Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

You may not realize this – maybe it’s not the topic of your everyday conversations – but dogs eating poop really isn’t all that unusual. Yes, it’s disgusting, but it turns out it is a natural behavior and most dogs are hard-wired to do it. That doesn’t mean you can’t teach your pup not to, though! Check out this article from Jenna Stregowski of About.com that she wrote in response to the age-old question, “Why does my dog eat poop?“

Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

Technically called coprophagia, the act of eating feces is relatively common in dogs. The reasons behind why some dogs eat feces are not entirely known, but there are a few theories:

• Natural Behavior: Mother dogs instinctively lick their pups clean, ingesting their feces. This is a normal behavior that keeps the pups and their environment clean. Many puppies will begin to eat feces at a young age. Some pups grow out of this normal behavior, while others continue this into adulthood. Eating the feces of other species is also considered natural behavior.
• Hunger and Food Obsession: A dog suffering from starvation or severe malnutrition might eat anything it can find. Some dogs, though well-nourished, are hungry all the time (this may be a sign of illness or simply the personality of the dog). Many dogs are completely obsessed with food and will ingest anything that tastes good to them. Unfortunately, many dogs seem to like the taste of feces. Some people claim that dogs eat feces when they are lacking something in their diets. Veterinarians now tend to agree that this is not the case.
• Illness: Certain diseases and illnesses can cause a dog to eat feces. A symptom of some diseases is increased appetite or ingestion of inappropriate items. An illness that changes the consistency or smell of the stool might make a dog want to eat his own stool. Sudden onset of coprophagia is cause for a veterinary exam.
• Anxiety, Fear and Stress: A dog under a great deal of stress may eat his own stool. This may be a kind of self-soothing mechanism in some cases. However, if a dog is punished for inappropriate defecation or other action related to feces, he may associate the punishment with the presence of feces. By eating the feces, he is removing the “evidence” to avoid punishment.

What are the risks of dogs eating feces?

If a dog eats his own stool, it poses little danger to that dog. However, bacteria and parasites from that stool can technically be transmitted to humans and other animals though contact with that dog’s mouth and saliva. If you are unable to keep your dog from eating feces, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly if you are in contact with your dog’s mouth/saliva.

When a dog eats the feces of another animal (especially another dog or a cat), he is at risk for ingesting the eggs of intestinal parasites and potentially harmful bacteria that can easily lead to illness. A dog that is known to eat the feces of other animals should have frequent fecal analysis by your veterinarian.

How can I stop my dog from eating feces?

Once you have ruled out medical problems as a cause for the coprophagia, you are left with addressing the behavior. Because coprophagia is generally a self-rewarding behavior, it is difficult to stop. First and foremost, make sure your yard is kept free of animal waste, and pick up your dog’s stool as soon as possible after defecation. For dogs that try to eat their own feces during or immediately after defecation, you must be on high alert. Keep your dog on the leash when defecating. If his attention goes to the feces, immediately turn his attention to you (try teaching the “look” command). Reward him for paying attention to you, then immediately pick up the feces and discard it. Another helpful command at this time is “leave it.”

Another method to prevent coprophagia is to add something to you dog’s diet that makes the stool unpalatable. These products will not work for all dogs, but it will not harm your dog to try (as long as your dog is not allergic to any to the ingredients). Be sure to choose a product that is labeled for dogs, such as “For-Bid” or “Deter.”

Now you know some of the reasons why some dogs eat poop and that there are things you can do to stop it if your furkid is one of them! You can read the rest of the article here. Do you have any experience with this topic? Share your insight with us using the comment box below!