When dogs eat faeces, why do they do it?

Dogs are lovable and entertaining for everyone since they are goofy, cute, and entertaining. Yet it’s common knowledge that they engage in some heinous behaviour. Sounds familiar: they eat their own faeces in the garden, then run up to give you a huge wet kiss. Though we claim our love for our pets is limitless, this practise may lead you to doubt our words. The thought of that makes my stomach turn.

Many dogs find faeces, even if it isn’t their own, to be an appetising treat. Just about any animal, whether it’s a cat, a horse, a sheep, or a cow, will devour it.

Unexpectedly, the consumption of faeces is vital to the survival of several species. Rabbits, for example, do this so that they can get the vitamins and minerals they need. On the other hand, we don’t feel the need to spoil our dogs with any additional. Regrettably, consuming animal waste is a common practise among dogs, and our furry companions likely do not view this as anything other than a source of entertainment. The term “coprophagia” describes this practise in the scientific community.

There is no one explanation for why our dogs enjoy chowing down on their own waste, but there are a few options that we will investigate.

Why do dogs eat poo?

A tasty treat

Your dog probably just thinks it tastes good, which is probably the last thing you want to hear about their revolting habit. Animal waste has a very potent odour, which attracts dogs due to their innate preference for items that have a strong fragrance. On top of that, dogs appear to like it if it’s fresh, meaning it’s no older than two days.

Some canines have a strong preference for cat faeces, finding it particularly appetising. Watch cautious if you have a feline companion. It may take some time and patience to break the habit if your dog eats poop because he or she finds it tasty, but we’ll go over some strategies for doing so in more depth below.

Curiosity

You bring your new, little, cute, and cuddly dog home. Until, of course, they venture outdoors and discover the delicious flavour of their own excrement. Don’t find it endearing any longer.

Puppies, especially fresh ones, require time to sniff about and mouth things to learn more about their environment. Dogs are notoriously mischievous, and we’ve all experienced firsthand how they’ll try to devour anything—furniture, sticks, even human flesh—if given the chance.

Puppies frequently outgrow their penchant for eating faeces by the time they reach the age of 9 months. In contrast, many adult dogs continue this behaviour.

Hungry, or just greedy

Perhaps your dog is just really hungry, in which case you will need to feed him or her more often during the day. Maybe they go too long without eating and decide to reward themselves with a little bite in the fresh air.

On the other hand, it’s also possible that your dog is simply really greedy. However, many dogs are incredibly gluttonous and will eat anything they can get their paws on, and this includes their own waste. This behaviour is more common in dogs who are motivated by food and are always on the prowl for a free meal.

Like mother like daughter…or son

Puppies are highly impressionable and start modelling their behaviour after that of their mothers.

As a litter of puppies can make a lot of waste, the mother may resort to eating it in order to keep the environment clean. This is a behaviour that frequently follows a puppy from the litter into its new home. When her puppies have found new homes, the mother can keep up the routine as well.

The prevalence of this practise also appears to increase with the number of dogs in the household. Younger puppies are more susceptible to peer pressure, so if you already have a dog in the house with a bad behaviour like this, your new puppy could pick it up too.

Boredom

One possible explanation for your dog’s odd and maybe offensive behaviour is that they are experiencing strong emotions. The simplest explanation is that your dog is bored and thinks that eating its own waste is a tasty treat. It’s analogous to when we humans munch on something for no other reason than boredom.

Attention seeking has been connected to feelings of boredom. Dogs are intelligent, and they may have figured out that eating their own faeces can get your attention. Your dog’s goal in doing this is to get your attention, in any way possible.

Stress and anxiety

When you leave the house, your dog may feel frightened and stressed out; one way they cope with this is by eating their own faeces.

This is a symptom of separation anxiety, which manifests itself in your dog’s demeanour and emotions when you’re not around. Symptoms include trashing the place, barking, screaming, and even chowing down on their own waste.

When left alone, your dog may experience considerable suffering due to separation anxiety, making it a problem that has to be handled. If your dog has moderate separation anxiety, you may be able to treat the problem with a simple change in routine. In certain cases, a dog’s behaviour may be modified with the aid of a behaviourist, while in others, a gradual increase in the amount of time the dog spends alone, along with lots of positive reinforcement, will be sufficient.

Fear

Your dog may be eating poop to avoid getting disciplined, albeit this is a less likely explanation. If a puppy is disciplined for having an accident in the house during house training, it may associate faeces with negative emotions. Your dog destroys the evidence and protects himself from reprimand by eating the faeces before you can find it.

Medical concerns

It’s important to have your dog checked out if it’s started eating poop recently, especially if it’s accompanied by other unusual or recent symptoms.

Parasites, diabetes, thyroid issues, and Cushing’s disease are just some of the diseases that can cause an increased hunger, making it easier to consume anything, including faeces.

Get immediate medical attention to rule out serious health issues.

Can it be harmful?

If your dog just eats a small amount of their own waste, it probably won’t be a health problem.

Hookworm, roundworm, and giardia are just a few of the parasites that may be found in the faeces of afflicted dogs. As a result, if your dog indulges in this odious treat, they may bring home some unwanted guests.

Potential problems occur, however, because many dogs who eat their own faeces also love eating the faeces of other animals. Consumption of worming medicine found in livestock manure might be dangerous for your dog.

So, it is suggested that you strive to discourage your dog’s habit of eating everything it finds on its excursions if it is a habit he has developed.

But, when your dog actually like the flavour, this becomes a lot trickier to accomplish. It may be very challenging to persuade a dog, the vast majority of which likely like eating.

How do I stop it?

As previously said, it’s not easy to break your dog of this behaviour. While there may be no easy way to stop your dog from eating faeces, there are a number of options available.

Dog faeces should be removed from the garden as soon as possible. If their access is restricted, their usage will drop.

It will take some time and work to teach your dog the “leave it” command. If your dog is smart enough to figure this out, it will not only help him kick the habit, but it will also protect him from picking up any harmful substances when out on a stroll.

Good recall training or using a diversion to get your dog’s attention off the poop on the ground are also good options.

Large amounts of praise and rewards if they disregard it.

Don’t get angry, fuss, or take your dog away from scavenging. This will simply pique their interest and encourage them to seek your attention in other ways. In the end, it only piques their curiosity to try to gain access.

Many of our canine and feline companions share your dog’s disgusting habit of considering faeces to be edible. Yet, that’s not a desired pattern of conduct. Obviously, you’ll want to take measures to avoid this.

It will take time, patience, and vigilance to break the habit, but you and your dog will both enjoy it much more once you’ve succeeded!