Literally, a preference for poop in your dog’s diet can suck (pardon the pun) for the whole family. Not only is it disturbing to look at, but it’s also not the best source of vitamins and nutrients for your wonderful pooch, and let’s not dwell too long on those lovely kisses your pup wants to give you!
But don’t worry, you’re not alone. A preference for poop is also known as coprophagia and is best treated early on as it may be a symptom of a larger problem such as a nutritional or anxiety issue.
Why do dogs eat poop?
The first question many homeowners ask is why?
Well, there are a few reasons why dogs will develop a liking for their poop. The two most common are that the dog is hungry or trying to clean its area. Other reasons could include an anxious habit or an attempt to copy you when you clean the yard. Each of them can be solved, but it is important that you address them quickly, because more than the social concerns, which can cause you some anxiety, are the health problems associated with the habit.
Dogs that eat poop may have worms or other parasites and to fix them you will need medication.
address the problem
The first thing you should do is treat the matter seriously. Make an appointment with your local vet to have your dog evaluated to determine if he is 100 percent healthy. If your dog has recently picked up the habit, there is likely a trigger, and a possible cause could be worms. Your vet will advise you if this is the case and provide deworming treatment. To prevent your dog from having worms or parasites in the future, ask your vet to recommend a good ongoing prevention treatment.
Once you have the go-ahead from the vet, you will have successfully narrowed down the cause. So it’s likely that your dog is eating poop due to poor diet, boredom, or in some cases, both. Implementation of improvements in both areas can be done at the same time and is recommended.
Dogs need a good balanced diet, so the first thing to do is to make sure your dog is getting all the nutrients it needs. You can do this by feeding your dog a mix of quality wet and dry food. If you’re not sure what a good brand is, ask your vet, pet store, or your dog’s breeder.
At the same time, be sure to keep your area clean and tidy, this is especially important in the immediate area surrounding your space. Try to remove any dog poop twice a day to reduce the chances of your dog snacking.
Whats Next?
If you have both gone to the vet and addressed the issues of feeding and grooming and your dog continues to eat poop, you will have to intensify your intervention. Here are three other ways you can try to help distract your dog from his habit:
1. Try a spoonful of pumpkin puree in your food. Dogs don’t mind pumpkin, but when they digest it it will make their poop look less appetizing.
2. Take a spray bottle of water to the park or on a walk. If your dog starts eating dog poop, spray him well at the same time he says “NO” loud and clear.
3. Use basic commands with your dog. If your dog is well trained in other ways, you can try getting him to sit and then sprinkle the poop with bitter apple or cayenne pepper. This will make the poop less attractive, but your dog will also start to learn that when he goes to eat poop, you are actually giving him a break where he can’t run, walk, or play.
As with all dog training, it will take time for your dog to learn to associate action with punishment, but it will work if you are consistent. However, the best advice is to keep a clean yard. If the poop isn’t there, your dog won’t be able to eat it.