Legitimate question from MD

[Apollyon]

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It seems like, whenever there is a report of a dog having consumed part of it's owner due to being stuck in an enclosure with the owner, who has expired, they eat the face first. I can't think of a good reason for this. Has this been studied in any systematic way? Spitz and Fisher (forensic pathology text) does not cover this.

 

[Jochebed]

I've no idea what the answer to your question is...but I was really struck by someone with the handle name of Apollyon asking about animals eating peoples' faces off...sorry, but....creeeeeeeeepppppppy....

 

[critterfixer]

I'm just speculating, but it seems reasonable that part of it is that the face is exposed, whereas the rest of the body would be presumably covered by clothing. Thus, less effort to start with the face.

 

[sms25]

It seems like, whenever there is a report of a dog having consumed part of it's owner due to being stuck in an enclosure with the owner, who has expired, they eat the face first. I can't think of a good reason for this. Has this been studied in any systematic way? Spitz and Fisher (forensic pathology text) does not cover this.

I had a friend ask me the same thing a few years ago and I can't remember where I found the info (a journal or VIN or something like that), but the gist of it was that pets will try licking their owner's hands or face first in an attempt to arouse the owner and eventually when they get hungry enough they will begin to eat these areas that they have been licking at.

 

[Apollyon]

Reasonable, but it seems that the hands are never mentioned, or are specifically mentioned to be intact.

I mean, I can theorize all sorts of stuff, but I have no data.

 

[twelvetigers]

NOT what I was expecting this thread to be about, lol.

 

[Angelo84]

Have you looked at the book "stiff" its about a body farm somewhere in the states where they put bodies out undervarious conditions and see what happens. I haven't read it but maybe they would explain?

I would also go with the face is exposed and easy to get to. As far as not eating hands maybe its the same reason we don't eat the very last bit of a chicken wing? Not enough meat to make it worth it?

 

[TrocarKarin]

Ok, this might be gross, but here's my theory.

You've got openings on the face. After the bacteria in the stomach start to multiply and work on other tissues, the body will bloat up, putting pressure on any liquids inside, forcing them out the nose, mouth, eyes and anus (which wouldn't be as accessible). I would imagine that this purged liquid would be more appetizing to a dog or cat, then trying to take a bite out of skin (especially out of a flat area like the stomach or back). After all, dogs think feces are a delicacy, so why not stomach and lung purge? It wouldn't be hard to transition from licking that up to taking a bite.

 

[CatVet2Be]

Yup, that was gross

 

[HeartSong]

I agree with it being exposed and dogs already licking it to arouse the person. I'm not sure what kind of data you are expecting to find. Can't exactly sit Fido down for an interview and ask why he started with the face. Well, you could and some people believe in that stuff I guess.

 

[Bill59]

An the winner in the category "Most interesting question of the day" is ...

 

[IHeartGoldens]

😱

 

[chris03333]

It seems like, whenever there is a report of a dog having consumed part of it's owner due to being stuck in an enclosure with the owner, who has expired, they eat the face first. I can't think of a good reason for this. Has this been studied in any systematic way? Spitz and Fisher (forensic pathology text) does not cover this.

Definately NOT something covered in vet school

 

[eventualeventer]

Definately NOT something covered in vet school

Shucks, I thought people paid the big bucks so they could learn how to answer gruesomely fascinating questions.

As for why not the hands, my first thought was, "Too crunchy."

 

[theunraveler]

My guess is that the face, along with the hands and feet are soft tissues and hence its more easier to break down by other organisms.

 

[Ninnerfish]

I think the eyes must be especially tasty - have you ever noticed that when your fish dies, that's the part the other fish go for first? I've seen birds do it, too. Maybe dogs think the same way.

Also, "Stiff" is one of my favorite books ever. Hilarious, creepy, weird - it's one of those books that makes you laugh out loud in public and get crazy looks.

 

[Apollyon]

It's actually a good discussion coming from a group of professionals that follow a parallel track to mine. Unfortunately, I can't contribute much more beyond a teleological perspective.

 

[CatVet2Be]

If you liked "Stiff" check out "Never suck a dead man's hand" by Dana Kollmann. I got a ton of crazy looks because I couldn't stop laughing while reading it. Great Book!

 

[projekt]

Mice also start at the face when their cage mates die. Even when well fed. Very strange.

 

[Caninerepro]

OK, here is what I have been told, based on the experience of wildlife biologists and such. In a nutshell, the soft organs taste best/have the strongest flavor. It is why the internal organs are consumed first after the usual gut evisceration during a kill. Now, first of all pets are not wild animals, and also usually the internal organs are not exposed when the human dies in such a situation. However, the eyes and tongue are easily accessible and tasty, so they go for that first. After that they simply consume the surrounding tissues. Also, they tend to be leaner areas, with less fat reserves. They love their people, but they also do not have the social prohibitions we do during survival situations. Now, I am not an expert in this so please do not quote me but from my understanding this is why they start there.

 

[flyhi]

OK, here is what I have been told, based on the experience of wildlife biologists and such. In a nutshell, the soft organs taste best/have the strongest flavor. It is why the internal organs are consumed first after the usual gut evisceration during a kill. Now, first of all pets are not wild animals, and also usually the internal organs are not exposed when the human dies in such a situation. However, the eyes and tongue are easily accessible and tasty, so they go for that first. After that they simply consume the surrounding tissues. Also, they tend to be leaner areas, with less fat reserves. They love their people, but they also do not have the social prohibitions we do during survival situations. Now, I am not an expert in this so please do not quote me but from my understanding this is why they start there.

Mmmmmmmmm, deee-lish.....