Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

Possible Reasons as to Why Dogs Eat Poop

• Malnutrition
  Some dogs eat poop if they are being fed poor-quality commercial pet food. Stool eating may be an indication of inadequate nutrition or nutrient absorption. A dog may eat poop in order to try to obtain additional sources of nutrition to survive.
  Also, if you feed your dog once a day, he may be too hungry during the day and has to resort to eating poop.
  Solution:
  Change the dog food to a high-quality, preferably home cooked, diet. If you are feeding your dog once a day, considering splitting his meal up into 2 to 3 times a day.
• Poor Digestion
  Even if a dog is fed good-quality, nutritious food, he may still have a problem if he cannot digest his food completely due to, for example, insufficient digestive enzymes. It has been found that enzymes and B vitamin deficiencies can also make dogs eat poop.
  Solution:
  Give digestive enzymes and Vitamin B complex to the dog as a daily supplement to help with food digestion and nutrient absorption.
• Health Problems
  Some dogs may eat poop because of a certain health problem that increases appetite, such as diabetes.
  As well, some medications such as prednisone can also increase a dog's appetite. If the dog is hungry all the time, it is likely that he will indulge in poop-eating.
  Finally, some dogs eat poop to get addition nutrition because of intestinal parasite infestation (e.g. tapeworms).
  Solution:
  If you are feeding your dog a healthy diet, but he still indulges in eating poop, get a physical check-up to see if your dog has any health issues. It may be a good idea to work with a holistic vet to use natural remedies to strengthen your dog's immune system and to get rid of the underlying health problems.
• Behavioral Problems
  
  Many puppies eat poop out of curiosity. They just like experimenting and trying out new things and tastes!
  Some puppies - especially those that are being housetrained - eat their poop as a way to "hide the evidence". They fear that their "accident" in the house may lead to punishment.
  Some dogs eat poop out of boredom, stress, or anxiety.
  Solution:
  Puppies eating poop out of curiosity can be stopped quickly by positive reinforcement training - give the puppy a lot of praise and a treat each time he leaves his poop alone! Some websites suggest punishing puppies that eat poop. Don't! Training should be firm (teach the command "leave it") but ALWAYS be through positive reinforcement (praises, treats, love). Negative reinforcement (punishment, harsh scolding, choke chains or prong collars) is cruel, unfair, ineffective, and can only freak the dog out.
  Even if your puppy has housetraining problems, use positive reinforcement. Work with a trainer or animal behaviorist if necesary.
  If your dog has suddenly developed an appetite for his own poop, and you have ruled out any of the above possible malnutrition and health problems, then take a look at your dog's enviroment. Are there any significant changes recently, such as the loss of a loved one, or addition of a new pup? If so, address the emotional problems and the bad habit of poop-eating will go away. One good way is to keep your dog active. Give him a fun and interactive toy to play with, or take him out for long walks and let him explore nature.

An Effective Product that can Stop Dogs Eating Poop

Only Natural Pet Stool Eating Deterrent for Dogs

This formula contains digestive enzymes, B-complex vitamins, as well as natural herbal ingredients (such as parsley, cayenne, yucca) that reduce stool odor - making the stool less "appetizing" for dogs!