By: Angie Whitlock, NCHS President
POOP EATING - OR "COPROPHAGIA" TO USE THE SCIENTIFIC TERM.
I have a poop eater; Harley. I know he has a thyroid issue and is on medication for that. But GROSS! If your dog habitually hunts for and eats feces, the behavior gets reinforced each time he or she finds it.
There's nothing worse than your dog eating a fresh piece of poop and then, in response to your shrieks, trying to lick you in appeasement kisses.
Unfortunately for us, coprophagia is common in dogs and natural, normal behavior. Really?!
Dogs may eat all kinds of poop - deer, horse, bunny, even human poop flushing the toilet is important for another reason. Who knew? Cat feces seems to be especially delectable. It tastes good? (No voice of experience here)
Why? WT@#*? Your dog may...
• Eating feces can recolonize the gut with a den cleanliness instinct: mother dogs
different/healthier microflora; dogs may naturally eat puppies; poop to clean the den. get out there possess some instinct to eat feces to improve (or send a kid) with the pooper scooper! their own digestion. add fortiflora or other probiotics to the dog food.
• Stress/ anxiety, boredom, and attention-seeking can cause/contribute to coprophagia. they need play time with you!
• Have intestinal parasites, endocrine pancreatic insufficiency (epi), underfeeding, or poor diet (deprived of needed nutrients), all leading to an instinctive urge to eat novel sources of nutrients. (hey bud! dog food is over here!)
HELP! WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO?
Managing Harley's access to feces is my best bet. At home scoop poop promptly, and out in the world using a leash and a sharp "no" may help.
Prevent the dogs access to feces the best you can to control the behavior. Or do what I do now. No kisses from Harley!!