mom eating pups - Page 1

I hope this doesn't appear twice- I thought that i typed it once here already Anyway, My vet sternly told me that I need to closely watch my bitch Syd to make sure that she doesnt eat her puppies even up to a week after she has them. I posted earlier about the labor questions for my gsd. Has anyone had this happen? this is the 1st litter for my dog and myself.

This is an extremely rare problem especially in a breed with such instincts and intellect as the GSD. However, I believe that young bitches might on occasion accidentally injure their pups while severing their cords, and in their confusion " clean up" more than they need to. I have never witnessed any such occurrence nor have I heard of any, and have always been impressed with how self posessed, efficient, and skilled even inexperienced bitches are. No harm in being vigilant, however, as you never know .

True, my Syd is 6 and this is her first litter. I agree with the fact about the intellect and instincts of a GSD. I was just really bothered by the way our vet told us about this. Syd is definitely a dog that a man would not want to just come up to and pet. She has good nerves, and is great in protection but can sometimes be skittish.. Loves me, my dad, and my daughter but DISLIKES my husband, vet and most men. Does well with our decoy though..

Cyber, you beat me to it! Now I've heard of two cases. I think we expressed a similar point except for the rabies case which is rare and unexpected to say the least. Good comments.

I've only had that happen once due to the pup being born dead. I also know it can happen after doing csections instead of letting them whelp naturally.

Many bitches are a little " sharp" especially towards men. I think the male visage is just slightly more imposing, stimulating some defensive instinct. ( probably healthy)

The stillborn case is correct instinct. Most animals with healthy instincts clean up to avoid attracting the interest of predators. A new mother also can make use of any "nutritional suplements" that circumstances provide.

The instinct to clean up a stillborn and placenta, etc. to avoid attracting predators is all that i know about. The way my vet told me about it just seems odd. However, Syd did bow up at him enough to make him jump over the exam table when he tried to examine her tummy. Hard not to laugh at that. Anyway, glad to know that eating the pups is not a common phenomenon. Breeding these beautiful dogs is a major undertaking, one that I am so proud of and humbly enjoy.

Female can get impulse from her instincts to eat some or all of puppies and reason for that instincts are that nature give to mother possibility to care about puppies health and her own health. She will remove deadborn, sick or malformed pups as Mathaus told about but if mother body is not well prepared for big or litter in all, if she feel loose some body essentials in carrying babies and that indicate to her that she is in life danger then she will try to recover health by eating newborn. Certainly that nature impulse could be in very small number bed and wrong evaluation. I have situation before 8 months when mother cleaning puppies and mistakenly bite newborn peak penis. We have not got time for our reactions. Everything was happened in moment. Newborn on that place had a blood and his mother made mistake and that impulse was not her wish - it was deep saved in her inner and passed through generations from roots. Puppy got special care and now he is growing to be charming male.

I have also heard of it.In addition to the reasons stated above I have been told that a female will do this if she gets dehydrated. This info was from an old timer who says it happens in other animals as well. Be vigilant. Is her behavior still the same re:possible labor..just curious on how she is doing