought she could gobble them and regurgitate them in a safer location, first litter, he also said that because she had always been a kennel dog before I got her and me showing her a totally different life that she may not have been completely adjusted to her new life.  And he told me that he would breed her again, but that won't happen, I still cry when I see the photos of those babies!    

Hope any of this helps.    

I doubt the original person will be back..with this topic.But it is a good thread for learning.In the wild a bitch will dispose of the pups that she cannot take care of/feed.She is fully aware of her state of health.She will also cull pups that she knows that have weaknesses.A mother bird will flip an individual out of a nest.They will not last long and suffer.A mother dog will do different as she knows there will be much suffering.So she has to end it quickly...and eat so there is no scent left to bring on threats to the other pups.Even if..when you breed and there is none of this.That does not mean success.Success is when you watch your bitch take the pups out and teach them naturally as possible as well as when she wants to wean.She will tell them and it is up to you to watch her if you know her.If a bitch eats her pups.She is saying something.There are some bitches that are content with a whelping box and all goes well.My feelings are those bitches that require more of a den like manner are a better bitch...more sublayered instinct.Maybe I am wrong.EkvonEarnhart,By no means should anyone say that if a bitch kills her pups she shouldn't have pups again.This is purely enviromental...not hereditary.Just my two cents.

Maybe I am wrong.EkvonEarnhardt,By no means should anyone say that if a bitch kills her pups she shouldn't have pups again.This is purely enviromental...not hereditary

RainHaus   from my experiences and working with other breeders I have found that "IF" the female kills her first litter and repeats it a second time then "Why would you chance a third time?"  I have seen high dollar dogs spayed  due to problems  whelping and never think twice about it. Sometimes it about the health of the female and weeding out weak breeders

Also it sounds like the female has issues

 THE FIRST TIME 6 ALL OF THEM DIED EXCEPT FOR TWO    That is not normal in this breed or any other

 NOW SHE ATE 6 AND THE REST OF THEM DIED AT BIRTH  again there is something going on with this bitch. Personally again My Opinion this is something I would not chance as I would not want to go though this a THIRD time! she may have thousands of dollars wrapped up in this female and she is tring to recoupe some of her money ? I don't know all I know is what is posted and I can say my opinions  as you have stated yours. To each is there own.

EK

Ek, There is something obviously wrong in ref to the originator of this thread...I do agree with you in part.Culling the bitches that have this behaviour problem.I just wanted to be clear and express that it is probably due to enviromental that creates the behaviour.I don't down anyone that culls a bitch as long as they follow up on the individual.Gsd's for the most part have become just a marketplace for many people that have no idea about what is left genetically to build upon.You should know i am not talking about paper.Bet you do.

Fully concur with your comments, Rainhaus – Two Moons noted something similar I think.

The mother’s natural instincts will often detect defects within pups completely hidden to us humans, including vets. She’ll strive to dispose of them any way able and even resort to burying them in soil. I’d be wary about jumping to some instant conclusion that she must be unfit per se. I’d definitely want to know whether both litters had the same sire (if so, he may carry some unexpressed genetic defect, one detected by the dam as a matter of course), and any other surrounding, possibly relevant details.

I’m also surprised that anyone would expect a dam to successfully service 16 pups. Perhaps it can be done but surely only to the overall detriment of every pup in the litter.
 

This is not a common thing, There is something wrong with the nerve makeup of this bitch..Do not ever breed a bitch that eats her pups the first time..She will repeat it and it is partly genetic and is passed down.  Very seldom is it environmental , and if you have to mamby pamby a female to raise good pups, that are stable and high quality, you don't want this kind of female raising your pups or mine for sure. There is more to breeding than a litter of pups and a nursing mom.

Bitches that have problems breeding or birthing are not good for the breed. Do not use them as such. weakness's are handed down and are the reason we have some dogs with lots of health and nerve problems .

Live and learn , please do not take advice from people who have never bred  and know nothing about litters. After you have bred german shepherds for 15 years or more you might be more fit to comment on this problem.

I have no interest in bantering the point with you, Rose, and after hopefully replying to your post point for point, I’m done with this thread.

“This is not a common thing.” Never said it was!

“There is something wrong with the nerve makeup of this bitch.” Sheer supposition.

“Do not ever breed a bitch that eats her pups the first time. She will repeat it and it is partly genetic and is passed down.” A mish-mash of generalized, ill-based deduction!  There are many reasons, mostly little understood, why a pup might eat pups or get rid of them in some other way. Remainder again supposition on your part.

“Very seldom is it environmental , and if you have to mamby pamby a female to raise good pups, that are stable and high quality, you don't want this kind of female raising your pups or mine for sure.” Indeed, a good female will raise the litter without medical support or any other ‘namby-pamby’ – too much of it going on! But, a female destroying pups for perfectly valid reasons is simply following well-founded natural instincts for which she ought to be valued, not excluded.

“There is more to breeding than a litter of pups and a nursing mom.” Your wisdom and knowledge surpasses all!

“Bitches that have problems breeding or birthing are not good for the breed. Do not use them as such. weakness's are handed down and are the reason we have some dogs with lots of health and nerve problems.” Merely repeats earlier points and which I already answered.

“Live and learn , please do not take advice from people who have never bred  and know nothing about litters. After you have bred german shepherds for 15 years or more you might be more fit to comment on this problem.” Fifteen years only! If wearing ignorance like a badge of honor qualifies for GSD breeding, you’ll no doubt continue to do remarkably well!

Personally once you have the cholestrum down the puppies(muzzle mum to get this) i would take the puppies away and hand rear.We have hand reared more than one litter with great success(never lost a puppy) Feed every 2 hours day and night for week 1,every 3 hours week 2 and on week 3 every 4 hours while introducing solids

It is vital during that first week you take out what you put in,get a wet warm piece of cotton wool and gently rub the puppies anal area until it has passed motions, the same to make them urinate.

Always turn them on their stomach slightly facing downwards and gently rub their backs after feeding to make sure you have not got the milk down the wrong way

good luck