Does Your Dog Eat Poop? Nasty, Right?

Coprophagia is the ingestion of feces by an animal and is quite common in dogs.
Some eat their own stool, some eat the stool of other dogs, and some eat the stool of other animals such as cats.

Do you have a dog that does this?
While disgusting to humans, fresh stool from healthy, domesticated animals is generally safe to eat.

According to the ASPCA the motivations your dog may have for eating its own feces include perfectly natural doggie instincts, but may also indicate some form of malnourishment.

Health risks are possible when dogs eat the feces of wild animals who are infested with internal parasites or of free-roaming cats who are infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Unvaccinated dogs are at particular risk for contracting parvovirus or hepatitis if they eat the stool of infected dogs.

Vaccinate your dogs!

Most coprophagics are simply healthy dogs who need a program that combines obedience training, careful management, environmental enrichment, and, possibly, a dietary adjustment to achieve success.

The treatment plan may vary depending on whether the dog is consuming his own feces or the feces of others.

For the autocoprophagic, leash walks for elimination are mandatory.

You have to clean up the stool quicker than the dog can eat it.

Use of a head halter will give you control of the dog’s head.

Teach the dog to hold a sit and stay a few steps away from the pile so you can clean up.

After you pick up, reward the dog with a high-value treat before releasing him from the stay.

We recommend Sally Said So Dog Training if  you are looking for help with ending this nasty habit.

We at Four Paws Pet Sitting Services, will make sure your dog is not doing this while we are on walks.

We also will always pick up after your pet.