Why dogs eat poop?

Coprophagia, the act of eating feces, is relatively common in dogs and can be a puzzling and unpleasant behaviour for owners to witness. While coprophagia can be frustrating, it’s usually manageable once you identify the cause. It could be due to a nutritional deficiency, boredom, stress, or a medical issue.

Lack of essential nutrients: One of the most common reasons dogs eat feces is due to a nutrient deficiency, especially in their dietary fiber, vitamins, or minerals. Dogs may instinctively eat feces to try to get nutrients that their body is lacking. This is especially common in dogs that are on poorly balanced or low-quality food.For example, if a dog is not absorbing nutrients well due to a malabsorption issue or an improperly balanced diet, they might turn to feces as a source of undigested food particles.

Dogs with intestinal parasites (like worms) or bacterial overgrowth in their gut may eat feces in an attempt to re-ingest undigested food that they may not have absorbed the first time through their digestive system.Enzyme deficiencies or pancreatic insufficiency can also lead to incomplete digestion, causing the dog to seek out and eat feces for additional nutrients.

Attention-seeking behavior: Sometimes, dogs will eat poop simply because it gets a reaction from their owners. If a dog notices that eating feces makes their owner react (even negatively), it might continue the behavior to gain attention. Stress and anxiety: Dogs under stress, such as those with separation anxiety or dogs that are left alone for long periods, may engage in coprophagia as a self-soothing behavior. The act may provide comfort or help alleviate feelings of anxiety.Boredom: Dogs that don’t get enough physical or mental stimulation can become bored and engage in strange or undesirable behaviors, like eating feces. A lack of exercise, playtime, or mental enrichment can contribute to coprophagia.

In some cases, eating feces can be an instinctual behavior rooted in survival tactics. In the wild, mothers will often eat the feces of their puppies to keep the den clean and to avoid attracting predators. While domesticated dogs don’t need to do this, some may carry on the behavior as a natural instinct.Dogs may also eat feces as part of their cleanliness behavior, especially if they are in an environment that seems unclean or if they were raised in a situation where feces was present in their living area.

It is not uncommon for puppies to engage in coprophagia as they explore their world. Puppies are naturally curious, and putting things in their mouths is part of their developmental process. Some puppies might eat feces simply out of curiosity or because it’s an easy source of stimulation.Puppies might also eat feces as part of learning boundaries, and this behavior often decreases with time and proper training.

Medical Conditions

• Parasites: As mentioned, intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, or tapeworms can lead to malnutrition, causing the dog to eat feces to compensate.
• Diabetes: Dogs with diabetes may have increased hunger or cravings due to unstable blood sugar levels, and this could lead them to eat feces.
• Cushing’s Disease: A condition where the body produces excess cortisol, which can lead to increased appetite, digestive issues, and possibly coprophagia.

Fecal Attraction Due to Other Animals

• Dogs may eat feces from other animals (especially from other dogs, cats, or even rabbits). This can be due to the smell of the feces, especially if the feces are rich in undigested food particles.
• In some cases, dogs might even eat the feces of other dogs in the same household, particularly if they are highly bonded or have a competition for food resources.

How to Stop a Dog from Eating Feces:

If you want to stop your dog from eating poop, here are some strategies that can help:

Improve Diet and Nutritional Balance-Make sure your dog is eating a high-quality, balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs. This may help resolve any deficiencies that are causing them to eat feces.If the issue persists, talk to your vet about adding digestive supplements or probiotics to improve digestion.

Provide Mental and Physical Stimulation-Boredom and stress are often underlying causes of coprophagia. Make sure your dog has enough exercise, playtime, and enrichment (like puzzle toys, sniffing games, and obedience training).Providing interactive toys and more time outdoors can help burn off energy and reduce anxiety.

Clean Up Feces Immediately-The most effective way to prevent coprophagia is to prevent access to feces. Pick up your dog’s stool immediately after they go to the bathroom so that they don’t have a chance to eat it.