Why do dogs eat poop?
That is one of the grossest things our pets do! Dogs seem to relish getting in the cat box, then breathing poop breath on us and licking us with poop tongues. Why would any living thing eat poop? Some living creatures like insects and worms make their living doing just that. There is some nutrition in waste, which is why it is used for fertilizer. In fact our domesticated pets’ food has such a high percentage of grain in it that the poop must still smell nutritious. Several of my dogs always thought so.
I think dogs eat poop for several reasons:
- They are puppies, and don’t know any better
- They are neurotic, bored, scared, or really lonely
- It smells good to them
Even if you know why dogs eat poop, it is still nauseating to us. So here’s the second question: How do we stop them from doing this? Let’s take the list one at a time:
- Puppies will usually grow out of it, but don’t let it become a habit. Clean up after them when they go.
- If you have a herding dog, varmint killer, or other breed with a busy personality, they need a friend or to stay busier. Dogs that are afraid of everything sometimes eat poop because they are suffering from anxiety disorders. Some dogs are just weird.
- This is the one that you can sometimes control. There are products made of papaya and pineapple enzymes called papain and bromain that will digest the protein to make the poop taste “worse.” You’d have to be a dog to be on the panel to test that product. They come in packages or pills that you add to the food. It should work…unless your dog likes fresh papaya or pineapple.
- Another great way is to walk your pet soon after eating to in order to keep them busy and keep the poop out of the yard.
Even though this is gross, it’s one of the most frequent questions I get asked.
Bone App… No my little saying really doesn’t really work here!
Healthful dog food and good nutrition go hand in hand (paw in paw?). I’ve spent more than 10 years treating common dog ailments, obesity and chronic conditions through nutrition. You can find out more about my new book Dog Dish Diet: Sensible Nutrition for Your Dog’s Health.
