The coprophagia or the ingestion of feces, whether their own or that of other animals, is common both in dogs and in other species and, although it is a habitual behavior, it usually creates rejection on the part of the caregiver. Also, you should know that if your dog eats feces, he is exposed to various he alth problems that can encourage the appearance of bacteria or parasites in the intestine, among many other problems. It is not just a behavior that we do not like, it can also have serious consequences for your he alth
If you want to solve this problem for good, keep reading this article on our site to find out why dogs eat poop, the most common causes and the solution to apply to correct this behavior once and for all. In some cases a visit to the vet may be necessary.
My dog eats poop, is it normal?
Coprophagia is a common behavior carried out by many canids, including wild wolves, however, it is something that many keepers of first-time dogs are unaware. Although it is a behavior that we do not like, we must understand that on some occasions it is totally normal and acceptable, as occurs in lactating bitches, who ingest the feces of their puppies to keep the nest clean. Likewise, in other situations it will not be considered normal behavior and that is when we must act.
But how do you know if this behavior should be repressed or not? And most importantly, how to prevent a dog from eating his feces or those of other animals? The first thing we must do is know the most common causes that explain the appearance of coprophagia, rule out an organic problem by visiting our trusted veterinarian and, finally,, if we can't solve it ourselves, go to a behavior modification specialist, such as an ethologist, dog educator or trainer.
Why do dogs eat their poop and that of other animals?
In order to really determine the cause of this behavior, it will be essential to pay attention to several factors, such as animal welfare, the hours spent alone, its state of he alth and in what time do you ingest the stoolIf he does it in your absence, it may be advisable to set up a camera to observe his behavior and thus determine the real cause of the problem.
Below, we offer you a list of the main causes that explain why dogs eat their feces, those of other dogs in the household and even the feces of other animals, such as cat poop. All these causes are thought to explain this behavior in adult dogs, in puppies and lactating bitches we justify it in the following sections.
For illnesses and he alth problems
Some pathologies can cause adult dogs to ingest their own feces or that of third parties. The behavior may be caused by intestinal malabsorption syndrome or by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, among other problems. It is important to highlight that, before considering that this behavior is due to a behavioral problem, we must rule out organic causes by visiting the veterinarian. We can know that we are facing a he alth problem if we observe problems digesting the food (flatulence, vomiting or diarrhoea).
Because of poor nutrition
Sometimes, it can also be caused by a poor quality food, such as feed with too high a percentage of cereals. Remember that in order to properly digest cereals, the body needs an enzyme called amylase, which is responsible for assimilating the starch in this food, however, the dog does not produce a large amount, so it is not able to digest a high cereal percentage. For this reason, if the dog eats feces, it finds the necessary enzymes and trace elements to be able to synthesize the amylase in its diet. Do not forget that, in addition, a high percentage of cereals leads to obesity and causes our dog to suffer behavioral problems related to hyperactivity, as well as an excess of sugar and cortisol in the blood.
For call the atention
Although it may seem strange, it is one of the most common reasons why dogs eat "poo". The lack of socialization with its handlers, especially if a subsequent punishment situation occurs, can explain this behavior: the dog eats feces with the sole objective of being paid attention to, even if a punishment follows. It can happen inside the home itself or when we visit a pipicán and ignore the dog.
Due to lack of stimulation and loneliness
If your dog spends many hours alone it is likely that out of boredom and loneliness he decides to eat his own feces. Ask yourself if you spend enough time with him or if his environment is adequately enriched (he has toys and stimuli) and, if not, take action in this regard. Remember that a dog should not spend more than 6 or 8 hours alone at home and that he should go for a walk at least twice a day. Likewise, you should also socialize, play and practice physical exercise.
For use of punishment by the tutor
If we use punishment regularly with our dog when he defecates in the home or we put his nose near the feces scolding him, the dog may even eat them to avoid our angerThis is a very negative situation for the dog that also weakens our bond with him, so we must completely avoid punishment in these situations.
Due to stress and anxiety
If you have observed any of the 10 signs of stress in your dog, you may need to review your dog's situation in relation to hours of solitude, physical activity, confinement, other behavioral problems or excessive use of punishment. Anxiety and stress often lead to various behavioral problems, including coprophagia.
Due to lack of hygiene at home
If your dog is particularly clean, he may decide to eat his own feces to prevent his habitat from being dirty. Ask yourself if you take enough walks with him and, if not, start modifying your walking habits to prevent him from pooping in the house. Spend time cleaning the house and garden on a regular basis.
Dogs that eat feces of other animals
Dogs often ingest feces from other animals such as: cats, rabbits, rats or horses, among many others. To them, the feces of other individuals may be especially appetizing and tasty. However, while horse faeces do not usually cause digestive disorders, cat faeces can be harmful as it is considered a form of contagion of some pathologies and parasites.
Other problems that cause your dog to eat his feces
There are many problems that directly or indirectly cause the ingestion of feces. For this reason, if you have not been able to identify the cause of this behavior in your dog, it might be interesting to visit a veterinarian specialized in ethology.
Why is my puppy eating the poop?
Is it normal for a puppy to eat his poop? Many puppies engage in this behavior and it is usually due to age-specific exploratory behavior that usually subsides over time. In these cases, we can observe that they ingest their own feces or that of other animals.
It is also common in puppies that are in very impoverished environments (lack of toys, loneliness or abandonment, poor stimuli…) and in puppies that have passed their socialization stage in pet stores or away from their mother and siblings. We must consider this behavior abnormal after three or four months. At this time, if the puppy continues to ingest feces, then we will have to investigate the previous causes, the most common being a incorrect education by the guardians of the puppy. time to teach the puppy where to relieve himself.
To teach him how to relieve himself on the street, don't miss our video:
My dog eats the feces of her puppies, is it normal?
Once again, this is completely normal behavior. Lactating females ingest the faeces of their pups to keep the nest clean and it is not something bad or negative that we should avoid. Although we can help her keep the area clean, it is advisable to let her show this behavior so as not to cause stressful situations for her. Remember that, especially in the early stages of puppies' lives, excessive handling of the little ones and the nest can cause rejection of the newborns and even high levels of stress.
If you have already managed to identify the cause that explains why your dog eats feces, keep reading, we will give you some tips and tricks so you can start working to solve this problem.
How to prevent my dog from eating poop?
Before showing you the possible solutions to this behavior problem, it will be essential to highlight that there is no single and infallible treatment, since each The case is unique and the guidelines to follow must be adapted to the specific dog and the causes that are causing it. Precisely for this reason, a visit to a veterinarian (to rule out organic causes), an ethologist or a dog trainer may be so necessary to work on this problem properly.
As we have seen in previous sections, why a dog eats another dog's feces or its own is not the same as why a dog eats cat poop. Anyway, if your dog eats feces we show the solution for each case.
Guidelines to prevent a dog from eating poop or excrement
Below is a short list of useful information that may help you remedy this behavior and fix this problem once and for all. Take note and apply the tricks that we show you below to prevent your dog from eating poop:
- Prevent him from eating feces by supervising him regularly (especially if he is a puppy), cleaning with enzyme products and teaching your dog to urinate and defecate outside the home. Remember that it is a self-reinforcing behavior, that is, when eating feces the dog "rewards" itself, so the more feces it can eat, the worse the case will evolve. Prevent him from accessing them!
- Check your dog's diet to make sure the percentage of cereals is low and the percentage of protein is high. If you think it is a low-quality product, do not hesitate to opt for one of the best natural feeds on the market, as they are the most advisable, or start a new style of nutrition with your veterinarian, such as the barf diet for dogs.
- More walks, exercise and wellness Especially if you think your dog is suffering from a behavioral problem or has a lot of accumulated stress, it will be interesting to more walks, between two and three a day, as well as dedicating a few hours to different games: fetch an object, intelligence games, smell games… All of this will help you to distract yourself and improve your well-being, essential to treat the problem and avoid that your dog eats its feces or that of others.
- Avoid punishment, because the dog may be associating the punishment with a response to the attention he demands or he may eat feces to avoid precisely the punishment before your arrival at home. In any case, it is preferable to take all the necessary measures to prevent it from ingesting feces than to punish it, since we will also be generating extra stress and anxiety in the animal, thus aggravating the condition. Finally, point out that the punishment (understood only as a "No") is only effective when it is applied just at the moment of the action, not after. Although the dog shows you signs of submission, he is not being aware of his misbehavior, but adopts this posture so that you finish the punishment
- Keep your area clean Obviously hygiene will not only help to solve this problem but will also make it less likely to suffer from some type of of disease or infection. The hygiene of your space, in the feeder and drinker or in your bed is essential for the life of any pet. Remember to use enzymatic products and completely avoid the use of bleach or ammonia.
- Offer pineapple or zucchini treats Pineapple and zucchini are great foods that many dogs tend to like. Instead of applying positive reinforcement with regular treats, try offering these foods. If you accept them, they will alter the taste of your own stool and it is common for them to stop eating the stool.
- Improve home enrichment by leaving various toys within reach, such as the classic kong, balls, teethers or dental bones. In addition, we can create a relaxed environment with music, lights and other elements so that you do not feel so alone and start showing this behavior out of boredom.
- Distribute his daily ration of food into several feedings so that he feels more satiated and for longer, in this way you will avoid the feeling of hunger, which favors the appearance of coprophagia.
Remember that ingesting faeces, both yours and that of other pets (dogs and cats) or animals, is a dangerous, unhe althy practice that entails risk to your dog's he althThis behavior may be caused by a disease or disorder of the animal itself. Avoid this behavior at all costs by spending time with your dog and going to the vet or canine specialist if you can't find a solution.
