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Question:
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"Why does my dog eat poop? And how can I stop this habit?"
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| Answer: |
As revolting as it is to humans, eating feces is fairly common among dogs. Horse manure is irresistible to dogs. Cat droppings are considered a tasty snack by many. Some dogs like to eat dog poop--their own, their friends and their neighbors.
Coprophagia (the official term for eating feces) is not usually a sign of illness. In fact, mother dogs normally eat the feces of their young pups. Once in a great while, it can be a symptom of malnutrition: the dog could be having trouble digesting and absorbing its food, or the food itself may be the problem. If your dog's coprophagy is caused by malnutrition, you will probably see other symptoms: loss of weight and energy; a poor hair coat; or greasy, loose stools, for example. But most of the time, eating feces is simply a bad habit. It's also unhealthy: it can transmit intestinal parasites, contribute to tooth decay, and cause stomach problems.
Some people recommend sprinkling your dogs food with a veterinary product called ForBid or a meat tenderizer like Accent or Adolphs. The monosodium glutamate in these products supposedly makes a dogs own stool too bitter to be snack-worthy. Pouring Tabasco sauce on your dogs feces is another favorite tactic. But I don't favor these tactics.
Training your dog not to eat feces--his or another dogs--is a better idea. Think about it: even if Accent discourages your dog from eating her own stool, it won't make her any less interested in another dog's stool. Of course, training is hard work. The first rule: always clean up after your dog; get to her poop before she can. The second: keep her on a leash until she's trained. The third: every time your dog makes a beeline for a pile of poop, say "Leave it!" in a stern voice and move her along. Reward your dog with a small treat whenever she listens to you. If you're not making headway, or just want some help, find a good trainer.
One hopeful note: if your dog is a puppy, coprophagy may just be a passing phase. Still, you should use the training tips suggested in the paragraph above. If you don't discourage puppy coprophagy, a passing phase could become a habit.
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