Dogs are fascinating creatures and what is more fascinating is their keen interest in eating poop. That’s right, shit. This behavior is also known as Copropagia– the act of eating faeces. Despite the repulsive act, it is common among dogs. Up till now, people are still theorizing various reasons behind this bizarre behavior and it got me questioning so, why do dogs eat poop?
3 Reasons Why Dogs Eat Their Poop
Boredom or isolation
Dogs and puppies that have been left alone in the basement or home for prolonged periods of time have the tendency to eat or play with poop as compared to those that spend more time with company. To kill their boredom, dogs will resort to playing with and eating their poop. So, if you think this might be the reason, try to spend more time with your dog. Let him or her know that you are around.
Malabsorption
Low quality dog food may be one of the contributing factors. Cheaper food options typically add fillers to the food contents such as cornhulls, rice, soybeans. Even if it makes your dog full, it provides very little nutritional benefits. However if your dog is on a balanced diet, it is unlikely that he is nutritionally deficient. That is why it is important for pup owners to be aware of signs of nutritional deficiency that might also be caused from an underlying medical condition.
These are some of signs of nutritional deficiency:
- Dull, brittle fur coat
- Lethargy
- Prone to fur loss
- Weight issues
- Change in feces consistency
Stress and Anxiety
While this has not been scientifically proven, scientists believe that dogs that are cooped up in small spaces and isolated are more likely to display such behavior. Stress could’ve been induced from harsh training methods used during house training where the dog eats their own poop to get rid of the evidence but in turn gets punished even more.
Interesting Facts On Coprophagia (Eating Poop Behavior)
Did you know? A new study published by veterinary behaviorist Benjamin Hart at University of California, Davis found that:
- Poop eating behavior were more common in multi-dog households
- 1 in 6 dogs are labeled as “serious” dog poop eaters
- 85% were more attracted to fresh feces– preferably not more than 2 days old
- 62% of the group ate poop daily and 38% weekly
- Dogs prefer hard, sturdy stools compared to soft stools
- More likely for female dogs eat poop while unspayed males were the least likely
- Coprophagic dogs were found to be more greedy and tend to inhale their food as opposed to the normal, finicky dogs.
Is It Normal For Dogs To Eat Poop?
It is actually a normal behavior for dogs to eat their own poop even though it is straight up revolting to us humans. (I hope it is to you, too). In fact, Dr Hart reasoned and I quote “Our conclusion is that eating of fresh stools is a reflection of an innate predisposition of ancestral canids living in nature that protects pack members from intestinal parasites present in feces that could occasionally be dropped in the den/rest area.” In simple words, it is in their blood to eat poop.
What Happens If My Dog Eats Poop? Will My Dog Die?
Nothing to worry, eating poop will not kill your dog. It is relatively safe for your dog to eat their own poop but keep in mind that there is always a slim chance of your pet becoming sick. Keep a lookout especially if your pup is a big fan of other dogs or cats droppings because they may be at risk of getting parasites or diseases.
Common Parasitic worms include:
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Whipworms
- Coccidia
Please bring your dog to the vet if they start displaying signs of diarrhea, vomiting and tiredness.
If your pup is a huge licker, you might want to restrain him from licking people. And, wash your hands and face whenever he licks your face. There is a good chance that your pup will have bad breath from eating poop (as one would expect) so brush his teeth regularly too.
5 Home Remedies To Prevent Your Dog From Eating Poop
1. Add stool eating deterrent into their food
Luckily, we have quite a few options for this. There are natural foods and supplements that act as a poop deterrent.
What should I put into my dog food to stop them from eating poop?
You could add pineapple or apple cider vinegar to their food to make the stools more acidic. As poop is acidic in nature, adding such foods can help discourage your dog from consuming poop like a snack. For apple cider vinegar, you start by adding a teaspoon (for every 25 pound of body weight) and then adjust accordingly to your dog’s reaction to it. Other foods such as pumpkin, raw zucchini or meat tenderisers are said to be able to alter the taste of the poop thus making it “less delicious” to dogs.
2. Best poop-eating deterrent supplements
There are a variety of supplements available and one of the more popular products is the Zesty Paws Chew No Poo Bites chewable tablets which I have read great reviews from. I personally used NaturVet Coprophagia and my pupper mostly reacted pretty well and very quickly stopped consuming its own poo after a day or two after starting on it.
3. Keep it clean
Immediately pick your dog’s excrement ASAP as soon as he has done the deed. A very simple solution. As spoken by Gary Ritcher, a veterinary expert with Rover and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital, “Coprophagia is a crime of opportunity,” If there is no sight of poop around, there is simply no way they can eat it. It is that simple right? But we usually do not think that way, so bear in mind to quickly scoop it up before your pup gets to it.
4. Change their diet
The theory that dogs eat poop to compensate for any lacking nutrients in their body. Before you alter your dog’s diet, bring them to the vet to check if your dog is lacking in certain nutrients and discuss with your vet on foods and supplements to add to their current diet.
If your dog is suffering from a vitamin or nutrient deficiency, adding a dog friendly multivitamin supplement into their food might help. Vitamin B is one of the common vitamin deficiencies found in dogs and studies have shown that fecal microbial activity makes thiamine, a B- vitamin. A food for thought?
5. Keep your dog mentally and physically active
One of the suspected reasons behind Corrophargia is boredom. When dogs are bored of their mind, eating poop seems to be one of their go-to things to do when they are not stimulated enough. Interestingly, boredom is also the leading cause of destructive behavior in dogs.
When dogs display such behavior, they are punished by getting locked up in his cage which leads to stress and more boredom. And so, the vicious cycle continues. When you see your precious pup eating poop, don’t berate him straight away. It could be that your pup is simply bored.
What Can I Do?
Find creative ways to shake up your dog’s daily routine. For daily walks, you could do something simple by walking on the other side of the road. Or, you could drive to another side of town and explore new places. If you want to take it up a notch, do a hike or go trekking in the woods.
Such activities would naturally stimulate his mind as his senses pick up all the new information from smelling and licking. It would be like fireworks going off in his brain as he smells the strange flowers or wet grass while he explores the new “uncharted territory”. Also by physically tiring your dog out, he less likely has the energy to engage in poop eating.
Read more: How to Mentally Stimulate My Dog