![]() If you make a pumpkin puree for your pup, you can use it as a filling for a Kong toy or spread for a licki mat. You can serve these cubes to your dog or you can blend them with a little bit of water to make a puree for your pooch. Commercial supplements are also sold online and in pet stores specifically to discourage coprophagia.If you’re going to feed your dog fresh pumpkin, carve out the flesh and cut it into small cubes and boil, steam or roast them until they are tender. Dogs usually don’t mind the taste of these ingredients when mixed with their regular food, but pumpkin and pineapple are thought to make feces less appealing. Some experts recommend adding pumpkin or pineapple to a dog’s food to discourage poop eating. With consistency and time, the behavior may cease. Then, reward them with something they enjoy, such as a treat or praise. If you catch your dog in the act, gently pull them away from the poop. One way to train a dog to stop eating poop is to keep them on a leash to prevent them from eating it. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TRAIN A DOG TO STOP EATING POOP? If a dog is only eating their own poop, they most likely have no underlying medical problem and simply needs the training to stop the behavior. Still, trying to diagnose the underlying cause of coprophagia is important because it can help you treat your dog more effectively. While it may be gross, it’s not necessarily dangerous. Some dogs simply have an unusual interest in ingesting their own or other dogs’ feces. Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that affects dogs-particularly puppies-and has been linked to coprophagia.īut poop eating isn’t necessarily a sign of illness.ĭogs regularly do things that leave their human companions scratching their heads, like chasing their own tails or drinking from the toilet. Intestinal parasites like whipworms, hookworms, and roundworms can cause digestive problems in your dog that could lead them to eat their own feces. COULD A MEDICAL PROBLEM BE TO BLAME FOR THE BEHAVIOR? And if a health problem is suspected to be the cause of your dog’s coprophagia, your vet can help. Your veterinarian understands your dog’s health background and can recommend the best food based on that knowledge and your pet’s age, weight, or other factors. The best dog food for a puppy may not be best for a senior dog. Some pet owners swear by homemade dog food for optimal health, and others use a particular brand of high-quality commercial food with good results. If your pet has a deficiency in any of these nutrients, they may engage in coprophagia to try to get those missing nutrients from their own feces or the feces of other animals.įeeding your dog nutritional food is essential, but dogs’ needs vary. These vitamins and minerals are found in a balanced diet with sufficient calories.ĭogs fed an inappropriate diet (a vegetarian diet, for example) may eat feces because they’re looking for essential nutrients such as protein and fat. Vitamins A, C, and E help support healthy skin and immune function, while iron is essential in hemoglobin production. For instance, they need protein to build muscle and energy and fat for energy storage. ![]() Other dogs will eat the feces of other animals to obtain nutrients they need that are missing from their regular diet.ĬAN DIETARY PROBLEMS CONTRIBUTE TO THE BEHAVIOR?ĭogs need certain nutrients in their diet to stay healthy.Your dog may be exhibiting this behavior to cope with being left alone or moved into a new environment. In some cases, coprophagia may stem from stress and anxiety.Some dogs eat their own feces because they’re bored and lack stimulation.Poop eating may be related to survival instincts but can also stem from boredom, stress, or a craving for certain nutrients. It’s helpful to look at the problem from both a wellness perspective and a behavioral standpoint. Brodie Animal Hospital is here to help you make sense of this puzzling behavior. They wonder what they can do to stop the behavior known as coprophagia (copro = feces phagia = eating).Īlthough coprophagia is troubling and gross from the human perspective, the motive behind your dog’s behavior may not be. Dog owners typically react with disgust and confusion when they see their beloved pet eating their own poop or the poop of another dog or animal.
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