Why did my Shih Tzu mom attack and eat her own newborn puppies?

Question

Shih-tzu mum ate 2 live pups out of litter of 3. I saved one and am currently nursing him however I want to know why she did it. The other pups were alive and she bit the head off one. When I cleaned this pup up I tried to reintroduce but she attacked it again. I wasn't there for the first 2. Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | unspayed | 7 years and 2 months old

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Cannibalism rarely occurs in dogs, but Missy could have attacked her puppies because of pain from mastitis (suckling provokes aggression) or because the puppies are unhealthy and she sensed that. I would not reintroduce that puppy back to Missy, and I would have her seen by a vet immediately for a health check to make sure she doesn't have a medical illness causing this aggression. You may have to bottle feed this puppy. At seven years old, Missy is actually too old to be having puppies (it's never recommended to breed a dog over the age of five or six), so I would have her spayed asap if she won't be nursing her remaining puppy.

Why did my Shih Tzu mom attack and eat her own newborn puppies?

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