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interesting or something to play with
c Anxiety and stress such as being left alone/ scared
c Mimicking the bitches behaviour - bitches will eat,
lick and clean up their puppies faeces in order to keep
them and their area clean
c Attention seeking - eating poo will often draw
attention from humans, although mostly negative,
it is still attention that the dog may enjoy or want
Coprophagia is sometimes complicated and can be a
hard habit to break. It often requires a lot of time and
consistency in treatment and/or prevention. Like every
habit the sooner you start working towards rectifying
the problem the easier it will be. Here are some steps
you can take to try to break the habit;
c Firstly, take your dog to a veterinarian for a check-up
to rule out any underlying medical conditions
c Be sure to keep their yard and/or kennel clean.
This means collecting the poo daily if not immediately.
c Worm your dog for intestinal parasites, being
compliant with the dose rate and frequency
c Exercise your dog and provide mental and physical
stimulation to avoid them getting bored
c Feed a good quality food suitable for the age, breed
and size or the dog ensuring that they are getting the
required nutrients
If your dog is eating faeces it is always best to contact
your vet to rule out any possible medical reasons. They
will also be able to give further advice on determining
why and how to best manage the problem for your dog.
Yes some dogs eat poo! It is disgusting and rather gross
to think about, but it does happen.
Coprophagia is the term given to the act of consuming
faeces. It is often seen in puppies but usually stops
as dogs reach adolescence and adulthood; although it
can sometimes continue into later life. There are many
reasons, both medical and behavioural, why a dog
might eat their own (or someone else's) faeces.
These include;
Medical
c Being hungry due to not being fed enough
c An increased appetite due to medical conditions
such as diabetes or a thyroid problem
c Internal parasites (worms) can absorb the nutrients
out of the food leaving the dog hungry and/or
under-nourished
c Enzyme deficiencies, such as exocrine pancreatic
insufficiency, can stop the body from being able to
digest food properly. This can leave undigested and
possibly appealing food matters in the faeces as well
as leaving the dog hungry and/or under-nourished
c Malabsorption or poor nutrient absorption from
the food can lead to the dog being hungry, craving
nutrients and the faeces may seem appealing
c Being fed poor quality food that is hard to digest
and/or leaves them feeling hungry and craving nutrients
Behavioural
c Boredom and just wanting something to do
c Exploration and discovery - they may find faeces
Coprophagia
(a.k.a Poo Eating!)
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