Find solution
Why do dogs eat their own poop?

Why do dogs eat their poop?

  • I know this is a gross question! Serious answers only please! Im a new dog owner. She is a black lab that is 10 years old. She is a retired hunting dog. I have had her for approximately a month now and she just ate some poop yesterday! I was grossed out and called her inside to get her to quit. She hasn't done it again that I have seen. What could this possibly mean if anything? Is it just a dog thing? I have always been a cat owner, so this dog stuff is new to me...Once again...serious answers only please.....

  • Answer:

    Lots of possibilities, but here are the main ones: -Learned behavior. Dams clean up after their pups so as not to attract predators. Sometimes the pups model this behavior. -Boredom. They'll entertain themselves. ( If your dog previously lived in a kennel with a run, rather than inside with the family, this may well be the cause--it's now a habit with her.) -Sometimes because they are not being properly nourished. In a 10 year old Lab, I'd consider this possibility. He may not be processing his food well enough and is eating it again when it comes out the other end. A vet visit and some blood work would rule this out or diagnose it. Speak to the vet, in case it really is an issue with how she's digesting her food. Picking up after the dog as soon as she eliminates will solve the coprophagia, but you need to know if she is having digestive issues or if she is on a food that isn't meeting her needs. ETA: No, all female dogs do not eat their own waste. And yes, it can be harmful for a dog to eat poop. It can pick up infections and parasites this way because it won't restrict itself to its own poop--it will eat any poop it finds.

Tina B at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Because they can.

Holly D

its a dog thing- sorry, dear however, if it continues, theres a possibility that hes lacking in a vitamin or nutrient. you can try switching his food, or just adding wet food to what he already eats if its dry.

Some do some don't. It is a dog thing and only they know for sure. What I do know is don't let him lick your face.

Zork

I may be wrong but we always put it down to an exploration thing, like babies who always put everything they find in their mouths. As a puppy, most dogs try to eat their poo, if you nip it in the bud and discourage them from doing it while they're still young most won't continue to do it in adulthood. I remember a friend of mine had a retriever that would eat her own poo even when she was older, there was a couple of things they tried to stop her doing it, the thing that worked in the end for them was a spray that makes it taste very nasty to them (although you'd think it would already) and that puts them off.

Marvel

There are many theories on this. Experts used to believe it had something to do with a vitamin or mineral deficiency, however this theory has been disproved. There is no explanation as to why dogs consume their own feces, however there are ways to make it stop. Don't waste money on Forbid and all that other stuff! Put a small amount of canned pineapple in your dog's food. They don't taste it in their food, but it puts a scent they don't like in their feces, and she'll stop her nasty habit.

Lil Ole Me

What food are you feeding her? Poop eating is a sign of not enough protein in the diet. Check the ingredients of the food you're feeding. Meat (not derivatives or meal, plain meat) should be the first ingredient. There should be as little carbohydrate and grains as possible, as dogs can't digest them. If you don't want to switch foods then try adding a little fresh meat to her meal every day. Chicken legs/wings etc are good and will help to keep her teeth clean too!

Abigail

dogs sometimes eat their own feces because theyre lacking something in their diet...if this continues then maybe you could try her on a higher quality of dog food... if this still doesnt help then you can speak with your vet and he could get you some powder to mix in some food that will make her feces taste bitter so shes not too willing to eat it again..

innocent annie

They need the nutreints in the poop...why don't you try to add some vitamin supplements to her diet. She may also eat dirt or grass, and that is normal. Please answer mine! http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091101100515AACO4nB&r=w

Summer

Its a common thing, mostly in puppies though and they normally grow out of it. Seen as though she is older it could be due to a lack of vitamin/mineral or possibly worms?

Katie

Load more

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.