Of all the less-than-pleasant habits our canine companions can develop—from drinking from the toilet to finding the stinkiest things to roll in—coprophagia, or the eating of poop, often ranks as the most repulsive to dog owners. While it’s certainly not a behavior designed to offend us, discovering your dog has a taste for feces can be incredibly off-putting. In fact, the disgust is so strong that some pet parents even consider rehoming their dogs or, tragically, requesting euthanasia upon learning about this habit. But if you’re dealing with a dog who engages in this behavior, take heart. There are effective strategies, rooted in behavior modification and supported by helpful products, that can significantly reduce or eliminate poop-eating.
Is Eating Poop Normal Dog Behavior?
The scientific term for poop eating in dogs is coprophagia (pronounced kop-ruh-fey-jee-uh). While it may seem utterly bizarre to us, there are both behavioral and physiological reasons why some dogs consider feces a palatable snack. Although coprophagia hasn’t been extensively studied, it’s recognized as a relatively common behavior in dogs. A study presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior annual conference by Dr. Benjamin Hart and his team at the University of California, Davis, revealed some interesting statistics:
- A significant 16% (or one in six) of dogs were classified as “serious” coprophagics, meaning they had been observed eating poop at least five times.
- A larger 24% of dogs in the study (one in four) were seen eating poop at least once.
Dr. Hart suggests an evolutionary explanation, stating, “Our conclusion is that eating of fresh stools is a reflection of an innate predisposition of ancestral canids living in nature that protects pack members from intestinal parasites present in feces that could occasionally be dropped in the den/rest area.” In simpler terms, a dog’s inclination to eat poop might be hardwired into their DNA.
The study, based on surveys from around 3,000 dog owners, highlights that while repulsive to humans, poop eating isn’t necessarily “gross” from a dog’s perspective. Dogs evolved as scavengers, consuming whatever they could find, whether on the ground or in refuse piles. Their definition of “good to eat” is simply different from ours. Animal behaviorist Steven R. Lindsay, in his “Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training,” proposes that coprophagia could be a survival behavior developed to cope with periods of starvation. When food was scarce, being selective wasn’t an option.
Is It Normal for Puppies to Eat Poop?
For some species, like rabbits, eating poop (specifically, a special type of night feces called cecotropes) is a vital way to obtain essential nutrients. Preventing this in rabbits can lead to serious health issues and hinder the development of young rabbits. Fortunately, dogs don’t require poop for nutritional needs. However, coprophagia is considered a normal and natural behavior for dogs during certain life stages.
Mother dogs instinctively lick their puppies to stimulate urination and defecation, and they also clean up after their pups by consuming their feces for approximately the first three weeks postpartum. Puppies, too, naturally engage in poop eating. They might eat their own poop (autocoprophagia), the poop of other dogs (allocoprophagia), as well as feces from cats and other animals. Some dogs develop a particular fondness for horse manure and goose droppings.
While eating their own poop is generally not harmful to puppies, consuming feces from other animals can pose health risks. If the stool is contaminated with parasites, viruses, or toxins, puppies can become ill. In most cases, this puppy behavior is a phase that diminishes by the time they reach around nine months old.
Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? Potential Causes of Coprophagia in Adult Dogs
If your adult dog suddenly develops a poop-eating habit, it’s crucial to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health issues. Several medical conditions can trigger or exacerbate coprophagia, including:
- Parasites: Intestinal parasites can lead to nutrient malabsorption and increased appetite.
- Medications: Certain drugs, like steroids, can increase appetite as a side effect.
- Malabsorption Syndromes: Conditions that hinder nutrient absorption in the digestive tract.
- Diabetes: Diabetes can cause increased hunger and changes in appetite.
- Cushing’s Disease: This hormonal disorder can also lead to increased appetite.
- Thyroid Disease: Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can impact appetite.
- Other Conditions: Any condition that significantly increases appetite could potentially contribute to coprophagia.
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Diets lacking essential nutrients or sufficient calories might also drive dogs to seek out alternative food sources, including feces.
Beyond medical causes, environmental stress and behavioral factors can also play a significant role in dogs developing coprophagia.
Isolation and Confinement
Studies have indicated that dogs kept in isolation, such as in kennels or basements, are more prone to poop eating compared to dogs who live closely with their families. Lack of social interaction and environmental enrichment can contribute to behavioral issues like coprophagia.
Confinement to Small Spaces
Spending excessive time confined in small spaces can also trigger poop eating. This is often seen in dogs rescued from overcrowded shelters where they may have been forced to live in unsanitary conditions.
Anxiety and Punishment
Anxiety, particularly stemming from harsh or punishment-based house training methods, can be a significant factor. The theory suggests that dogs, fearing punishment for accidents, might eat their own poop to eliminate the evidence. However, this often backfires, leading to more punishment and creating a vicious cycle of anxiety and coprophagia.
Attention-Seeking Behavior
Dogs are intelligent and quickly learn how to get our attention. Even negative attention is still attention. If a dog discovers that eating poop elicits a strong reaction from their owner, they might repeat the behavior simply to get noticed. Therefore, it’s important to avoid overreacting if you catch your dog in the act.
Inappropriate Association With Food
If feeding areas are located too close to elimination areas, dogs might develop an association between the smell of food and feces, blurring the distinction between the two. Feeding and potty areas should always be kept separate.
Smelling Poop on Their Mothers
Animal behaviorist Steven R. Lindsay suggests that puppies might become confused by smelling fecal odors on their mother’s breath after she cleans them. Additionally, mothers might occasionally regurgitate food mixed with puppy feces. This “appetitive inoculation” could potentially predispose puppies to developing coprophagia later in life.
Living With a Sick or Elderly Dog
In multi-dog households, a healthy dog might consume the poop of a weaker or incontinent dog. This behavior is hypothesized to be linked to an instinct to protect the pack from predators by eliminating scent trails that could attract unwanted attention.
How to Stop a Dog From Eating Poop: Effective Strategies
Veterinarians and dog behaviorists have identified several effective strategies to address coprophagia. The most appropriate approach often depends on the underlying cause. Dogs eating poop due to a medical condition will require different interventions compared to those doing it for behavioral reasons like stress or anxiety. Consulting your veterinarian is the crucial first step, especially if the behavior is new or persistent. They can also refer you to a certified veterinary behaviorist if needed.
Vitamin Supplements
A long-held theory suggests that nutritional deficiencies might drive coprophagia, particularly deficiencies in B-vitamins. Research supports this idea, with studies in 1981 showing that fecal microbial activity synthesizes thiamine, a B-vitamin. Other studies have pointed to other potential nutrient gaps. Therefore, a high-quality dog multivitamin might be beneficial.
Enzyme Supplements
Modern commercial dog food, often higher in carbohydrates and lower in meat-based proteins and fats than ancestral canine diets, might contribute to digestive enzyme deficiencies. Some dog owners have found success using digestive enzyme supplements, some of which include papain, a digestion-aiding enzyme.
Taste-Aversion Products
The principle behind taste-aversion products is to make feces taste as unappealing to dogs as it is to us. These products, available as treats or powders added to food, aim to make the resulting poop less palatable. Common ingredients include monosodium glutamate, chamomile, pepper-plant derivatives, yucca, garlic, and parsley. It’s essential to treat all dogs (and cats, if applicable) in the household with these deterrents to ensure all poop is equally unappetizing to the coprophagic dog. Bitter-tasting sprays applied directly to feces are another option.
Environmental Management and Training
Often, the most effective long-term solution involves a combination of environmental management and consistent training. This includes having the right tools for feeding, training, and managing your dog’s environment.
- Keep the Environment Clean: Regularly clean your dog’s living area, including the yard, to eliminate access to poop.
- Supervise Walks and Clean Up Immediately: Closely supervise your dog during walks and pick up their poop immediately to prevent them from eating it.
- Train “Leave It” and “Come”: These essential commands are invaluable. Practice “leave it” to teach your dog to ignore poop and “come” to redirect their attention. A helpful exercise is to train your dog to come to you for a treat immediately after they poop, rewarding them for focusing on you instead of their feces.
- Manage Cat Litter Boxes: If you have cats, keep litter boxes clean and inaccessible to your dog. Consider self-cleaning litter boxes or using dog gates to restrict access.
Interesting Facts About Dogs Who Eat Poop
Coprophagia in puppies is often considered a part of their exploratory phase as they investigate the world around them. While many puppies simply sniff and examine poop, some will try to mouth everything, including feces.
Interestingly, dogs are less likely to eat soft stools or diarrhea. They are primarily attracted to hard, formed stools. Frozen poop, in particular, seems to be a highly desirable “treat” for some coprophagic dogs. Dr. Hart’s study revealed further intriguing insights:
- Coprophagia is more prevalent in multi-dog households. Only 20% of dogs in single-dog homes exhibited poop-eating habits, compared to 33% in homes with three or more dogs.
- Dogs who eat poop are not more difficult to housetrain than other dogs.
- Female dogs are more prone to coprophagia, while intact males are the least likely to engage in the behavior.
- A significant 92% of poop eaters prefer fresh poop, only one to two days old.
- 85% of dog poop eaters will not eat their own feces, preferring the poop of other dogs.
- Greedy eaters, dogs prone to stealing food, are more likely to be poop eaters.
If you’re concerned about your dog’s poop-eating habit, consult with your veterinarian. Understanding the underlying reasons for coprophagia is key to finding the most effective solution and taking the necessary steps to help your dog break this unpleasant behavior.
