It’s a habit that can make even the most devoted dog owner cringe: coprophagia, or the act of dogs eating poop. While revolting to us, this behavior, though common, isn’t aimed at disgusting their human companions. In fact, for some dogs, poop eating is a relatively normal behavior rooted in their biology and evolution. Discovering your dog engages in coprophagia can be upsetting, sometimes even leading owners to consider rehoming or, tragically, euthanasia. However, if your dog is a poop-eater, take heart. There are effective strategies, from behavior modification to readily available products, to discourage this unpleasant habit.
Decoding Coprophagia: Why Dogs See Poop as Food
Coprophagia (kop-ruh-fey-jee-uh) is the scientific term for the consumption of feces. While the exact reasons behind canine coprophagia are still being researched, both behavioral and physiological factors contribute to why some dogs find excrement appealing. Despite being under-studied, poop eating is a widespread phenomenon among dogs. A study presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior conference, led by Dr. Benjamin Hart at the University of California, Davis, revealed some intriguing statistics:
- Serious Poop Eaters: 16% of dogs, or approximately one in six, were classified as “serious” coprophagic, meaning they were observed eating poop five or more times.
- Occasional Poop Eaters: A significant 24% of dogs in the study, nearly one in four, were seen eating poop at least once.
Dr. Hart’s research suggests a fascinating evolutionary basis for this behavior. He theorized, “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.” Essentially, eating fresh poop might be an instinctive behavior inherited from their wild ancestors, serving as a way to eliminate parasite eggs from their living spaces, thereby protecting the pack.
From a dog’s perspective, poop isn’t as repulsive as it is to humans. Dogs evolved as scavengers, their diets historically consisting of whatever they could find – from discarded scraps to carrion. Their concept of palatable food differs drastically 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 overcome periods of food scarcity. When food is scarce, survival instincts may override pickiness.
Is Eating Poop Normal Dog Behavior, Especially for Puppies?
In some species, like rabbits, coprophagia is not just normal, but essential for nutrient absorption. Rabbits consume their own droppings to obtain vital nutrients. However, dogs don’t require poop consumption for nutritional needs. Yet, eating poop is considered a normal and natural behavior during certain life stages.
Mother dogs instinctively lick their puppies to stimulate elimination and meticulously clean up puppy feces by eating it for roughly the first three weeks post-birth. Puppies also naturally explore their world orally, and this includes coprophagia. They might engage in autocoprophagia (eating their own poop), allocoprophagia (eating poop from other dogs), and even consume feces from cats and other animals, with horse manure and goose droppings often being particular favorites.
While puppies eating their own poop isn’t inherently dangerous, consuming poop from other animals can pose health risks. Animal stool can be contaminated with parasites, viruses, or toxins. Fortunately, in most cases, puppy coprophagia is a phase that typically subsides by the time they reach around nine months of age.
Why Do Adult Dogs Develop a Poop-Eating Habit?
If your adult dog suddenly starts eating poop, a veterinary consultation is crucial to rule out underlying medical conditions. Several health issues can trigger coprophagia, including:
- Parasites: Intestinal parasites can disrupt nutrient absorption and increase appetite.
- Malabsorption Syndromes: Conditions hindering nutrient absorption in the digestive tract.
- Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes can lead to increased hunger and unusual eating habits.
- Cushing’s Disease: This hormonal disorder can also cause increased appetite.
- Thyroid Disease: Thyroid imbalances can affect metabolism and appetite.
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Diets lacking essential nutrients or calories might drive dogs to seek nutrients elsewhere, including in feces.
- Certain Medications: Steroids and other drugs can increase appetite as a side effect.
Beyond medical reasons, environmental stressors and behavioral factors can also contribute to coprophagia in adult dogs.
Environmental and Behavioral Triggers for Coprophagia
- Isolation: Studies indicate that dogs kept in isolation, such as in kennels or basements, are more prone to coprophagia compared to dogs living closely with their families. Lack of social interaction and environmental enrichment can contribute to stress and abnormal behaviors.
- Confinement in Small Spaces: Prolonged confinement in restricted spaces can induce stress and lead to poop eating. This is often observed in dogs rescued from overcrowded shelters or puppy mills.
- Anxiety and Punishment: Harsh punishment or negative reinforcement during house training can paradoxically trigger coprophagia. Dogs might eat their poop to eliminate evidence of accidents, fearing punishment, creating a negative cycle of anxiety and poop eating.
- Attention-Seeking Behavior: Dogs are intelligent and quickly learn how to get their owner’s attention. Eating poop, with its guaranteed strong reaction, can become an attention-seeking behavior. It’s vital to avoid overreacting, as any attention, even negative, can reinforce the behavior.
- Inappropriate Association with Food: If feeding areas are located too close to elimination areas, dogs might confuse the scent of food with feces, blurring the lines between what is food and what is not. Feeding and potty areas should always be kept separate.
- Maternal Influence (Appetitive Inoculation): Puppies might develop a taste for poop through association with their mothers. Lindsay suggests that puppies can be confused by fecal odors on their mother’s breath after she cleans them. In some cases, mothers might regurgitate food mixed with puppy feces, creating an “appetitive inoculation” that can predispose puppies to coprophagia.
- Living with Sick or Elderly Dogs: A healthy dog might consume feces from a weaker or incontinent dog within the household. This could be linked to an instinct to protect the “pack” from predators by removing scents that might attract unwanted attention.
Effective Strategies to Stop Your Dog from Eating Poop
Addressing coprophagia requires understanding the underlying cause. Dogs eating poop due to medical issues will need different solutions than those doing it for behavioral reasons. Consulting your veterinarian is the first and most crucial step, especially if the behavior is new or persistent. Your vet can rule out medical conditions and potentially refer you to a veterinary behaviorist if needed.
Dietary and Supplement-Based Solutions
- Vitamin Supplements: A long-held theory suggests that nutritional deficiencies, particularly Vitamin B deficiencies, can contribute to coprophagia. Supplementing with a high-quality dog multivitamin might be beneficial. Research has shown that fecal microbial activity synthesizes thiamine (Vitamin B1) and other essential nutrients.
- Enzyme Supplements: Modern canine diets, often higher in carbohydrates and lower in meat-based proteins and fats compared to ancestral diets, might lead to digestive enzyme deficiencies. Digestive enzyme supplements, including those containing papain (a digestion-aiding enzyme), have shown promise in reducing coprophagia in some dogs.
Taste-Aversion Products
- Poop-Eating Deterrents: These products work on the principle of making poop taste and smell unappealing to dogs. Deterrent treats and powders are available containing ingredients like monosodium glutamate, chamomile, pepper-plant derivatives, yucca, garlic, and parsley. For these to be effective, all dogs (and cats) in the household need to consume the deterrent so their feces become equally unpalatable.
- Bitter Sprays: Bitter-tasting sprays can be directly applied to feces to make them less attractive to dogs.
Environmental Management and Training
- Maintain a Clean Environment: Regularly clean your dog’s living area, including the yard, to eliminate access to poop.
- Supervise Walks and Immediate Poop Removal: Closely supervise your dog during walks and immediately pick up and dispose of their feces.
- “Leave It” and “Come” Training: Strengthening “leave it” and “come” commands is essential. Train your dog to come to you for a treat immediately after defecating, redirecting their attention from the poop to a positive reward.
- Cat Litter Box Management: If you have cats, keep litter boxes clean and inaccessible to your dog, either by using dog-proof litter boxes, self-cleaning litter boxes, or restricting access with dog gates.
Interesting Facts About Dog Coprophagia
- Puppy Exploration: Coprophagia in puppies is often part of their exploratory phase and usually resolves with age.
- Preference for Hard Stools: Dogs typically prefer hard, formed stools over soft feces or diarrhea. Frozen poop seems to be particularly enticing to some.
- Multi-Dog Households: Coprophagia is more prevalent in multi-dog households. Studies show a higher incidence in homes with multiple dogs compared to single-dog homes.
- House Training and Coprophagia: Poop-eating dogs are not necessarily harder to house train than other dogs.
- Gender Differences: Female dogs are more prone to coprophagia, while intact males are the least likely to exhibit this behavior.
- Freshness Matters: Dogs that eat poop prefer fresh feces, only one to two days old.
- Not Their Own Poop: Most coprophagic dogs prefer feces from other dogs and avoid eating their own poop.
- Greedy Eaters: Dogs who are prone to stealing food might also be more likely to eat poop.
Conclusion: Understanding and Addressing Coprophagia
While the habit of dogs eating poop is undeniably unpleasant for owners, understanding the underlying reasons – from evolutionary instincts to potential medical or behavioral triggers – is key to addressing it effectively. If your dog is eating poop, consulting your veterinarian is the crucial first step. With a combination of veterinary guidance, dietary adjustments, taste deterrents, environmental management, and consistent training, you can often successfully manage and reduce coprophagia, creating a healthier and more pleasant experience for both you and your canine companion.
