Dogs eating poop, a behavior known as coprophagia, can be quite distressing for pet owners. So, let us discuss “Why does my dog eat poop?” and how you avoid your furry pals to refrain from that behaviour.
Why does my dog eat poop?
Nowadays, dog parents’ most frequent questions include: Can dogs eat poop? Do dogs eat their own poop? And if yes, then why do dogs eat their own poop?
The answer to these questions includes many reasons which lead dogs to eat their own poops. Continue reading to learn all about dog poop eating behavior and its solution.
Reasons: Why Dogs Eat Poop?
There are two primary reasons why dogs eat poop… either due to medical causes or due to psychological factors.
1. Medical Reasons Dogs Eat Poop
Several medical conditions might be causing your dog’s poop-eating habit all of them are listed below:
- Enzyme deficiency
- EPI – Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- Other malabsorption diseases like IBD
- Parasites
- Diabetes or thyroid problems
- Medications
- Underfeeding
Enzyme Deficiency
Dogs nowadays usually consume a diet that is less varied than the diets of wild dogs previous to domestication. They suffer due to this since their bodies do not always produce enough digestive enzymes to digest their meals properly. An excellent digestive enzyme may be added to your dog’s diet to help him get the most out of his food and maximize his nutritional absorption.
Exocrine Pancreative Insufficiency (EPI)
Dogs suffering from EPI are unable to digest and absorb nutrition, necessitating the use of supplements to prevent them from progressively starving. Weight loss, voracious appetite, poop eating, and diarrhea are all symptoms of this condition. EPI is a severe condition, but it may be controlled with diet and nutritional supplements.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Because of the persistent inflammation caused by IBD, your dog may have difficulty absorbing nutrition, leading him to turn to poop-eating. Chronic diarrhea and unexplained weight loss are two further signs to watch out for.
Parasites
Parasites deprive your dog of essential nutrients. It is possible that you may need to take a fecal sample to your veterinarian for testing in order to determine whether your dog has worms or other parasites such as giardia or coccidia.
Other Factors Contributing to Poop Eating
Diabetes and hypothyroidism can both cause your dog to feel hungry at the same time. Steroids, for example, might cause your dog to become hungry. If your dog lacks nutrients, he will search for them in his feces. When a canine is suffering from a nutritional deficit, he will consume poop.
If your dog is losing weight, he probably requires additional nutrition. Ensure to feed fresh, balanced food to ensure that your pet receives a diverse range of nutrients.
2. Behavioral Reasons for poop eating
There may be underlying behavioral issues underlying your dog’s poop-eating habit. Here are a few possible explanations for this natural occurrence.
- Puppies & Cleanliness
- Scavengers
- Boredom
- Trying to get attention
- Stress
- Punishment
- Learning from other dogs
Puppies and cleanliness
Dogs who are pregnant or nursing their pups will clean up after them by eating their feces, and it is conceivable that other dogs may do the same. When it comes to puppies, they are curious about everything, even the feces in their environment. As puppies get older, it is common for them to outgrow this tendency.
Fun
Dogs investigate the world around them using their sense of smell, and fresh feces smells fantastic to them. If your dog is bored, he may seek amusement in the form of eating poop.
Attention
It is possible that if you respond negatively to your dog eating excrement, he will eat more to attract your attention. If your canine companion has accidents in the house, on the other hand, he may consume his own feces out of fear of getting into problems with the law.
Stress
When dogs are stressed, they may resort to eating things they shouldn’t be eating… such as feces. Also unfortunate is the fact that dogs originating from puppy mills are raised in stressful conditions and haven’t had adequate nutrition. So they may develop a habit of eating their feces to provide themselves enough nourishment.
Avoid Punishment
You may find your dog attempting to conceal evidence by eating his own poop after being reprimanded for pooping in the house on more than one occasion.
Mimicking
Dogs pick up on things from other dogs. Consequently, if your dog observes another dog enjoying a tasty poop snack, he may interpret it as a high-value reward and decide to give it a try.
How to stop dog from eating poop?
You may attempt to stop your dog from eating feces once you’ve determined if the behavior is due to medical or behavioral issues.
These are some techniques that help you to stop your dog from eating poop:
Emphasize Cleanliness
Cleaning up after your poop-eating dog is especially important if he lives with other dogs and cats. Maintain the cleanliness of your kitty’s litter box as well. This will reduce the likelihood of poop-eating chances.
Maintain Your Dog’s Activity and Stimulation
Boredom may be avoided by engaging in regular physical and mental activity. Playing games, providing toys, participating in agility or other sports, and keeping your dog’s brain and body busy and engaged are all excellent methods to keep your dog happy and healthy. This is especially true for working breed dogs, which require a lot of stimulation to remain happy.
Feed Your Pet A Healthy Diet
Real food, rather than a processed commercial diet, can significantly impact a child’s development. Provide your dog with a well-balanced, whole-food meal that includes raw meat whenever possible to ensure that he receives the nourishment he requires. Ensure enough organ meats in your diet since they are exceptionally high in vitamins and minerals. Prebiotics and Probiotics, along with digestive enzymes, should be included to ensure that he receives the maximum benefit from his meal.
Don’t Make Poop A Big Deal
Pinning your dog’s tail for eating feces isn’t a productive punishment. Don’t make a big deal about him consuming feces. Take care of your dog’s digestive system and ensure that he receives enough exercise and mental stimulation.
All the above-mentioned solution helps your dog stop eating their poop which ultimately solves the common question of pet parents, i.e., How to get the dog to stop eating poop?
Conclusion: Why does my dog eat poop?
When given enough time, patience, and detective work, you can figure out why your dog is eating feces and teach him to quit doing so. But keep in mind that feces eating is considered natural behavior!
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