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Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?Dogs eat poop for quite a few possible reasons but, generally speaking, can be pinned down to three main categories - malnutrition,
underlying health problems, and behavior.
If your dog does not indulge in the habit of eating poop, you may be surprised to know that many dogs do in fact eat poop - either their own or other animals'.
While coprophagia (a fancy term for stool eating!) may not pose a serious health problem to a dog, it is, to say the least, unpleasant (especially if the dog is also a
kisser!).
Also, dogs who eat poop are more likely to get worms than those who do not.
Possible Reasons as to Why Dogs Eat PoopVeterinarians are not exactly sure why dogs eat poop, but there are a few possible reasons. Let's take a look at each of them. 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. Solution: In this case, merely changing the dog food to a high-grade one, preferably home cooked, may be sufficient to fix the stool-eating problem. 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: Work with a holistic vet to strengthen the 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!
Solution:
This bad habit 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 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.
Some dogs eat poop out of boredom, stress, or anxiety.
Solution:
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.
Related Topic Common Dog Behavioral Problems References A.D. Shojai, New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats (Rodale Press, Inc., 1999). TOP OF Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? |
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