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Why Do Dogs Eat Poop
My dog eats poop! Why does she do this, and how can I get her to stop?
Unfortunately, sometimes it is a dog eat poop world. Dogs have been known to eat poop -- dog poop, cat poop, rabbit poop, deer poop, frozen poop, whatever. It's disgusting, there's no doubt about that, but why do they do it and what can be done about it?
There are many theories as to why dogs eat poop. Some believe that dogs may have a dietary deficiency which they're compensating for by eating feces. Though there are some medical disorders that can lead to this, including starvation, disorders of the pancreas or intestine, and severe parasitic infestations which lead to serious malnutrition, these are typically rare. So, generally speaking, eating poop is not a sign that a dog is missing something in his diet.
It's possible that some dogs eat their own feces in order to 'hide the evidence'. Some believe that this can occur with dogs who have been punished for inappropriately going to the bathroom. Others believe that eating feces is just a trait passed down to dogs from their ancestors. Coyotes and wolves have been known to eat their own feces during food shortages, and have also been known to eat the feces of herbivores which contain many of the B vitamins. Eating feces can also be a learned behavior if dogs observe other dogs doing this. It's also very normal for females to eat the feces of their offspring. Some think that they do this to keep the den clean while others think it's a deep instinctual response that was meant to conceal the presence of their litter from predators. And then again, it's always possible that there really is no big theory behind it and dogs just eat feces because it tastes good to them.
Whatever the reasoning, eating feces is probably something you'd like to keep your dog from doing. And even if you're not overly concerned about this behavior, you should be aware that there are some health risks associated with eating feces. The main concern is that many parasites, including giardia, coccidia, roundworms and whipworm's, can be transmitted through dog and cat feces.
Dogs will commonly eat their own as well as other animals' feces. Puppies are known to eat their own excrement during paper training and housebreaking, and it is believed to be due to a combination of physiological and behavioral factors.
On the physiological side, since the digestion of food is not always complete, puppies still see nutrient value in their feces and view it as a snack. Often dogs are attracted to undigested rice, corn or peanuts in their stool if they happen to consume these foods. Maximizing digestion can help solve this problem. To do so, add enzyme supplements to their food, such as meat tenderizer (from the supermarket), papaya extract (a natural enzyme available at health food stores) or products from pet supply stores especially designed to help dogs digest. Mix the enzyme powder in each meal, and let it sit for 15 minutes prior to feeding it to your pet. This should eliminate the presence of anything they view as "good" in their stool. It will not help with the peanuts or corn, but these foods should not be fed to your pet in any event.
Another way to discourage coprophagy (the medical term for eating poop) is to coat the stools with hot sauce or vinegar, thereby making the experience of eating it unpleasant (as if it seemed great thus far!). Sometimes owners have to go to the extreme measure of injecting the stool with hot sauce so the pet gets the full extent of the bad flavor. Yet another method is through products which taste good when mixed in the pet's food and eaten, but turn bitter when excreted in the pet's feces (isn't science great?). Doing this or the hot sauce method for one to two weeks is usually enough to convince a dog that their food bowl is a safer spot for snacks.
On the behavioral side, many pets eat their stool during the training stages because they become confused about whether to go to the bathroom on or off the paper or outdoors. Just as potty training for kids is tough, telling a dog when and where to eliminate is emotionally stressful. They will feel bad about going in the wrong place and destroy the evidence by eating it. Owners often call me because they are concerned that their puppy has not had a bowel movement in a few days, but it usually turns out to be a case of recycling.
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