If your dog likes to eat poo, don't worry – many dogs have this unpleasant habit! But what compels a dog to eat poo and how can you stop your dog being a poop eater?

We're not going to lie, this is a gross subject, but it is common for dogs to eat poo. Whether it's their own, cat, sheep, horse or fox, dogs will eat it. So if you actually want to know why do dogs eat poo, here we go.

What Is Coprophagia in Dogs?

When dog eats poop, it’s known as coprophagia. It's a form of pica which is the name for the ingestion of non-food items. Dogs may eat poo out of habit, boredom, anxiety or hunger. While there’s possibly some nutritional value in undigested food, eating poo is rarely due to nutritional deficiencies or an underlying medical condition.

Some dogs will eat cat poop, while others can’t resist livestock faeces (cattle or horse manure). And eating their own poop is common. This behaviour often starts in young, kennelled or under stimulated dogs. Dogs with an increased appetite may also eat their own poo.

Mothers will often eat their puppies’ poop to keep their den clean. Puppies sometimes copy their mothers or eat poo out of curiosity. Most puppies will grow out of it, but some may continue with the behaviour into adulthood. For adult dogs, eating poo can provide lots of information about who left the poo and what they had eaten.

Why Does My Dog Eat Poo?

Although disgusting to us, dogs are attracted to poo by the smell and may find the texture of fresh, warm faeces appealing. And some dogs find frozen poo hard to leave alone!

If a dog is under stimulated and has an unsatisfied appetite, they may be drawn to eating fresh poo – especially if they like to scavenge. When they find fresh poo and eat it, it can become a self-rewarding habit. Some medications like steroids and medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems and intestinal parasites can cause an increase in hunger. If your dog’s poo has a changed smell and texture, it may become more interesting to them.

Punishment for pooing in the house may also be a reason behind coprophagia. The puppy may have had their nose rubbed into their poo during housetraining (which is never a good idea). If the poop is removed (eaten), then the dog knows it won’t be punished.

If you give your dog lots of attention when you catch them eating faeces, then this can reinforce the behaviour, making them want to do it again. Unfortunately, eating poo can become a deep-rooted habit.

How Can I Stop My Dog Eating Poop?

Here are some ways to try to get your dog to break their revolting habit:

1. Remove temptation – always remove poo from areas where your dog is left in and walk your dog away from poo contaminated areas. If these areas can’t be avoided, put your dog on a lead.
2. Distract – call your dog if you spot them going near poo. Or give them a ball or toy to carry in their mouths. If you notice your dog about to eat poop, distract them with something much more exciting. This can be their favourite treat, a game or some praise and cuddles. Don’t shout or punish them and don’t muzzle them - these methods will be unsuccessful.
3. Prevent boredom - your dog may be a poop eater because they’re bored. Keep them entertained with food puzzle toys. These are great if your dog needs more mental stimulation.
4. Prevent hunger - if hunger is behind the reason why your dog eats poo, adjust their food intake. If they tend to eat poo when they’re likely to be hungry (before mealtimes), change when you feed your dog. Perhaps feed two smaller meals during the day, given before their walks, instead of one larger meal in the evening.
5. Training - always use positive reinforcement (with praise and food rewards) to encourage good recall when out for walks off lead. Teaching your dog the ‘leave it’ cue is also important.
6. Change their diet - some believe that adding pineapple or courgette to their dog’s diet will make their poo less palatable. If you want to introduce a new food to their diet, do so gradually to avoid any tummy upsets. If there’s a dietary imbalance behind the behaviour, then changing their food may help. A change from tinned dog food to another food that’s less appealing may be effective for dogs that eat their own poo.

How Do I Stop My Dog Eating Cat Poo?

If you have a cat a home and your dog likes the taste of cat poo, put the cat litter tray somewhere they can’t reach, or use one that has a lid or door. Clean out the litter tray more often as well. Also consider what you feed your cat – undigested flavouring from tinned cat food may be very tasty to your dog.

How Do I Clean My Dog’s Mouth After They’ve Eaten Poo?

No-one wants a dog that has had a mouthful of poo, to then give you lots of dog kisses. Give them water to drink or something to eat, wipe their mouth with a cloth and clean their teeth. You can also give them a dental stick to chew on to get rid of that nasty poo breath.

If your dog likes to eat their own poo, cat poop from the litter box or fresh poo when out for a walk, there are ways to stop this becoming an established habit. The habit may take a while to break so keep up the training and positive reinforcement. But if it’s a severe problem or your dog has just suddenly started to eat poo, ask your vet for advice.

They can refer you to a behaviour specialist if needed. And remember dogs may also pick up parasites (hookworms, roundworms and whipworms) from another animal’s poo. So, it’s important to make sure your dog is regularly wormed if they routinely eat poo.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis 

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