Figure 2.

(a) The bitch breaks the amnion and devours the fetal membranes, initially from the puppy’s head so it can breathe quickly, and then cleans the rest of the body, licking it and in the same way stimulating the offspring (Photo MVZ David Rivera). (b) The bitch tears the umbilical cord keeps licking and cleaning the puppy, and when the dam throws the placenta, she starts eating it to avoid the nest contamination and thus not attract predators. Placentophagy favours the uterine involution and milk production.