Dog Eating Poop (Coprophagia)

Coprophagic dogs, or dog that eats poop, can be divided into two groups: those that eat their own stools and those that eat the stools of other animals. Knowing which group your dog falls into will help you determine the most suitable course of action.

Read More >

Introduction

Coprophagia is the name given to the habit of eating feces, commonly referred to as “poop-eating.” Pica is a similar disorder and is defined as the craving for unnatural articles of food. Both coprophagia and pica are quite common in domestic dogs, as well as in other species. Coprophagic dogs can be divided into two groups: those that eat their own stools, and those that eat the feces of other animals. Cat stool seems to be particularly tempting to dogs – especially the kitty-litter coated “tootsie rolls” that come from the indoor litter box. Knowing which category a dog fits into will help determine the most suitable course of corrective action. For example, dogs that primarily eat the feces of other animals are unlikely to be cured of that habit by adding dietary supplements to their own food that are designed to make their own feces unpalatable.

Why Dogs Eat Poop (Coprophagia)

There is no established medical reason why some dogs eat their own feces or the feces of other animals. Most coprophagic dogs do not have an identifiable physiological or gastrointestinal basis for their behavior. To the contrary, they tend to be well-nourished, fed a high-quality diet and show no evidence of any nutritional, vitamin or mineral deficiency that would account for their propensity to eat fecal material. They also typically do not have a pancreatic

How to Stop Dogs that Eat Poop (Coprophagia)

It is important for owners to know that coprophagia is not an abnormality in the canine world. Many dogs eat their own stool and/or the stool of other animals in the wild. Domesticated dogs have no idea that this behavior is considered to be somewhat revolting by most people. Trying to communicate to a dog that eating poop is inappropriate is almost impossible. Owners of dogs with this habit should have their pets thoroughly evaluated