How to Stop a Dog From Eating Poop
Before you’re completely grossed out by this topic, do know it’s quite common. When discussing this topic during Puppy and Basic Manner group classes, usually 50% of enrolled dogs have or had this issue. This issue can be fixed. However, it takes some trial and error to find out which solution works for your dogs.
Coprophagia is the technical term for stool eating and is usually due to a poor diet. Even dogs that have super healthy diets eat poop.
- Dogs smell undigested food, such as rawhide bits and undigested supplements, in stool.
- Some dogs lack digestive enzymes that break down their food. If a dog is unable to digest his food properly, he possesses ravenous appetites, which can include stool eating. Usually, these puppies or dogs are thin even though they eat a tremendous amount of food. Always rule this out with your vet.
- Diet lacking essential vitamins, minerals and probiotics. In this case, upgrade to a high quality diet, which fills these needs.
How to Stop Coprophagia
100% effective way to prevent stool eating: pick up immediately after each dog poops.
Is This a Behavioral Issue?
For 90% of the dog population, I would say it’s not a behavioral issue. Changing a dog’s diet, including adding taste deterrents, probiotics, digestive enzymes or upgrading to premium dog food usually stops the issue. For persistent coprophagia, immediately picking up fecal matter prevents this behavior from being practiced. Over time, when a behavior is not practiced, it extinguishes (goes away on its own). For some dogs, this may be behavioral, especially if they’re lacking mental and physical exercise.
Don’t feel alone. We’ve all been there. 🙂