Dogs eat their poop for many reasons. They might be hungry, bored, or not have enough nutrients. Dogs sometimes do this because they learn it from their mum when they are puppies.
It would be best to determine which of the four reasons above your dog displays this behaviour. Below will also help you to stop each possibility.
As explained, there is more than one possibility why a dog may eat their poo. Here are the four reasons why.
- Nutrition
- Bad habit
- Hungry
- Boredom
Dog Coprophagia (Faeces Eating)
There are many theories about why dogs eat their poop, and no one precisely knows why they do it, but these theories below are the four common explanations. If your dog eats their poop, try going through the list below one at a time.
1. Lack of nutrition
When dogs lack vitamins of some kind, they feel the need to eat their poop, random I know, but many experts believe this to be one of the reasons why.
How to stop it
If you think your dog is eating their poop because of the lack of nutrition, think about the food you are giving them and whether it is of any decent quality, there are many foods for dogs on the market at present, and they are even dog breed-specific ranges.
2. Bad habit
Your dog could have picked up a poop-eating habit from when they were a puppy, perhaps from their mothers.
How to stop it
Your dog eating poop could be a bad habit inherited from their mother; they saw her doing this when they were young and continued to adopt it in their adult life. The way to avoid this is when they go for poop, don’t hesitate and pick it up straight away, and don’t leave it for them to go back to later to gobble it up. Still, let them do their business in peace, and if they look like they are about to eat it, tell them a firm “leave it”. Show your presence when they are having a poop but don’t impose on them. Then pick it up straight away and put it in the bin.
The phrase “leave it” falls under obedience training. If your dog hasn’t been trained for this command, you should start it with them. This will help no end, especially if your dog is a poop gobbler whilst out walking.
3. Hungry
A dog might be hungry and eating its poop due to hunger.
How to stop it
Provide your dog with three meals a day. You should have good quality dog food; usually, on the back of the package is a weight guide and how much you should be feeding them. If you already do this, I suggest trying four meals daily but with the same daily portion size; just spread it out over four meals.
4. Boredom
Yes, boredom can drive your dog to do silly things, and eating poop is a possibility from it.
How to stop it
Physical and mental stimulation is critical for keeping boredom at bay in dogs. Make sure you walk your dog twice daily; this allows them to see new sights, sounds and smells. Make time for playing together and provide them with toys stimulating their brains.
If all else fails
Make their poop taste terrible; although you would think their poop tastes awful anyway, it is slightly different for dogs. You can apply deterrents on the poop, like red pepper flakes, tabasco sauce or bitter apple. You can also get poo deterrent chews, tablets and in a liquid form that you can apply to their food before they eat it. However, before you do any of the above, you must consult your vet. It’s imperative to do so. When you have the go-ahead from your vet, any underlying medical reasons have been ruled out. It will cause your dog to react to their poop and, in time, put them off eating it altogether. I would use this as your last resort and try the above first.
When is it normal for a dog to eat poop
It is never normal for adult dogs to eat poop; this is considered abnormal behaviour. However, it’s normal for Mothers to eat their pup’s poop to keep their nest area clean and avoid predators’ attraction. Also, mother dogs lick their babies’ rear ends to stimulate them to poop when they are young and clean up the mess by eating it.
Conclusion
I hope this can help you and your dog, and don’t forget if you have tried the above techniques and your dog is still eating their poo, your dog could be suffering from an underlying medical condition. Don’t hesitate to contact your veterinary expert for further advice. Good luck!
