| Bean Town Dogs A Service Guide for New England Dogs |
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Many Reasons why Dogs eat Stool
Stool eating (also known as "coprophagia") is common among many animals, not just dogs. It
is not well understood why some dogs eat stool. Some dogs may have a genetic susceptibility
to coprophagia. In these cases, stool eating starts around four to 10 months of age and
generally stops after one year.
Coprophagia may be caused by boredom, or it may be an attention-getting device. Similarly,
some dogs may eat their stool in order to please their owner (i.e. poop and scoop). In some
cases, the problem may have a medical basis, such as a pancreatic insufficiency or a
malabsorption syndrome, two conditions which affect the proper digestion of food.
Some dogs may eat stool in an attempt to recover or retrieve an unabsorbed nutrient in the
faeces. For example, dogs fed diets high in starch and carbohydrate and low in fat and fibre are
more likely to eat stool, as are dogs whose diets are primarily dry food or of poor quality.
Coprophagic dogs can be divided into two groups: those that eat their own stools and those
that eat the stools of other animals. Knowing which group your dog falls into will help you
determine the most suitable course of action. For example, dogs that eat the stools of other
animals are unlikely to be cured of this habit except by preventing access to stools.
Coprophagia is very difficult to correct. First, you must try to clean up stools promptly from the
environment. This will make it less likely for your dog to get at them. Prevent Boredom by
increasing the activity level as needed (e.g. more play or training time, increased running time).
You should also make sure you are providing a well-balanced, highly-digestible diet that meets
their dog's nutritional needs. Switching to a high-fat, fibre, and protein diet, and low-
carbohydrate may prove helpful.
Some immediate quick-fixes that have proven successful in the past include sprinkling
unseasoned commercial meat tenderizer or a commercial preparation (FORBID™) on the dog
food, or feeding canned pumpkin. Adding vegetable oil to the diet at a dose of 15-ml/ 4.5 kg body
weight may also help. Your veterinarian should be consulted if your pet is coprophagic.
Stool eating (also known as "coprophagia") is common among many animals, not just dogs. It
is not well understood why some dogs eat stool. Some dogs may have a genetic susceptibility
to coprophagia. In these cases, stool eating starts around four to 10 months of age and
generally stops after one year.
Coprophagia may be caused by boredom, or it may be an attention-getting device. Similarly,
some dogs may eat their stool in order to please their owner (i.e. poop and scoop). In some
cases, the problem may have a medical basis, such as a pancreatic insufficiency or a
malabsorption syndrome, two conditions which affect the proper digestion of food.
Some dogs may eat stool in an attempt to recover or retrieve an unabsorbed nutrient in the
faeces. For example, dogs fed diets high in starch and carbohydrate and low in fat and fibre are
more likely to eat stool, as are dogs whose diets are primarily dry food or of poor quality.
Coprophagic dogs can be divided into two groups: those that eat their own stools and those
that eat the stools of other animals. Knowing which group your dog falls into will help you
determine the most suitable course of action. For example, dogs that eat the stools of other
animals are unlikely to be cured of this habit except by preventing access to stools.
Coprophagia is very difficult to correct. First, you must try to clean up stools promptly from the
environment. This will make it less likely for your dog to get at them. Prevent Boredom by
increasing the activity level as needed (e.g. more play or training time, increased running time).
You should also make sure you are providing a well-balanced, highly-digestible diet that meets
their dog's nutritional needs. Switching to a high-fat, fibre, and protein diet, and low-
carbohydrate may prove helpful.
Some immediate quick-fixes that have proven successful in the past include sprinkling
unseasoned commercial meat tenderizer or a commercial preparation (FORBID™) on the dog
food, or feeding canned pumpkin. Adding vegetable oil to the diet at a dose of 15-ml/ 4.5 kg body
weight may also help. Your veterinarian should be consulted if your pet is coprophagic.
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