How To Stop A Mother Dog From Eating Her Puppies In 2023

Medically Reviewed By Pet Expert

Having a litter of puppies can be a joyous occasion for a mother dog, but it can also be stressful.

It can be heartbreaking and highly problematic if a mother dog begins eating her puppies.

Fortunately, there are ways to stop a mother dog from eating her puppies and prevent it from happening in the first place.

With proper care and attention, it is possible to ensure that the puppies survive and that the mother remains healthy and happy.

Understanding why a mother dog may eat her puppies, providing appropriate nutrition and exercise, and monitoring them closely makes it possible to stop a mother dog from eating her puppies and ensure that the litter is healthy and happy.

Reasons why a mother dog may eat her puppies’

Reasons why a mother dog may eat her puppies'

Even though it is regrettable and upsetting, sometimes even the most attentive and careful owners find that their mother dog begins to eat her puppies. ↗

There are many reasons that a mother dog may begin to consume her litter, including the following:

A change in the mother dog’s environment or routine: The stress of moving to a new home, the addition of new people (particularly children), or a change in the mother dog’s exercise routine can put stress on her mind and body. This increased stress can cause the mother dog to begin consuming her puppies to relieve that stress. A sudden change in the mother dog’s diet can also cause digestive upset, leading to the mother dog eating her litter.
The mother dog may also be stressed or worried about not providing enough nutrition for her puppies.
A lack of proper nutrition for the mother dog: The mother dog needs to receive good food the entire time she is pregnant and nursing.
Without the right nutrition, a mother dog may become stressed and begin eating her young.
A lack of fresh water for the mother dog: As a nursing mother, the mother dog will need ample clean water.
If the mother dog does not have access to clean water, she may begin to eat her puppies as a result of dehydration.

How to provide proper nutrition for a mother dog

A mother dog’s diet is essential the entire time she is pregnant and nursing. Her diet should include all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to help her maintain good health and provide enough nutrition for herself and her puppies.

How to provide proper nutrition for a mother dog

A mother dog’s diet should also be low in calories and rich in fiber to help prevent digestive upset.

Ideally, a mother dog will be fed a diet formulated for nursing dogs. These types of dog foods are developed to provide a mother dog with all the necessary nutrients for her health and nursing a litter of puppies.

Some of these dog foods are also specially formulated to be low in calories and rich in fiber to help prevent digestive upset.

The importance of exercise for a mother dog

The importance of exercise for a mother dog

A mother dog will benefit from daily exercise throughout pregnancy and nursing.

Regular exercise will help to keep the mother dog’s muscles strong and her joints limber. It can also help to regulate her metabolism and keep her weight in a healthy range.

Exercise will also help the mother dog to release any pent-up stress, worry, or anxiety that she may be feeling.

The more she exercises, the less likely she will turn to her litter of puppies to release that stress. Ideally, a mother dog should be exercised daily.

Her owners should walk her for at least 30 minutes per day and engage in other types of exercise that are appropriate for her breed and fitness level.

An over-exercised mother dog may put too much stress on her joints and muscles and cause injury, whereas a dog that does not get enough exercise may become overweight and unhealthy.

The importance of monitoring puppies closely.

A mother dog will naturally be very protective of her litter of puppies.

She will want to keep them warm and safe, and she will want to provide them with as much nutrition as she can.

Sometimes, a mother dog’s instinct can be too strong, and she may put too much pressure on her puppies or feed them too long.

If the mother dog is being fed a diet that is high in calories and low in fiber, she may also be placing too much pressure on her puppies as a result.

The importance of monitoring puppies closely.

A mother dog’s puppies should be monitored closely and checked frequently to ensure they are healthy.

The puppies should be checked for proper temperature and covered with plenty of blankets to keep them warm and safe.

If the puppies appear too cold or too hot, they should be moved to a more suitable environment.

The puppies should also be checked to ensure that the mother dog is not placing too much pressure on them or feeding them for too long.

If she is, the puppies should be removed and placed in a separate area until they are weaned.

How to stop a mother dog from eating her puppy’s

How to stop a mother dog from eating her puppy's

Fortunately, some steps can be taken to stop a mother dog from eating her puppies. To stop a mother dog from eating her litter, owners should try to identify the cause of the behavior and take steps to prevent that cause from triggering the behavior again.

Provide the mother dog with adequate nutrition. If a mother dog eats her litter due to a lack of nutrients, she should be fed a diet high in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.Box Content
Provide the mother dog with adequate rest. If a mother dog is eating her litter due to a lack of rest, her owners should ensure that she gets plenty of daily rest and has ample time to relax.
Keep the mother dog’s environment clean and free of stress. If a mother dog is eating her litter due to a change in her environment, her owners should give her plenty of attention, clean her living area thoroughly, and keep her comfortable and stress-free.

Signs of puppies in distress

If a mother dog shows signs of distress, it may indicate that she is beginning to eat her puppies.

Signs of puppies in distress

If a mother dog is eating her litter, the puppies will likely show signs of distress. If a mother is beginning to eat her waste, her owners should watch for these signs to ensure they can intervene as soon as possible.

Signs of distress in a litter of puppies include the following:

The puppies’ temperatures may be too low or too high. If a mother dog places too much pressure on her puppies, they may be too warm because she keeps them too close to her body. If a mother dog is not providing enough warmth for her litter, it will likely be too cold. Either situation can lead to the puppies’ becoming ill.
The puppies may be too hungry: If a mother dog feeds her litter for too long, the puppies may become too hungry. If a mother dog is not providing her litter for long enough, they may not be hungry enough to eat.
The puppies may be too thirsty: If a mother dog does not provide enough water, they may become too thirsty. If a mother dog provides her litter with too much water, they may not be thirsty enough to drink.

FAQS

How to keep the puppies safe

If a mother dog is beginning to eat a litter of puppies, her owners should keep the puppies safe. They can do this by doing the following: – Moving the puppies to a separate, secure environment: If a mother dog is eating her litter, her owners should move the puppies to a different, safe environment. This should be a warm, clean space where the puppies can be kept warm and comfortable.

Is it normal for a mother dog to eat its puppies?

It is common for mommy dogs to eat their puppies if they’re sick or dying. Because of this, it’s important to watch over the mom and her pups at all times. If you notice that her pup is not doing well, you can take it away from the mother and put it in an incubator. If a pup is being eaten, it is probably better off being taken away from its mother to be put in an incubator.

Amy Brown
Amy E. Brown is a licensed psychotherapist (serving and author of three self-help books. She’s also a dog rescuer in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Her life-long love of literature and writing developed from her passion for author Jackie Collins novels. She discovered at the age of 12 that she wanted to become a published author. She is a Quora contributor who writes about mental health and addiction issues in both the United States and throughout the world. She is the owner and founder of Blamberg & Associates LLC, which is a private practice specializing in psychological and addiction issues. She has been working with physically and emotionally scarred people for over 30 years.