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This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only. You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet. Cannibalism is an uncommon problem in dogs, but it does occur from time to time when a bitch has had a litter and kills her puppies The precise cause of cannibalism in dogs is not fully understood. It usually occurs in the first couple of days following birth when the female kills one or more of her litter. Sometimes there is little external evidence of injury on the puppies, in other cases there are obvious teeth puncture wounds, or part of the puppy may have been eaten. Situations in which cannibalism may occur include the following :
Once a bitch has started to kill or neglect her puppies they should be separated from her and a foster mother found, or they should be raised by hand using artificial milk-replacer. Once a mother has neglected or killed her puppies she should be neutered as she is likely to behave in the same way if she gets pregnant again
Updated October 2013 | |||