Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

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If cat poop has been part of your dog’s diet, there’s no doubt that you’re flabbergasted by your pup’s strange behavior. You’re probably wondering, “Why do dogs eat poop” and maybe you’re looking for a solution to this bad eating habit. Dog owners who wish to eliminate fresh stools from their dog’s daily diet should read on below to find out how to do this. 

Is it Normal for Dogs to Eat Feces? 

Poop eating is an unwanted behavior that can be seen in some dogs but did you know that this is known as natural behavior and shouldn’t be a cause of concern. According to a study by the Center for Companion Animal Health at the University of California, around 23% of dogs will experience poop-eating habits at least once during their life. In this study, 1500 dogs were observed and around 16% of them were found to eat stool frequently. 

However, the study also confirmed that dogs that are frequent poop eaters also had the following traits: 

• They are described as greedy eaters
• These dogs are more likely to eat dirt
• They’re also likely to eat cat stool
• They often live with other dogs

However, a dog’s age doesn’t seem to affect whether or not they consume feces, but why exactly do dogs eat poop? 

Why Do Puppies Eat Poop?

The practice of eating waste in dogs is known as coprophagia, which is something many of us find disgusting; because of this, pet parents will often try to correct such behavior with their pets. But before we can teach them to stop this habit, we need to understand why it occurs.  

They Seem to Like it 

This is the most likely reason why dogs seem to eat poop; some dogs enjoy the smell, taste, or consistency of feces, and may even consider them to be tasty treats. Dogs may prefer to eat their own feces, other dogs’ feces, or even droppings from different animals like cats and wildlife. 

Puppy Exploration

Because small puppies explore their surroundings using their mouth and noses just like human babies, they will want to see what feces is with their own paws. Mother dogs tend to eat their puppies’ feces as they clean them; at the same time, puppies may also ingest their mother’s poop which may expose them to good bacteria while promoting a healthy gastrointestinal tract. For many pups, they will phase out the habit of eating poop as they get older, so you may not even see your dogs’ poop ending up in their mouths. 

Boredom, Stress, or Anxiety 

Unfortunately, when dogs don’t get enough mental stimulation, they can develop destructive behaviors, like chewing, clawing, or eating items not for consumption. A bored or stressed dog can start chewing on furniture, carpet, or other items at home. In general, eating feces isn’t unnatural behavior in canines, but it isn’t usually caused by boredom or stress. 

However, it’s important to remember that dogs will need enough stimulation and exercise to ensure that they don’t become destructive around the home or develop other bad behaviors.  

Behavioral Issues

There may be times when dogs develop behavioral problems such as anxiety, aggression, leash reactivity, and more. While the act of eating feces itself isn’t considered to be abnormal canine behavior, some dog owners associate this kind of behavior with pica. This refers to a behavioral disorder that leads to a persistent compulsion to eat non-food items.

Pica is a rare condition that shouldn’t be confused with regular poop-eating behavior. Other reasons why dogs would engage in this behavior include OCD and dementia in older dogs.  

Attention Seeking or Avoiding Punishment 

Dogs that experience punishment after they have an accident inside the home may try to clean their poop by eating the evidence. During training, especially potty training, it’s best to use rewards and positive reinforcement instead of punishment to prevent reactions based on fear. Other times, dogs will misbehave purposely to get their owners’ attention or to gain a reaction from their parents; attention-seeking in dogs can take various forms, including poop eating. 

Medical Issues

For many pet owners, seeing their dog eat poop will usually be misunderstood as a sign of medical or health issues. We may wonder if our dog has a problem with its digestive tract, or maybe it needs a grain-free or high-protein diet. Other times, we may question if our dog has intestinal parasites. 

The first thing to consider is that your pooch may have a medical problem that has triggered this weird habit. A few possible medical causes include the following: 

• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Thyroid disease
• Cushing’s disease

It’s also important to remember that coprophagia can be caused by a medical or behavioral condition but it won’t be a common sign of the conditions above; other symptoms will be more apparent. 

Certain Diseases

Some diseases may also increase your dog’s appetite along with the likelihood that it will eat its feces. Such diseases include thyroid gland problems and diabetes. Intestinal parasites may also influence your dog to engage in poop-eating. Certain diseases may also change the texture or smell of your pup’s feces which makes it more appealing to their senses. 

This is why the first thing you should do is visit your veterinarian and ensure that your pet doesn’t have any medical reasons behind their behavior. 

Certain Medications

There are also medications such as steroids that can cause our furry friend to eat its own stool. Benzodiazepines (depressants that prevent seizures and help with sedation like Valium), steroids, and some antihistamines can increase your pup’s hunger and may make it eat its own feces. 

Nutritional Deficiencies

Other kinds of medical conditions such as nutritional deficiencies can also come with consequences, such as coprophagia. When an adult dog starts to eat stool, it may be an indication that they’re not getting the nutrients their body needs. This could be the result of getting a poorly balanced diet, they may not be getting enough food to eat, or they’re suffering from a medical condition that may stop them from absorbing all the nutrients in their food. 

For instance, a dog may have a deficiency in their digestive enzymes, or maybe they have parasites that are leeching off their bodies. Moreover, dogs that eat the feces from a particular dog could be doing this because that particular dog may not be digesting its meals properly, which means that its stool may still have nutrients.  

A dietary deficiency is often associated with canines that ingest poop, although there isn’t scientific evidence to support this. In 2018, a research study from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California examined a wide database of surveys. They didn’t find any correlation between eating poop and a dog’s diet — dietary deficiency isn’t likely in dogs that are fed commercially balanced and complete diets.  

Can Dogs Get Sick by Eating Poop? 

Consuming feces isn’t really bad or dangerous for canines, especially if they prefer eating their own. However, it’s important to remember that infectious diseases and intestinal parasites can spread through eating the feces of other dogs and animals. Moreover, eating poop may cause upset in the gastrointestinal tract in some canines, but this isn’t common. 

Dogs can also experience gastrointestinal impaction if they ingest a lot of cat litter, so be sure to keep them away from the litter box. This is a rare occurrence and is only possible if they eat huge amounts relative to the size of your dog. Finally, dogs that eat poop often may spread bacteria from feces over to their parents through licking.  

How Do I Stop My Dog from Eating Poop? 

According to veterinary experts, eating poop is normal in dogs and is unlikely to cause harm but it is yucky for many of us. Luckily, there are many commercial products and home remedies that can help to stop dogs from eating poop but they aren’t good long-term solutions. As such, limiting access to feces is the best way to get dogs to stop. 

To limit their access, make sure to keep the litter box and yard poop-free; place your litter boxes in places where your pup can’t reach such as a room that can’t be accessed by them or an enclosed box. Giving them plenty of stimulation and all kinds of toys may help to redirect their behavior. Lastly, working with an animal behaviorist or a dog trainer to practice commands to leave feces alone can provide better control over your pups while encouraging normal behavior.   

Conclusion

Your dog’s poop-eating habit may be considered natural behavior, but it’s still a good idea to check out your dog’s health and see if there are underlying medical problems that may be causing this common behavior. It’s also possible for internal parasites to cause poop-eating behavior — the best way to determine if your dog is playing host to these critters is by visiting your vet. Poop eating can be solved through a few adjustments to your dog’s life; limiting their interaction with poop and giving them something that will distract them should be enough to curb the habit.

Sources 

• Vetster.com
• Justfoodfordogs.com
• Thewildest.com

Joe Hughes

196 Posts

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