Why do Dogs Eat Poop

The act of eating poop or feces is known as coprophagia (in humans) and why do dogs indulge in such a behavior does not have a solid answer. It may also be noticed that dogs not only eat their own feces but also those of other animals like cats, horses or the likes. One thing to take a note of is, that dogs do not understand the difference between feces and proper food. For them, feces might be just another type of food, which when smell remotely edible, can be eaten. It is not an unsocial or uncivilized behavior for them. However, it is disheartening for the dog owners to see their dogs eating their own poop.

Probable Reasons Behind Poop Eating Habit of Dogs

First of all, diet of dogs mostly consists of meat-based food. So, it is obvious that their feces will also bear similar characteristics of meat and this may be one of the reasons they may fancy poop.

Another theory is related to inadequate nutritional status or even a deficiency in pancreatic enzymes. So, such factors give rise to certain imbalances, which is corrected by the dog instinctively eating poop.

It may also be noticed that dogs would eat the feces of their pups, until they are about the age of 4 or 5 weeks old. Eating poop is a habit which is a common trait of most animals in the wild. The mother eats the feces of her young ones, lest the scent will attract the attention of predators. This is because, feces of the babies have a different odor due to the high milk content and this might easily lure predators to track them. So, by eating the feces of the young ones, the mother is making them as scent-free as possible and keeping them protected when she is out for hunting. So, this theory can also be linked to our domesticated dogs, which might get indulged in such kind of 'a wild animal thing'!

To find a stray dog eating excreta of other animals or his own, might have a logical explanation to it. As I mentioned the word, 'Stray', meaning homeless and far from getting good or even enough food. So, in order to ward off their extreme hunger, they easily tend to recycle the feces of their own, cats or other animals.

Boredom or lack of attention may also trigger such a behavior in dogs. Being isolated for a long time or with no means to kill time, might drive the animals to find any sort of entertainment in whatever form, such as eating poop! Some people might resort to banish their dogs from the house for a while or punish them for such behavior. However, it is not a rational approach, as it only worsens the matter, making the animals resort to this activity more than ever.

Unlike humans and dogs, felines do not have the ability to utilize nutrients other than proteins. That is the reason why a cat's food are mostly high in protein. Now, due to certain factors, the cat might not be able to consume all the protein and so, there are chances that the excess amount may be present in the feces. These protein-based feces might be appealing to dogs who may be deprived of proteins in their own-diet, as mentioned above.

Allelomimetic behavior is also considered to be a possible cause of your dog eating feces. This behavior is seen in social animals, who try to mimic the same thing done by you or other animals nearby. So, it might be the case that your dog might get used to seeing you picking up poop of his own or a cat for that matter, on a regular basis. So, it is very certain that the dog, with an intention to help you, might as well, carry the same in his mouth.

Solution

Not much can be done, but there is a possibility that consulting a qualified vet may be able to control this behavior, through some behavioral modification or drug therapy.

Adding papaya extract to the dog's food helps in digestion and makes the poop less attractive to dogs. Feeding the dogs with pineapples, help in making the feces unpalatable thus, aid in curbing the habit.

If possible, then train the dog to excrete on demand, so that, you can get rid of the feces immediately. You can also take your dog for a morning walk or an evening walk, so that he can defecate outside. However, look for places which might not be a source of annoyance to your neighbors or other people.

Keep an eye on your pet while you are outside. If he is heading towards any poop, jerk the leash and pat him or reward him for not doing so. If you can induce this habit in your pet, then this habit will soon be done away with.

And to conclude with one last tip, if you also have a pet cat, ensure that you hide the litter box and prevent your dog from access to any such things.