Why Does My Dog Eat Poo and How Do I Stop it?
Coprophagia is the technical term for poo eating. Its an unpaletable thought, however you dress up the word. But everything dogs do, they do for a reason. There is never anything random about their choices. It may be a survival mechanism; it may be a way to get attention. If we can pinpoint the reason your dog has developed this habit, then we can apply the right cure.
Reasons your dog will eat poo
Its a learned behaviour from watching mum clean up her pup’s mess to keep the den clean. Dogs who are kept in isolation in an enclosed space for a long time, sometimes revert to this behaviour through stress or boredom.
Poor diet. You are not feeding enough, or you are feeding a low grade food with not enough protein. Look at the label on your dog food. I like it to have 50% protein and no cheap fillers like rice, soya or cereals which are not nutritional for dogs. Some kibbles are packed with flavourings and preservatives and vegetables and grains which a dog’s stomach can’t digest. These pass through the stomach and come out the other end virtually in their original state, making the poo look and smell like a desireable snack to a passing hungry dog.
Underlying intestinal problem or disease. An intestinal problem may prevent the stomach from digesting food properly. Not enough nutrients will be absorbed. Instead they will come out in the poo. So your dog will try and supplement the lack in calories by eating his own poo. Some conditions increase a dog’s appetite and will make him hungry for almost anything! Eg diabetes, cushings disease, steroids, parasites.
Excessive punishment. If you punish your dog for fowling in the house, he will soon learn that the clever thing to do would be to get rid of the evidence (by eating it).
Attention seeking. If you have ever seen your dog sniffing a poo (perfectly normal) and thought he was about to eat it, you may have reacted by screaming and running towards him waving your arms. Your dog will soon learn that this is a marvellous way to get your attention, and will enjoy the game of chase.
How to prevent the poo eating
Do not confine your dog to a small area for long periods of time. Immediately clean up any dog mess and don’t leave it lying around. Supervise your dog on walks and keep an eye out. If your dog is eating its own poo, you can make it taste unpleasant by adding grated courgette, tinned pineapple, or pumpkin powder.
Check how much you should be feeding your dog. There is plenty of info online. If your dog does masses of exercise, feed more than the recommended amount. Feed a good quality, preferably raw, diet. Vary the species to build up a healthy gut (eg pork, chicken, beef, duck, turkey, fish). NO grain, cereals, rice, soya. Vegetables are often used as cheap fillers too, so although they might sound healthy to you, a dog can’t break down the cellulose (unless they are blitzed) and they just come out whole the other end.
Get your dog checked out by a vet to rule out anything suspicious.
Never punish your dog for toileting in the house. Wait until he does it outside and then praise.
Play with your dog when in the garden or on walks. Engage him in fun and enriching activities such as agility or sniffing games. For example get him jump over a log or go round a tree stump, and reward him with high value treats. Throw snacks into long grass or stuffed into the bark of a tree. If good treats are coming from you, he won’t need to sniff around for poo. YOU should be the most interesting thing in the park.
Don’t react if he does manage to grab a disgusting mouthful. Teach ‘Leave it’. Practise on the lead . Walk past a poo. Say ‘Leave it’ as you approach and give a tug on the lead only of he attempts to grab it. If he successfully walks past without lunging for it, treat with high value reward such as cooked chicken, cheese or sausage. The idea is that he will get a much better snack from you if he stays clear of the poo.
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