Why DO dogs eat poop? And what can you do to stop them?

Some dogs eat poop because they are hungry.

Some may consider the idea that dogs eat poop inappropriate or gross, but if you have a dog that engages in this unpleasant behavior, I’m sure you want to understand why and, more importantly, what to do to stop it.

Unfortunately, many dogs have this behavior, but have you ever wondered why they eat poop? I know that as an owner, you’re frustrated if your dog eats poop. But when you understand why dogs find poop attractive, you can find the best solutions to overcome this problem.

Reasons dogs eat poop

1. Underfeeding

Firstly, dogs don’t consider eating poop inappropriate. Therefore, if they are hungry, poop becomes an appealing choice.

That’s why you need to make sure your furry friend gets enough food to keep them satisfied. Feed your dog enough for your dog based on his weight. If you notice that your dog is skinnier than usual or if he is continually searching for food, you should feed him more. Otherwise, he will find other food sources – that you may not like. 

2. Enzyme deficiency

To function correctly, dogs need a specific amount of digestive enzymes. Although dogs produce enzymes, the amount is far from sufficient. Enzymes in dog food improve digestion by helping dogs absorb nutrients.

If a dog lacks digestive enzymes, he will instinctively look for sources that contain them. And poop is the handiest source available. Poop is not as toxic as we believe; it contains undigested nutrients.

3. Parasites

If your dog happens to have intestinal parasites, then he will eat poop to satisfy his need for nutrients. Parasites also devour nutrients, so your dog will need to eat more nutrients. Check with your vet to make sure your dog isn’t suffering from parasites or any other nutritional deficiency.

4. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

If your dog has Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, then your dog doesn’t produce enough digestive nutrients. Therefore, even if the food has digestive nutrients, because of this condition, your dog will need more food to satisfy his needs. So if you don’t help your dog, he’ll be more likely to eat poop. 

5. Cleanliness

When a female dog has puppies, she instinctively wants to keep her den clean. And to do that, she wants to get rid of the poop from her puppies. If you don’t help her by cleaning up the poop, she’ll eat it. So if that’s what prompts the problem, remember it is temporary. 

6. Boredom

Dogs get bored just like people do. And when dogs get bored, the dog will find ways to entertain himself. Believe it or not, eating poop can be entertaining for a dog.

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7. Scavengers

It’s time to face it – a dog is a natural scavenger. The scent of poop will entice him, and if he feels like having a snack, poop will satisfy his need.

8. Doggie see Doggie do

Dogs may follow monkey behavior, and they learn exceptionally well by example. Therefore, they can learn a command just by seeing how another dog react. If the dog sees another dog eat something, even if it’s poop, he is more likely to eat poop, too.  

What you can do to stop dog eating poop

1. Clean-up

If this behavior bothers you and you want to prevent eating poop as much as possible, maybe all you have to do is pick up your dog’s poop. If you have other pets, clean up after them, too. That will eliminate the temptation.

2. Keep him busy

If your dog is bored, keep your dog active and entertained. Eating poop can be a dog behavior problem. Consider giving your dog puzzle toys or interactive feeders. Is not that hard and it’s your best friend we’re talking about. Make a playtime schedule to consume all his energy and make sure that he has enough toys and even treats to keep him busy.

Moreover, if you lack time, you might what to consider getting a second dog to keep him company. This could help solve your problem and stop your dog from eating poop.

3. Try a raw diet

As we already established, dogs need a certain amount of digestive nutrients to have proper, healthy digestion. If your dog is eating poop because he lacks digestive nutrients, you might want to try a raw diet.

Why? It’s simple – cooked food is good, great actually, but the truth is that cooked vegetables lose a lot of nutrients in the process. Therefore, adding raw food to your dog’s diet might solve your poop problem.

4. Don’t punish 

This should go without saying, but, just in case, I should remind you that you shouldn’t punish your dog for eating poop. Only you, because you’re a human, consider it wrong, animals don’t.

Therefore, punishing your dog would be the wrong thing because poop can be good for dogs, as we already established.

5. Make the poop unappealing

You can add products and natural ingredients to make poop less appealing. Wondering what to put in dog food to get your dog to stop eating poop? Consider adding items like canned pumpkin, spinach, or pineapple. There also are commercial products that work as a dog eating poop remedy like NaturVet, GNC Pets, or Four Paws.

Putting together a plan

I’m facing the same problem with my dogs, and the first step is to understand the reason behind their behavior and then to find solutions for how to stop eating poop naturally.

As unpleasant as we can find our dog’s food choices, we must remember that they are dogs and have a different perspective about poop. Therefore, punishing your dog for eating poop serves no purpose. Instead, it’s better to address the underlying cause of the behavior.

Becky Holton is a journalist and a blogger at Uk-dissertation.com, Topeduservices.com. She is interested in education technologies, college homework help, bestessays reviews, top essay writing, assignment writing help, buy assignment online, and is always ready to support informative speaking at Bestassignmentservices.co.uk. Follow her on Twitter.

*DogsBestLife.com participates in the Chewy Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to let our site earn fees by linking to Chewy.com. 

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