Will a female or male dog eat thier offspring when they are born? Is this somethin I need to worry about?

Question

I know male mice will eat the baby mice... Will dogs do this?

Answer 1

To add to that, yes, the males will on occasion kill the pups. For a healthy whelping, you need to have the mother a secure place, preferably of her choosing where no other animals can come. She will attempt to protect her litter, usually, and this inevitably has a bad outcome, for cats and smaller dogs, or other puppies, often death results, if she takes on a larger dog, such as a male, often she can be hurt or killed.

Take time, and watch... keep her secluded, and if things seem copacetic, you can try seeing how both parties react when they are in a grouping together with the puppies. Just be ready to react instantly. Out of the hundreds of litters I've seen, I'd say it's less than 1/2 the time there is a problem, so don't over-worry, just take precautions... the best treatment usually is to prevent.

In short, Yes. Occasionally males will, but more commonly a female will. Usually there is either one of two problems, 1) something is wrong with the pup or the litter is too large and she culls the weakest or 2) something is wrong with the mother and she literally needs the nutrients provided by the puppies (certain anemias can have this effect)

Beyond that, when a pup is eaten, it's usually dead first, and the mother is merely cleaning up to avoid attracting predators.

Thanks

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Answer 2

Yes some dogs will do this if they feel the animal is sick.

Answer 3

i dont know about males, but some females will simply because they dont know what to do with them or health problems. not to be rude but please dont breed theres shelters full of unwanted babies already

Answer 4

yes dogs will do it too..  if the female is stressed, has poor maternal instincts, or sences something is wrong, she will kill and eat the pups.

A male may do it for similar reasons as well as prey drive (they move and make similar sounds to small animals), and territorial reasons.

Answer 5

The only dog that should be near puppies is their mother.

A mother will sometimes eat a malformed puppy, but they can also panic if another dog gets near the puppies - especially a first time mother - and throw the puppies around.

  It is very important to keep everyone else out of the puppy nursery.

Answer 6

A female will sometimes eat a deformed or sickly puppy. Also a stressed female will sometimes eat her puppies. A male should never be allowed near a b***h with puppies.

Answer 7

POSSIBLY,  BUT MORE LIKELY THE MOTHER WILL DO THE EATING.  DOGS ARE CANNIBALS....SORRY, BUT THEY ARE. MY SON HAD A PUG HAVE 3 BABIES.....HE WENT OUTSIDE TO GET SOMETHING FROM HIS CAR AND CAME BACK....WENT TO CHECK BABIES AGAIN....THERE WAS ONE SKULL,  ONE RIB CAGE AND SOME  SKIN.  HAVE  HAD AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD EAT AN ENTIRE LITTER BELONGING TO A SHIH  TZU.

Answer 8

Yepper and if you do not know about this stuff i sure hope there is not  offspring to worry about ! A dog needs shown, genetic testing done, x-rayed for dysplasia..all large breeds..A certified health certificate,,And an owner who has allot of money saved if the dogs can't deliver normally! And the female needs checkups and supplements..

Answer 9

Yes it is possible.  A female will kill and sometimes eat a puppy if it is ill or malformed, or stillborn.  This is just instinct to protect the health of the rest of the litter.  An immature female may also kill her puppies out of inexperience or anxiety.  A male dog should cannot always be trusted around newborn or young puppies.