The reasons why some dogs eat feces are not entirely known, but we understand how frustrating it can be for dog owners. If you find that your pup is often eating poop, don't fret—coprophagia, or the act of eating feces, is relatively common in dogs. It's also treatable in several ways, such as keeping your yard free of dog droppings and understanding why your dog is doing this in the first place. The reasons why some dogs eat feces are not entirely known, but there are a few theories. It's possible that dogs eat stool for reasons like instinct, hunger, stress, or illness. Mother dogs instinctively lick their pups clean, which includes ingesting the puppies' feces. This normal maternal behavior 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. If you have a cat, you may notice that your dog cannot stay away from the litter box. Most dogs love the taste of cat poop. Perhaps this is because of the high-protein diets of cats. 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 (especially cat poop). Some people believe that dogs eat feces when they are lacking something in their diets. Most veterinarians say that this is actually not the cause of coprophagia. A dog in fear or under a great deal of stress may eat his own stool. In some cases, this could be a kind of self-soothing mechanism. 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. Certain diseases and illnesses can cause a dog to eat feces. A symptom of some diseases is increased appetite or ingestion of inappropriate items (called pica). An illness that changes the consistency or smell of the stool might encourage a dog to eat his own stool. Sudden onset of coprophagia calls for a veterinary exam. Some dogs with dementia and other brain diseases have been known to start eating stool. This may be due to the confusion and disorientation caused by the disease. It generally poses little danger for a dog to eat his own stool. However, bacteria and parasites from that stool can possibly be transmitted to humans and other animals through contact with the 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 analyses by a veterinarian. Perhaps the worst effect of a dog eating poop is the foul breath you have to smell. Home dental care can help the breath, but it's best to prevent stool-eating altogether. Once you have ruled out medical problems as a cause for the coprophagia, you are left with addressing the behavior. Because stool-eating is considered a self-rewarding behavior, it can be difficult to reverse. First, make sure your yard is kept free of animal waste. Pick up your dog's stool as soon as possible after defecation. Be on high alert if your dog tends to eat his own feces during or immediately after defecation. 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 with a tasty treat, then immediately pick up the feces and discard it. Another helpful command to use at this time is to say "leave it." One more method to prevent coprophagia is to add something to your dog's diet that makes the stool taste bad to the dog. These products will not work for all dogs, but they will generally not harm your dog to try (as long as your dog is not allergic to any of the ingredients). Be sure to choose a product that is labeled for dogs, such as "For-Bid" or "Deter." Ask your veterinarian about the safest and most effective products to prevent poop-eating dogs. The Spruce / Ellen Lindner
FAQ
A white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It indicates 'click here to go back to the top of the page.' Eating poop is also known as coprophagia. Fernando Trabanco Fotografía/Getty Images It turns out the biggest problem with a dog eating poop is the ick factor for their humans. Dogs, especially puppies, eat many things they shouldn't, and this often includes feces — theirs and that of other dogs and even other animals. Gross as it may seem, dogs eating poop is pretty common. "The science isn't completely clear on why dogs or puppies eat feces, which is known as coprophagia," says Gary Richter, DVM, a veterinary health expert with Rover and owner and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital. "Assuming the dog is eating an appropriately balanced diet – meaning basically any commercially available brand – nutritional deficiencies leading to coprophagia are very unlikely. In truth, eating feces is almost exclusively a behavioral issue rather than a physical one," says Richter. Russell Hartstein, Certified Dog Behaviorist and Trainer in Los Angeles and founder of Fun Paw Care, agrees, adding that while there's no conclusive evidence that points to any single reason why dogs eat poop, it is totally natural. That said, here are some reasons why your dog might eat poop. "It's part of a dog's genetics. Dogs are omnivores that scavenge, forage, and love carrion smells/tastes such as vile, pungent odors and stuff to play with and eat. Dogs eat lots of things with zero nutritional value for fun or because it seems interesting to them," says Hartstein. According to a 2018 study, coprophagia may be an inherited tendency from dogs' ancestors, wolves. Wolves defecated outside their dens because their feces contained parasite eggs. If a wolf was too sick or injured to go do their business elsewhere, it would eat the poop in order to protect the pack. The researchers pointed out that because parasite eggs can become infective after a couple of days. This may also explain why dogs generally eat poop that's no more than a day or two old. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), poop eating is a natural behavior at certain stages of a dog's life. For instance, mother dogs lick their puppies as a way to urge them to do their business. They also clean up after their puppies by eating their feces for the first three weeks after birth. Puppies naturally mimic this behavior by eating their own poop and other dogs' poop. As Richter already pointed out, nutritional deficiencies are unlikely if your dog is eating a balanced diet. That said, it's still important for dog owners to watch for signs of a nutritional deficiency, which could stem from diet or malabsorption issues caused by an underlying medical condition. The signs of a nutrient deficiency depend on which nutrients are lacking, but most often include:
Thyroid disease, diabetes, and Cushing's disease are some conditions that can increase hunger in dogs and lead them to eat their feces. Drugs, such as steroids, benzodiazepines, and some antihistamines can also cause increased hunger as a side effect. Though it hasn't been scientifically proven, some experts believe coprophagia in dogs may be triggered by chronic stress, anxiety, and boredom. Isolated dogs, or those who spend too much time in a crate or other confined space are more likely to eat poop. Anxiety from harsh training methods or punishment can also trigger the behavior, according to the AKC. "In terms of risks, on top of the obvious 'gross' factor, eating feces can transmit parasites to your dog," says Richter. Common parasites a dog may contract from eating other dogs' or animals' poop include:
If your dog is showing signs of illness, like diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy, a visit to the vet is in order. If your puppy's mowing down on poop, the good news is they'll probably stop doing it by the time they're about 9 months old. If your puppy continues to do it or you have an adult dog that does it, the following tips may help break the habit:
There's no one specific reason why dogs eat poop, but most of the time it's normal and not a problem — at least not for the dog. "The most effective way to get your dog to stop eating poop is management. However, there are many other methods and factors to consider that may help with dog poop eating, such as dog training, behavior modification, enrichment, exercise, and nutrition," says Hartstein |
Why does my dog enjoy eating poop?
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