Coprophagia: Why dogs eat poop
Dog poop is yucky. We humans try to have as little to do with it as possible, though our canine friends do their best to keep it a constant in our lives. It is no wonder that folks may be disturbed when their precious pet actually starts to eat his own poop, or that of another dog or animal (or even his human, but that’s such a horrifying concept I won’t mention it further). Dog that routinely and purposefully eat poop have a condition known as “coprophagia.” There are a number of causes and solutions to this truly disgusting habit, and it’s important that you inform your veterinarian of any poop eating straight away to rule out any serious underlying problems.
Spot might be gobbling up turds for any number of obscure reasons, but this can be broken down into two overall categories: nutritional and behavioral. Identifying the cause of the poop eating may help you put a stop to this condition.
Nutritional
Dog poop comes from dog food, as we have discussed. It follows, then, that a problem with the dog food may also cause a problem with dog poop – namely, it’s being re-eaten. There are several food related reasons for this irksome habit. Your dog may simply be hungry, and lacking any other food source, turns to his dog poop to fill his tummy. If your dog is underweight, work with your veterinarian on developing a diet plan to improve his condition. This may stop the poop eating in its tracks.
If, however, your dog is grossly obese and has a fatty diet, he may be eat poop to compensate. Dogs are weird like that.
Spot may also feel that he should be getting fed more often, particularly if he only eats one meal a day, and ingesting his dog poop may be his way of stating his opinion. Try dividing his portion in half and feeding once in the morning and once in the evening.
Your dog may also be lacking necessary nutrients. Feeding a low quality dog food that doesn’t have a properly balanced diet may be the cause, and such foods often contain un-digestible ingredients that produce a dog poop that looks and smells just like Spot’s breakfast (so really, he’s just having his cake and eating it too). Also have your pet checked thoroughly for parasites and worms which can eradicate his body’s nutrients and also make him exceptionally hungry. Regular deworming and parasite control can help to avoid this situation, but always seek veterinary treatment if such organisms are suspected.
Some dogs also have an underlying chronic condition that causes them to be deficient in certain nutrients. Dogs with intense hunger or no appetite that also eat poop should be taken to the vet immediately for testing, as most of these illnesses can be treated with proper medication and diet. I have known several dogs whose poop eating stopped immediately once the vet diagnosed the problem.
Behavioral
As pack animals, dogs look to their alphas and friends for guidance, including proper conduct. Dogs who see another canine eating poop may pick up the habit, simply because he believes it is the right thing to do. They may even observe you picking up the dog poop in the yard and follow your example. My father’s dog watched a horse lean down to graze and promptly followed suit, though he seemed rather displeased with the whole idea. With you (hopefully!) as the alpha, your dog may simply be trying to get rid of the dog poop in his own way to lend a hand.
In a similar vein, if you become upset when your pup has an accident, he may devour the dog poop in order to hide the evidence. A bitch will sometimes eat her puppies’ defecations to protect them from predators for this very reason (whereas puppies will sometimes eat poop just because it looks and smells interesting). Be sure that you’re not making a big deal out of the poop eating, other than a simple reprimand. An attention seeking dog may thrive on your interesting sounds and bizarre behavior when you discover his secret obsession.
As we talked about in dog poop personalities, some dogs are quite cleanly and fastidious. If your dog lives in a kennel or small, confined area, he may be trying to keep his area tidy. Most dogs don’t like living in their feces anyway, so picking up after Spot often could stop the poop eating and make him happier. If your dog does live outside or away from you for long periods of time, he may eat poop out of stress, boredom, or separation anxiety. Your vet will best know how to advise you in such circumstances, but always be sure Spot has plenty of toys and company as much as possible.
Finally, some dogs are just strange. They may enjoy the taste of poop, or they might just be so curious about everything that even eating poop is a novelty, or they might be so obsessed with picking things up in their mouths that the poop eating is inevitable.
You can mitigate Coprophagia by picking up dog poop after every bathroom break, but finding the issue beneath the behavior will be more satisfactory in the long run. Even the odd dogs who just like poop may be diverted from eating it when presented with other alternatives, like exciting bones and toys. Plus, should the cause be health related, discovering the source could save your dog’s life.
Technorati Tags: dog poop, eat poop, poop eating, eating poop
