719-896-0362 dogtrn07@msn.com

And more importantly… how do I get my dog to stop eating his poop?

Dogs who eat poop is one problem us dog owners hate. To us it’s a filthy habit that doesn’t make sense. I mean why would our much loved pets eat dog or cat poop when we are feeding them perfectly good meals?

Why Do Dogs Eat Their Poop?

Eating feces is normal with many different animal species. In dogs, it is not part of the digestive process, but it is a normal cleaning behavior in mother dogs with pups. Some dogs eat poop even without puppies in a misguided attempt to clean either the yard or their kennel.

It is most common in puppies up to a year old, but can occur at any stage throughout a dog’s life. Typically, moms who have cleaned up after their puppies develop a taste for it. These can easily turn into a habit.

For such a wide spread problem there hasn’t been much research conducted into how to stop our dogs from eating poop, but it has been broken down into two main reasons: a behavioral problem or an underlying medical problem.

Don't Eat That

Dog Behavioral Concerns

Predator Fear

Moms will clean up after their litter of pups and some dogs eat poop from a sick dog, both in an attempt to conceal or protect the weaker ones from predators.

Cleanliness

A puppy who has been punished for pooping inside the house may eat poop to “hide the evidence”.

A dog could be cleaning up his living area, although this should be the owner’s job.

A dog could develop this habit because they see other dogs doing it.

 

Dog Medical Concerns

Nutrition

Malnourished dogs who lack nutrients in their diet or are unable to digest the nutrients in their food may resort to eating partially digested food in poop in order to meet their nutritional needs. Consult your vet about the best diet for your dog, and also to rule out any existing medical problem associated with coprophagia, the scientific name for the act of dogs eating their poop (their own or other animals’ feces).

An important thing to remember for all dog owners who have a poop eating puppy, is to ensure that all dog vaccinations and worming treatments are up to date. The reason for this is that various diseases and internal parasites can be passed from dog to dog through eating poop.

Other things to consider:

Could this be the result of over feeding? If a dog is over-fed he doesn’t properly digest his food, therefore his feces still smell and taste like his dinner!

Could it be from delayed feeding? If you only feed once a day, some dogs can become very hungry and scavenge around for any food (including poo).

Has there been a change in medication or food? Some dogs have been known to develop Coprophagia when put on certain medications or antibiotics or during a change in diet high in fat.

 

For TIPS on HOW TO STOP YOUR DOG FROM EATING POOP, check out this blog

And, if you have any questions or comments, contact me for personalized training answers for your tough dog training issues.

719-896-0362 dogtrn07@msn.com

Canine Behavioral Specialists and Dog Training

Achieving balance between humans and their canine counterparts through a pack-oriented philosophy.