Of all the repulsive habits our dogs have—drinking from the toilet, rolling in swamp muck, licking their butts— nothing disgusts most owners more than pondering why dogs eat poop. Their motivation may not be to gross us humans out, but it certainly does. So much so, in fact, that poop eating is often a reason people try to rehome a dog or even opt for euthanasia. There are ways to discourage the habit. Although not deeply probed by science — there are few studies on it — poop eating is a relatively common phenomenon.
In a study presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior annual conference, researchers led by Dr. Benjamin Hart, from the University of California, Davis, found that:. The study consisted of two separate surveys sent to about 3, dog owners.
Dogs evolved as scavengers, eating whatever they found on the ground or in the trash heap, so their ideas of haute cuisine are somewhat different from ours.
For some species, such as rabbits, eating fecal droppings is a totally normal way of obtaining key nutrients. If you encounter your dog in the act of snacking on feces, resist the temptation to yell and chase him about. The better strategy is to distract your dog with a squeaky toy or running in the opposite direction- either game is more fun and will distract your dog from the fecal treat nearby.
You must be logged in to post a comment. Call Now! November 13, Blog , Dogs , Pets , Veterinarians. One Comment. Kurt Mychajlonka, DVM. Post Views: 13, One comment. Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. For the latter if switching foods has not helped , you will have to have your puppy checked by a veterinarian.
If a puppy is left alone for a long time, he may find relief from boredom by playing with and eating his own stool. Stress will often drive puppies , and adult dogs, to eat their own stool. This may be stress from being brought into a new home, or from any number of reasons. You should not cause further stress for your puppy by punishing him for eating his stool. On the same note, your puppy may simply not be getting enough to eat during the day.
Puppies are growing, and most need to be fed two to three times a day. Four times a day may be recommended for puppy toy breeds to avoid hypoglycemia. If you have any questions regarding how much or how often you should feed your puppy, talk to your veterinarian. If you have already responded several times to this behavior by getting upset, your puppy may continue to do it just for the reaction.
Even though the reaction is a negative one, all the puppy knows is that he is getting extra attention from you. Conversely, your puppy may eat his stool to avoid negative attention. Finally, some puppies, and adult dogs, will eat their own stool just because they like to do it.
There is not always a satisfying explanation for the behavior, and the best you can do is to try to prevent your dog from doing it by distracting him and getting the stool picked up as quickly as possible. Both puppies and adult dogs may eat faeces for attention, as it often provokes a dramatic response when done in front of their owners. Although it may be difficult, try not to over-react. Accompany your dog to toilet, on the lead if necessary. When they have finished encourage them to move away from the poo — distract them away with a tasty treat or toy.
If there is someone else with you, ask them to pick up the poo once your dog is distracted, or if you are at home or alone on a walk with your dog, scatter some treats on the floor or hide a toy for them to find whilst you go back and pick it up.
Similarly, older dogs can suddenly start eating faeces due to stress. Consider the household and routine; could anything have changed to upset your dog?
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