While it may be an uncomfortable topic to discuss, it’s crucial to address if you notice your dog engaging in coprophagy – the consumption of feces. It might be shocking to see your dog partake in such a behavior, consuming either their own feces or that of another animal, such as your cat. This seemingly distasteful habit usually has a logical, and most importantly, treatable cause behind it. Reasons can vary from nutritional deficiencies to simple boredom.
Despite its prevalence among canines, it’s important not to ignore this behavior. Be sure to inform your vet if you notice your dog consuming feces. Although coprophagy is a common behavior, it is also associated with serious health issues such as rabies. Moreover, a dog that consumes another dog’s feces can potentially contract intestinal parasites, commonly known as worms.
In the interim, consider implementing home remedies proven to help discourage dogs from eating feces. These strategies are generally effective and provide almost certain assurance to curtail your dog’s unpleasant dining choices.
Wonder Why Dogs Eat Poop? ‘Cause It’s There
Before exploring the plethora of solutions intended to curb your dog’s feces-eating behavior, consider this straightforward and highly effective strategy: Instead of reacting with disgust when you see your dog consuming feces, aim to remove all fecal matter from their environment before they get a chance to reach it.
Regularly cleaning up after your dog or any other pets in the household significantly reduces the opportunities for your dog to engage in this behavior. This proactive approach not only maintains a clean environment but also actively discourages your dog from developing or continuing this undesired habit. It’s a simple, practical, and often the most effective first step in addressing coprophagy.
Dogs Eat Feces When They’re Hungry
Occasionally, the most uncomplicated explanation behind a behavior holds the truth. In this context, if your puppy is consuming his own or the cat’s feces, it could simply be a sign of hunger. To address this, consider increasing the frequency of your dog’s meals. If your typical feeding routine involves providing dog food once a day, try adjusting this to two meals per day for approximately a week, and observe any changes in your pup’s behavior.
A more regular feeding schedule can help keep your dog’s hunger satiated and potentially reduce the likelihood of him resorting to coprophagy. It’s a straightforward adjustment that could significantly alter your puppy’s undesirable habit, replacing it with healthier dietary practices. As always, it’s advisable to consult with your vet before making major changes to your dog’s feeding routine to ensure it’s appropriate for his age, breed, and health status.
Pup Eating Dog Poop? Give Him Space
Dogs generally have a natural aversion to sleeping or residing in close proximity to their bathroom area. If your dog is confined to a small dog run or a cramped laundry room, it’s possible that he might resort to eating feces as a way to maintain cleanliness in his limited living space. In his own peculiar way, he may be attempting to tidy up.
If you observe your pup engaging in this behavior and you suspect that his restricted living area is a contributing factor, you may be able to address the issue by providing him with a bit more living space. Allowing him to roam in a larger area can help create a clearer separation between his living space and the bathroom area, potentially reducing his inclination to consume feces.
By providing your dog with a more spacious and appropriately designated living environment, you can promote a healthier and more hygienic living situation, which may help deter the behavior of eating poop.
Tastier Training Tip if Your Puppy Eats Poop
If your pup actually has the gall to eat his poop while he’s on a leash (doesn’t he know it’s gross?), you need to employ some diversionary tactics to break him of the habit. Take some doggy treats along on the walk, and after your dog does his business—but before he can turn around and eat it—distract him with a treat and have him take a couple of steps forward. While he’s eating his treat, clean up the feces. (This training trick will work on older dogs, too.)
Another Easy Fix: Start at the Source
One effective approach to discourage a dog from consuming their own feces is to utilize a product known as ForBid. This substance, available upon request from your veterinarian, can be mixed into your dog’s regular food. As it passes through the digestive system, ForBid alters the taste of the feces, making it unpleasant to the dog.
The introduction of ForBid to your pet’s diet effectively deters coprophagy by making the feces taste unappealing, which can help your dog lose interest in this unwanted habit. However, before using any product, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian to ensure it’s suitable and safe for your dog’s specific health needs.
How to Make Him Skip a Litter Box Lunch
There probably isn’t a dog around that wouldn’t grab a quick snack from the cat’s litter box if given half a minute. That’s because cat food (and therefore cat dung) is very rich. Your first course of action when faced with this situation is to clean out the litter box right after your cats use it. But it’s not realistic to think you can spend your day standing sentry over the box. Try placing the box where your cats can get to it—in a small nook or behind a piece of furniture—but your dog can’t.