Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?
Key takeaways:
Eating poop is a normal behavior in young pups that can persist into adulthood.
Dogs can get infectious diseases by eating poop from other dogs and other animals.
It’s best to prevent your dog from eating poop, which includes keeping their space poop-free.
You’re not alone if your dog eats poop — a behavior also known as coprophagia. For humans, eating poop is considered, well, beyond distasteful. So when we observe this in our pets, it can cause feelings of disgust and disappointment. It may not be charming, but catching your pup eating poop can be just a normal part of dog parent life.
In this article, we’ll cover why dogs eat poop, why it can make them sick, and how you can help your pup stop this habit.
Is poop eating an instinct for your dog?
It is actually normal for dogs to eat poop. A mother dog cleans newborn pups with her tongue. Her licking triggers peeing and pooping in young puppies until they develop control over their own bodily functions. If the mother dog doesn’t encourage her puppies to go to the bathroom, they could die.
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Some puppies will eat poop left in the nesting area to help keep their surroundings clean as they develop the ability to move around. This has the added benefit of reducing smells that might otherwise attract predators to the puppies. Puppies are defenseless if their mother is not nearby.
What are some common reasons dogs eat poop?
There are many reasons a dog may eat poop after they’ve left their mother. Sometimes puppies don’t quite outgrow the habit. Young dogs may continue to eat poop in their new homes if owners are not quick to pick it up.
Some other common reasons dogs eat poop include:
Liking the taste
Because it’s fun
Anxiety
Lack of nutrients in their regular diet
Not getting enough dog food to eat
Parasites or underlying health conditions
Some dogs eat nonfood items because they are already sick. Animals can’t tell you when they don’t feel well. Sometimes dogs don’t feel well before you notice they look sick. A change in behavior can be a useful insight into their physical and emotional health.
Poop eating may be more common in households with multiple dogs, but it can happen in single pet homes, too. Some dogs will eat their own feces or poop deposited from other dogs during their walks. Dogs may also enjoy digging for buried treasure in the cat box of their feline housemates.
Can a dog get sick from eating poop?
Even if eating poop is a normal behavior, it can still cause your dog to get sick. Eating poop is a common way that internal parasites are passed between dogs or to dogs from other animals.
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It is also possible for dogs to get other infectious gastrointestinal diseases from eating poop. Bacterial and viral diseases in dogs are often transmitted by contact with infected poop. Some of these diseases are contagious to people, too.
In some cases, your dog may accidentally get a disease from poop. If your dog simply licked their own feet after walking outdoors, they could get sick from walking on a spot where an infected animal pooped earlier. This can happen even weeks after the poop is no longer visible, leaving only contagious particles or parasitic eggs not visible to the naked eye.
When do you need to talk to a vet if your dog eats poop?
It is important to bring in poop samples to your veterinarian for regular analysis and health checks each year. This can help your vet monitor your dog’s diet and nutrition needs as well as check for other digestive issues.
If you notice your dog gets sick or has signs of an upset tummy from eating poop, get in for an appointment with your vet. Signs to look out for in your dog can include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lack of appetite
Not acting like themselves
You should also tell your vet if there are changes in your household — like conflict between family members or home construction projects — that might affect you and your dog. Your dog’s behavior changes can stem from stress in the home.
Also let your vet know if your adult dog has suddenly started eating poop when they didn’t before. This can be a sign of an underlying health condition your vet may want to investigate.
How do you get your dog to stop eating poop?
There are several simple ways to stop your dog from eating poop. The best option is to keep your home and yard clean and poop-free. Go out in your yard to pick up after your dog as soon as they poop. Don’t let your dogs out in the yard until you have done a poop patrol.
When you’re walking outside your yard, use a short, 4-feet long leash to better control your dog’s access to poop. And bring poop bags when you’re on walks to quickly remove poop as soon as it comes out.
You can also change the path you take on walks to one that is less likely to have dog poop or other kinds of droppings. For instance, avoid the neighborhood trail and walk in a commercial zone instead. Another option is to introduce a basket muzzle to prevent your dog from eating any nonfood item during walks.
Inside your home, keep cat boxes out of reach from dogs who like to eat cat poop. Use a baby gate to keep the dog out — cats can usually jump over baby gates easily.
Check on your dog’s diet, too. Sometimes changing dog food can change the flavor and consistency of their poop. It is possible your dog won’t like eating their poop if it’s different. And don’t forget to ask your vet about your dog’s diet to make sure they’re getting the right nutrition and enough calories.
You may see products designed to prevent dogs from eating poop. Products sold to put on the surface of poop to repel your dog often fail. Your dog might take a liking to the substance you apply. Besides, in the time it takes to treat the poop, you might as well just pick it up.
Don’t add food or other items into your dog’s food or poop to try and make it less appealing without first talking to your veterinarian. There are many claims online about these at-home remedies, but some may make your dog sick.
The bottom line
Eating poop is a normal behavior in dogs and many other animal species. But dogs that eat poop are at higher risk for getting a parasite or disease, so it’s a behavior you want to discourage. Clean up poop in your yard and keep your dog leashed and away from poop while you’re out walking. Ask your veterinarian for a checkup or make an appointment with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area for help and advice.
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