Why does My Dog Eat Poop, and How do I Stop it?

Dogs have some pretty weird habits—drinking toilet water, rolling in dead things, licking their butts—but nothing grosses dog owners out more than discovering their dog eats poop. While dogs don’t do it to disgust us, it definitely turns our stomachs! In fact, finding out a dog eats poop is often one of the reasons people consider rehoming their pet or even asking for them to be put down.

But if your dog eats poop, don’t worry! There are ways to stop this behavior, like using training techniques, and there are even some affordable products that can make poop less appealing to your dog. So, there’s hope!

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

There’s a fancy term for dogs eating poop: coprophagia (pronounced kop-ruh-fey-jee-uh). There are both behavior and health reasons why some dogs think poop is a tasty treat. Even though scientists haven’t fully studied this, it’s actually pretty common for dogs to eat poop.

In a study presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior conference, researchers led by Dr. Benjamin Hart from the University of California, Davis, found:

• 16% of dogs (about 1 in 6) are “serious” poop eaters, meaning they were caught eating poop at least five times.
• 24% of the dogs in the study (about 1 in 4) were seen eating poop at least once.

Dr. Hart explained that eating fresh stools might be an instinct that dates back to wild ancestors, who ate poop to protect their pack from parasites that could be in the feces. Basically, it’s in a dog’s DNA!

The study included surveys from about 3,000 dog owners. While poop eating seems disgusting to us, it’s not that gross to a dog. Dogs evolved as scavengers, eating anything they could find on the ground or in trash. So, their standards for what’s edible are pretty different from ours.

Animal behaviorist Steven R. Lindsay also suggests that coprophagia might be a survival behavior that helped dogs cope when food was scarce. In other words, when you’re hungry, you don’t get to be picky.

Also Read: What to do If My Dog is Aggressive Towards Other Dogs?

Is It Normal for Dogs or Puppies to Eat Poop?

For some animals, like rabbits, eating poop is actually a normal way to get important nutrients. In fact, if you stop rabbits from doing this, they can develop health issues, and baby rabbits might not grow properly. Luckily, dogs don’t need to eat poop for nutrition. However, it is a normal behavior for dogs at certain stages of life.

For example, mother dogs will lick their puppies to help them go to the bathroom, and they’ll also eat the puppies’ poop to keep things clean for the first few weeks after birth. Puppies, too, might eat their own poop (called autocoprophagia) or even poop from other dogs, cats, or other animals. Some dogs are especially fond of horse manure or goose droppings!

It’s usually not harmful for a puppy to eat their own poop, but if they eat poop from other animals, it can cause health problems if the poop has parasites, viruses, or toxins. Thankfully, this behavior typically fades by the time the puppy turns nine months old.

Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

If your adult dog suddenly starts eating poop, it’s a good idea to check with your vet to rule out health issues like parasites, medications (like steroids), or conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, or Cushing’s Disease. Nutrient deficiencies or poor diets can also make dogs more likely to eat poop.

Sometimes, poop-eating can be triggered by environmental stress or behavioral issues.

• Isolation: Studies have found that dogs who are kept alone in kennels or basements are more likely to eat poop compared to dogs who are close to their owners.
• Small Space Confinement: Dogs that spend too much time in small spaces, like crowded shelters, can develop poop-eating habits.
• Anxiety: Sometimes, poop-eating happens if a dog is punished harshly during house training. This can lead to them eating their own poop to hide it, but the punishment just makes the problem worse.
• Attention-Seeking: Dogs might eat poop just to get a reaction from you. And since it’s an easy way to get attention, it’s important to avoid overreacting when you catch them in the act.
• Confusing Food with Poop: Dogs who eat near their poop might confuse the smell of food with the smell of feces. That’s why feeding and water bowls should be kept separate from potty areas.
• Mother’s Influence: Puppies can sometimes get confused by smelling feces on their mom’s breath after she cleans them up, or when a mother regurgitates food mixed with puppy poop. This can lead to the puppy developing a taste for poop.
• Living with a Sick or Older Dog: In some cases, a healthy dog might eat the poop of a sick or elderly dog, especially if the weaker dog has fecal incontinence. This may be linked to an instinct to protect the pack from predators.

Also Read: How do I Stop My Dog from Being Afraid of Thunderstorms?

How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Poop?

Veterinarians and dog owners have found a few helpful strategies for dogs that eat poop. It’s important to figure out why a dog is eating poop, as the solution depends on the cause. For dogs with medical issues, the treatment will be different from dogs who eat poop because of stress or behavioral problems. If it’s a persistent issue, it’s a good idea to consult with your vet. They can also recommend a behavioral expert if that’s the root of the problem.

Vitamin Supplements for Dogs Eating Poop:
There’s a long-standing theory that dogs eat poop because they’re missing something in their diet, like certain vitamins. A dog multivitamin might help, especially if the dog is deficient in Vitamin B. Research has shown that a lack of this vitamin could be a factor. For example, a study in 1981 found that fecal microbes produce thiamine, a B-vitamin.

Enzyme Supplements for Dogs Eating Poop:
Today’s dog food has more carbs and fewer meat-based proteins and fats than what their ancestors ate. Some people have found that digestive enzyme supplements can help. Products with papain, an enzyme that aids digestion, have shown positive results.

Taste-Aversion Products for Dogs Eating Poop:
The idea behind taste-aversion products is that certain tastes and smells can be just as unpleasant to dogs as stool-eating is to us. Some products, like deterrent treats or powders you add to food, can make poop less appetizing. Many of these products include ingredients like MSG, chamomile, yucca, garlic, and parsley. It’s important that all the dogs and cats in your household eat the deterrent for it to work. Some owners also use bitter sprays on the poop itself to make it taste worse.

Managing the Environment for Dogs That Eat Poop

One of the best ways to stop your dog from eating poop is through training and managing their environment. This includes having the right tools for feeding, training, and walking your dog.

Keep your dog’s living space, like the yard, clean and free of poop so there’s nothing for them to eat. When you’re out on walks, keep an eye on them and clean up their poop right away.

Focus on training cues like “leave it” and “come.” A simple exercise is teaching your dog to come to you for a treat as soon as they’ve finished pooping. This helps your dog get in the habit of looking for a tasty treat from you instead of focusing on the poop.

If you have a cat, make sure the litter box is clean and out of your dog’s reach. You can even buy self-cleaning litter boxes that help keep dogs away, or use a dog gate to block access to the box.

Also Read: How to Stop a Dog from Digging in the Yard?

Facts About Dogs Who Eat Poop

When puppies eat poop, it’s usually just part of their natural curiosity as they explore the world. Most puppies are happy just sniffing around and checking out the smells, but some will try to put anything they can in their mouths—even poop!

Here’s something strange: Dogs tend to avoid soft or runny poop and prefer hard stools. Frozen poop, in particular, seems to be a real treat for dogs who eat poop. In a study, Dr. Hart made some interesting observations about poop-eating:

• Poop eating is more common in multi-dog households. In homes with only one dog, 20% had the habit, while in homes with three dogs, 33% did.
• Dogs who eat poop are just as easy to house-train as other dogs.
• Female dogs are more likely to eat poop, while intact males are the least likely.
• 92% of poop eaters prefer fresh poop that’s only one or two days old.
• 85% of dogs who eat poop won’t eat their own, only poop from other dogs.
• Greedy eaters—dogs that steal food—are also more likely to eat poop.

If you catch your dog eating poop, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet to figure out what’s going on. Understanding why your dog is eating poop can help you find the right solution to stop it.