If your dog is a poop eater, make sure you go outside with them so you can quickly distract them if they start eating poop and pick it up right away. ALWAYS pick up after your dog! It can be tempting to leave poop in the yard (especially on cold days when the last thing you want to do is go pick it up), but this gives your dog the opportunity to chow down on his backyard deposits.Walk your dog on a leash – If you have a better handle on your dog on walks and are attentive, you’ll be better able to keep them away from any poop they may find.Thanks to the dangers of transmitting parasitic diseases through coprophagia, your dog’s bad breath will be the least of your worries! Here are a couple ways to prevent your dog from eating poop:
Whatever the reason behind your dog’s poop-eating habit, you are going to want to curb your dog’s behavior.
Dogs who steal food off tables tend to be poop eaters, too. 85% of stool eaters only eat other dogs’ feces and not their own. (The latter are called “poopcicles.” The more you know.) They’re more attracted to hard or even frozen stools. Dogs will rarely eat soft, poorly formed stools or diarrhea. 92% of poop eaters prefer poop that’s only 1-2 days old. Coprophagia is more common in multi-dog households (compare 20% in single-dog homes vs. Female dogs are more likely to eat poop, while males that haven’t been neutered were the least likely. Hart from the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis found that: “This could not only significantly reduce the unwanted behavior but strengthen the bond between you and your dog as well!” The Scoop on Eating PoopĪ study conducted by Dr. “Consider adding some extra challenge to your dog’s life in the form of environmental enrichment and increased physical activity,” says Just Right Behaviorist Dr. Your dog may simply like the way feces smells and tastes.ĭo you think boredom or attention-seeking is to blame for your dog’s coprophagy?. Behavioral problem and attention seeking – Playing with or eating feces usually attracts a lot of attention from the owner, which may further reinforce the behavior. Nutritional deficiencies – Another theory is that dogs who eat poop are trying to fulfill a deficiency in enzymes or vitamins. Boredom or isolation – Puppies and dogs left unsupervised or alone for long periods may simply investigate, play with, and eat feces. If your dog’s poop-eating behavior has suddenly started, our experts recommend giving your veterinarian a call. It can also be a symptom of certain diseases and illnesses. Symptom of disease or illness – Pica is a condition that drives dogs (and people) to eat non-food items like hair, drywall, dirt and stones, paper, stool, and more. According to the AKC, “Eating their own poop is harmless, but consuming that of other animals may cause health problems if the stool is contaminated with parasites, viruses, or toxins.” As adolescents, it’s important to be diligent about housetraining. Puppies are orally fixated and may eat their own poop (and any other deposits they can find). It’s natural – It's common for mother dogs to eat their puppies’ feces during the first three weeks of lactation, which helps protect the puppies and keep their environment clean. However, there is an endless number of theories as to why your dog might be doing it: 
So why do dogs eat poop?īelieve it or not, the jury’s still out on what drives dogs to eat stool. It’s common, it’s gross, and it can be harmful to dogs. Otherwise known as the act of eating feces, whether its one’s own or another creature’s.
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