A pet owner who dies may be partially devoured by a pet.
Pets who have eaten their owner include dogs, cats and hamsters.
The face is the first and most common site eaten by a pet.
Possible explanations:
(1) While starvation can explain some episodes of depredation, some animals have started eating soon after the owner's death and with access to pet food.
(2) The presence of fresh blood might contribute.
The diagnosis requires:
(1) a closed scene (limits alternative explanations)
(2) exclusion of attacks by other animals (raccoons, rats, etc)
(3) evidence of owner tissue in feces (scat) or vomitus of the suspected animal
(4) animal teeth marks on the owner
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