Poop-eating, also known as coprophagia, is something no dog owner wants to deal with. While we as humans find this habit to be repulsive, dogs eating their poop can be a completely normal behavior.
Here you will learn some of the most common reasons why dogs eat poop, when you should be concerned, and what you can do to stop it.
Instinctual Behavior
According to a 2018 study published in Veterinary Medicine and Science, dogs inherit many of their behaviors from their wolf ancestors, which could point to a few reasons why dogs eat poop.
Wolves eat their fresh stool to keep their den free from fecal-borne intestinal parasites and bacteria. Once ingested, the parasites and bacteria are no longer infective, making the environment safer and cleaner for the rest of the pack.
Nursing wolf mothers often eat the poop of their young to keep the den clean. If wolves think that food is scarce in the wild, they will also eat poop as a survival tactic.
Why Puppies Eat Poop
Most puppies are naturally curious animals. They explore the world with their nose and mouths. Sometimes eating poop can is just part of their exploration process.
Mother dogs lick their puppies to clean them. Puppies who smell fecal matter on their mother’s breath after being cleaned might get confused and associate poop with eating food.
Additionally, if your puppy is eating their poop, it could be a learned behavior. Mother dogs sometimes eat their puppies’ poop to keep their den area clean. Your puppy could just be copying their mother’s behavior.
Acquired Taste
I know it’s disgusting, but the appealing taste and texture is another reason why dogs eat poop. They are scavengers by nature, and fresh poop contains nutritional fats and proteins. Their poop likely smells like a tasty treat to them.
Sometimes dogs also enjoy eating the feces of other animals, like cat poop or rabbit droppings. Unfortunately, poop can contain harmful bacteria which can make your dog sick, so it’s a good idea to discourage this behavior.
Attention Seeking
Let’s say you glance over to see your dog devouring a pile of poop in the yard. Your first reaction will be to yell, “Drop it!” and run towards them. While your response is warranted and expected, your dog may interpret this as an excited invitation to play.
Later on, if you are not paying attention to your dog, they might try to eat their poop again because they know this will get your attention. In these instances, your dog eating poop is more about getting a response from you than eating the poop itself.
Inappropriate Association
Dogs who have eating areas near where they go to the bathroom can have issues with eating their poop. If these areas are too close together, the dog might make an unconscious connection between the two odors and be unable to tell the difference.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutrient deficiency is another reason why dogs eat poop. Dogs needing more nutrients from their diet will seek out alternative food sources, including eating their own feces. It’s essential to ensure you feed your dog a high-quality and well-balanced diet so they get the nutrients and calories they need from food.
Health And Digestion Issues
If your dog suddenly develops a poop-eating habit, this could indicate an underlying medical issue. Gastrointestinal disease, pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal tract problems, and other organ issues are all more serious reasons why dogs eat poop.
Eating poop can also be an indicator of intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, or whipworms. These parasites take nutrients from your dog’s diet, forcing your dog to resort to eating poop to try and regain those nutrients.
Call your vet immediately if your dog has symptoms of weight loss, discomfort, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Behavioral Issues
Dogs who are anxious, bored, or stressed might be consuming poop to cope with these behavioral issues. Dogs with separation anxiety who are left alone for extended periods or dogs lacking mental stimulation can exhibit coping mechanisms like eating their own poop.
Additionally, dogs who experience harsh punishment during potty training can develop anxiety about going to the bathroom. These dogs might eat their poop to eliminate it before their owners can punish them.
How To Prevent Your Dog From Eating Poop
No dog owner wants to deal with a poop-eating problem. Luckily, there are training systems and solutions that you can put into place immediately to help your dog stop eating poop!
Restrict Access
Keep your dog’s bathroom and living spaces clean, including the yard. Supervise all outdoor access and clean up their poop as soon as they do their business. Consistency is the key to managing behaviors.
If you are struggling with your dog eating cat poop, keep the litter box clean and out of your dog’s reach or restrict access with a gate.
Provide A High-Quality Diet
If you are struggling with your dog eating cat poop, keep the litter box clean and out of your dog’s reach or restrict access with a gate.
Talk to your vet about selecting a high-quality diet for your dog. Make sure you are providing dog food that provides them with the nutrients and vitamins they need. Consider giving your dog a daily vitamin to meet their nutritional needs.
Make sure your dog is getting enough food and that the reason they are eating poop is not because they are still hungry.
Redirect Your Dog's Attention
Daily enrichment by mentally stimulating your dog is the easiest way to eliminate undesirable behaviors. Here is a list of simple, effective ways to mentally stimulate your dog at home.
If your dog is guilty of poop munching, it’s important to go out with with them whenever they go to the bathroom. As soon as they finish, call them over to you and offer positive reinforcement with a treat or their favorite toy. Remember to offer praise when your dog chooses not to eat their poop.
If you have determined that your dog eats poop as an attention-seeking tactic, it’s important not to make a big deal when they do so. Ignoring the behavior and redirecting their attention to something else is the best way to handle this.
Use Dog Training Tools
The easiest way to eliminate poop-eating is to teach your dog to come to you as soon as they poop and offer them positive reinforcement with a treat. This teaches your dog that ignoring the poop on the ground results in a tastier treat from you.
If your dog ignores you and immediately turns around to eat their poop, you can keep your dog on a leash while they go and then quickly lead them away. You can also use cues like “drop it” or “leave it” to get them to stop.
Remember to never punish your dog for eating poop, as this can cause them stress and encourage the behavior.
Make Poop Less Appealing
Talk to your vet about poop-deterring supplements. These additives usually contain digestive enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that boost gut health and add a taste to the poop that dogs typically don’t like.
You can also use a bitter-tasting spray meant to prevent licking or chewing. By spraying it on the poop, the poop will become unappealing to the dog, and they are less likely to continue trying to eat it.
Natural Home Remedies
Adding a few tablespoons of canned pumpkin can increase your dog’s fiber content and make their poop less appealing to eat. Just make sure to use pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
Giving dogs fresh pineapple can help break the bad habit because it makes the stool acidic and less tasty for your dog.
Why Dogs Eat Poop: Conclusion
While dogs eating poop can be a normal behavior, it can also indicate health or dietary issues. Understanding the reasons why dogs eat poop key to finding a solution.
If your dog continues to eat poop or if other health concerns accompany this behavior, consult your vet asap. With proper attention, training, and care, it’s possible to discourage and even eliminate this unwanted behavior in dogs.
