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When a mother dog has puppies, it’s not uncommon for one of the puppies to die. There are many reasons for this, including stillbirth, a genetic condition, and more. This is always sad. However, what should you do if your mother dog eats her dead puppy? This is a hard topic for many people, and we understand this is a disturbing behavior. But it can happen on occasion.
Has your dog eaten her dead puppy? Are you worried the dead puppy will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog does something like this.
We’ve put together information about mother dogs eating their dead puppies and whether this can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
Why Do Mother Dogs Eat Their Dead Puppies?
First, we’d like to start out by saying that a mother dog eating her dead puppy is not a common occurrence. Mother dogs are highly protective of their puppies and have a strong instinct to care for them. However, it is possible a mother dog may eat a dead puppy. But why?
Here are a couple of the most common reasons a mother dog may eat a dead puppy:
- A puppy may be stillborn (born dead)
- The puppy could have developed a genetic condition and died
- The mother dog may have had a miscarriage
The behavior of eating a dead puppy is an instinct that comes from our canine companions’ wild ancestors, though this behavior is still common in wild canines today.
In the wild, a mother dog must protect her puppies from all kinds of threats. When a puppy dies, the mother needs to remove it from the den. Otherwise, it could attract predators that could attack her and the puppies. So, the mother dog may eat the dead puppy to save her puppies and herself from harm.
Can a Mother Dog Become Ill After Eating a Dead Puppy?
In most cases, the mother dog will be just fine. Be sure to watch her for signs of diarrhea and vomiting. If these symptoms last longer than 24 hours, it’s time to call the vet. The vet has medications that can stop diarrhea and vomiting in the mother dog.
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Ask a Vet Live NowWatch the Mother Dog Carefully
After the mother dog has eaten a dead puppy, be sure to watch her closely. Check to ensure she’s taking proper care of the puppies and not harming them. If you notice anything amiss, be sure to call the vet for advice.
In most cases, the mother dog will take care of her other puppies with no problem. But it’s still a good idea to monitor her care of the remaining puppies.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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