Why Dogs Eat Poop (Coprophagia)

Dog Breeds

Introduction

Poop eating (coprophagia) is common among many animals, not just dogs. The cause, or why some dogs eat stool is not well understood. Some dogs may have a genetic susceptibility to coprophagia. In these cases, stool eating starts around four to 10 months of age and generally stops after one year.

Read More >

Causes of Copraphagia

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 enzyme disorder that might account for their atypical behavior. Accordingly, owners of dogs that eat poop should not blame themselves for causing the problem by feeding a poor diet, or for any other reason. Only a small minority of dogs with this disorder have a medical reason for their compulsion.

It seems that some dogs simply develop a taste for poop, often starting when they are puppies. One of the most common causes of coprophagia is thought to be an extension of the oral phase that all puppies go through. When a puppy enters the teething and mouthy phase, they will eat and chew on almost anything, poop included. Most dogs eventually lose interest in eating stool as they mature, but for some reason other dogs continue to have a compulsion to eat poop, even when they grow up.

Although there are no reported scientific studies examining the role that texture and odor play in corpophagia, there are many anecdotal reports of dogs eating the feces of cats, horses, cows, deer, rabbits, and other animals. Scent and texture certainly may play a role in this behavior; many dogs find the feces of other animals appealing to roll in, as well. Corpophagia is entirely normal in lactating bitches with young puppies, at least until the pups start eating solid food.

Other possible causes of coprophagia are confinement in excessively close quarters and confinement in a crate or kennel for prolonged periods of time. Scolding for housetraining accidents may cause a dog to eat the evidence of his or her accidental indiscretion in order to avoid punishment. As distasteful as it may sound, chewing and digesting ones own stool may be just another way of passing time for a bored or unengaged dog. Some dogs may have a genetic susceptibility to coprophagia, although no particular heritable connection has been established.

Although uncommon, there are some medical conditions that can cause or contribute to coprophagia. Dogs on long-term corticosteroid therapy have been reported to be predisposed to eating feces, as have those with diabetes mellitus, heavy intestinal parasite loads, Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) and/or hyperthyroidism. Dogs may eat their own stool if they are unable to properly digest their food, a condition called malabsorption syndrome. This can be caused by a nutritional deficiency in the amount of fiber, bulk or specific nutrients in the dog’s diet. Eating feces in those cases is thought to be an instinctive way of trying to pass food once more through the digestive tract, in an attempt to squeeze out additional calories.

Some dogs have a psychological reason for compulsive disorders. Coprophagia may be one manifestation of this condition, whether it involves eating one’s own feces or that of other animals.

If an owner notices that his dog is eating fecal matter, he should have her checked out by a veterinarian, to make sure that the behavior is not caused by some underlying medical condition. Coprophagic dogs have an increased risk of developing internal parasite infections, by ingesting parasite eggs or larva passed in the fecal material of other animals.

Dog Training Tips