There’s probably nothing more disgusting than watching your dog eat poop. You might be wondering why dogs eat poop and whether it is normal.
It actually is.
The scientific term for dogs eating poop is called canine conspecific coprophagy.
No one knows precisely why dogs do this, but there are plenty of theories—which you’ll learn if you keep reading. We’ve included a section about what to do after your companion eats poop, so you don’t have to worry about gross kisses.
Is It Dangerous for My Dog to Eat Poop?
It can be dangerous for your dog to eat poop, but not for the reasons you think. Poop itself, while gross, is not necessarily hazardous for your dog to eat.
What’s inside of poop is what’s dangerous.
If your dog eats poop from any animal with worms, they could also develop the parasites. Worms leave larvae in fresh poop, so unattended poop from an infected dog has time for the worms to grow. Then your dog eats this old poop, which then infects them.
Various parasites can be found in dog poop, such as:
- Hookworms
- Coccidia
- Roundworms
- Whipworms
Eating poop can also cause some digestive problems, but it shouldn’t be anything too severe unless it’s continuous diarrhea.
Why Dogs Eat Poop: 8 Reasons
As mentioned before, there’s not an exact reason that dogs eat poop, though there are many theories.
1. They’re Copying Their Mom
Momma dogs tend to clean up the poop of their puppies by eating it to ensure that the home (den) is clean. This is normal behavior for new moms. They stop cleaning up after their puppies once they’re weaned. Puppies watch their mom do this and may copy them—even as adults.
2. They Want Your Attention
You know how sometimes kids will do something they know is bad because it gets them attention? Dogs are the same way.
Dogs are smart; they’ll notice when you react strongly to their poop-eating. If they feel you aren’t paying enough attention to them, they may eat poop. They see it as an action that will make you touch them, talk to them, and interact with them.
3. They May Have Anxiety or Want to Avoid Punishment
As odd as it sounds, poop eating could be a sign of anxiety or stress. This stress could come from separation anxiety, being crated, or outside factors.
As for avoiding punishment, when a dog pees or poops in the house, we as pet parents tend to have a negative reaction—it’s understandable. If you or a previous pet parent used punishment or harsh training methods, it can leave a bad impression on your dog.
So in the future, your dog may eat poop because they don’t want to upset you.
4. They May Just Like It
Okay, fair warning, we’re going to share something potentially gross about your dog. They may like the taste of poop. We know, it’s unthinkable! We don’t know why they like the taste; we just know that’s a possibility.
5. They’re Not Feeling Well
Your dog may be sick if they start eating poop in conjunction with other symptoms, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Weight loss
If you’re concerned about your best friend’s health, it’s wise to schedule a visit with your holistic veterinarian.
6. They May Be Following Instinct
Similar to momma dogs, other dogs may be following their instincts with poop-eating to protect themselves from predators and illness. The theory is this idea is passed down from dog’s wolf ancestors who ate poop to protect their pack’s home.
The idea is that parasites in fresh poop wouldn’t have time to grow into parasites—instead, they are eaten as larvae which are harmless until they hatch.
7. They May Have a Vitamin Deficiency
Another potential theory is that there is some sort of vitamin deficiency that’s causing the poop eating. Some experts believe some vitamins or enzymes could be missing from the typical modern dog diet.
This deficiency may lead dogs to try to find these nutrients in poop.
8. They May Have a Food Obsession
The opposite of a picky eater, a food-obsessed dog may eat poop due to their obsession. They may want to eat anything and everything just to have something in their stomach. They could even smell or see undigested pieces of food in poop and decide it’s a delicious meal.
What to Do After Your Dog Eats Poop
So your dog ate poop before you could stop them. What now? After grimacing, stay calm—do your best not to yell at your dog. Instead, calmly tell them “no” and lead them away from the area.
Next, bring them home and clean out their mouth—for your sake as much as theirs. No one wants poop breath to ruin a wholesome cuddling session. You can clean out their mouth in a variety of ways:
- Give them water and food to clean out their mouth
- Wipe the inside of their mouth with a cloth and water
- Brush their teeth (no human toothpaste; it can be toxic)
- Give them a dental stick
Also, be sure to use a positive tone of voice and give praise as you clean out their mouth. This makes the experience less stressful and can help make cleaning their mouth easier next time.
Overall, try not to panic. Your dog’s saliva does have some cleansing properties and will break down any bacteria. You’re just helping speed up the process.
How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Poop
How can you get your dog to stop eating poop? It depends on why they did it in the first place. That’s why we list a variety of methods that can help prevent your dog from eating poop.
1. Limit Access to Poop
They can’t eat what they don’t have access to. Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, make sure to pick up their poop right away. The same goes if you have multiple dogs or even cats. Yes, some dogs are known to eat cat poop.
2.Use Positive Training
Training your dog to stay away from poop is crucial to prevent them from eating it—but just as important is how you train them. You need to make sure you use positive reinforcement, especially if their poop-eating is due to anxiety.
The key to positive training is to be patient and celebrate all victories, no matter how small.
3. Add More Vitamins/Enzymes to their Meals
If the poop eating is due to some kind of nutritional deficiency, it may be time to add a supplement to their diet. Or revamp their diet completely by offering whole-food meals. It’s very easy to add additional supplements to meals.
Read through our supplement guide if you want to learn more about dogs’ health and supplements.
4. Use Taste Aversion Products
There are products you can use on poop to make it smell and taste bad to dogs. Having it taste bad can help reinforce the new habit you’re trying to build. Just make sure to read the ingredients to ensure they’re safe for your dog.
5. Redirect their Attention
Sometimes preventing your dog from eating poop is as simple as redirecting their attention. If they become too focused on poop, get their attention and steer them to something else. You can do this through treats or toys. You can also physically redirect them using their leash.
Poop-Eating Can Be Stopped
As disgusting as it is to discover your dog eating poop, it’s important to remember to stay calm and that it can be stopped. Through training and potentially more nutrients in their meals, you can help them break this bad habit.
If you need more advice about your dog’s habits, make sure to check out our blog!
