Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

Dogs are delightful creatures that bring us joy and comfort in countless ways. However, there is one thing that they do sometimes that often leaves us perplexed and grossed out, eating poop. Yes, you read that right. Poop!

This behavior is common

A dog's eating their poop/feces is scientifically known as coprophagy, and it's surprisingly common among our furry friends. Not all dog owners will experience their dog doing this, but many will. Some dogs will eat their own poop and some dogs will eat other dog's poop (or other animals poop) if they get a chance.

Reasons why dogs may eat poop

You may wonder why your dog eats poop, and if there's something wrong with their diet or behavior. Searching the internet will return various possible theories.

According to a study published in the Veterinary Medicine and Science journal in 2018, coprophagy is a common behavior among dogs. This study titled "The paradox of canine conspecific coprophagy," explores data on the prevalence of this issue, and the effectiveness of various treatments when people were surveyed.

In the article, the dogs that ate poop were more likely to be described as greedy eaters, and more likely found in multi-dog households. Eating dirt and cat poop was also positively associated with dogs that eat poop, as was with breed group with terriers and hounds being the most poop eating. Most of the dogs preferred fresh (no older than 2 days old) poop.

The owners success rate in eliminating the poop eating with behavior type procedures was only 1-4%. When the owners tried food additives or tablets marketed for coprophagy the success rate was only 0-2%.

What can you as a pet owner do to prevent your dog from eating poop

Keep your dog's environment clean and free of feces as much as possible, by picking up your dog's poop as soon as possible after they eliminate in a secure and sanitary way.

Make sure your dog is receiving the best food nutrition for their dietary needs, consult with your veterinarian.

Teaching your dog the "Leave it" command may be helpful.