Few canine behaviors are as unsettling to pet parents as coprophagia – the act of a dog eating its own or another animal’s feces. This unpleasant habit is not only distasteful but can also raise concerns about your dog’s health and hygiene. While it’s a relatively common issue, understanding its roots and knowing what you can give a dog to stop eating poop can help address it effectively. From dietary adjustments to natural supplements and behavioral interventions, there are several strategies pet owners can employ to curb this unsavory tendency, ultimately leading to a cleaner yard and a healthier, happier pup.
Dog looking at healthy food, what can you give a dog to stop eating poop
Understanding Why Dogs Eat Poop: A Quick Recap
Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand why dogs engage in coprophagia. This behavior often stems from either behavioral or underlying medical issues.
Behavioral Reasons:
- Exploration: Puppies, much like human toddlers, explore their world through their mouths. This can include investigating various textures and smells, including stool.
- Copying Mother: A mother dog instinctively cleans up her puppies’ waste to keep the den tidy and prevent predators from detecting her litter. Puppies may mimic this behavior.
- Boredom or Stress: Dogs that lack adequate mental or physical stimulation, or those experiencing anxiety (e.g., separation anxiety, fear of punishment), might resort to eating poop as a coping mechanism or out of sheer boredom.
- Anxiety/Disposing of Evidence: If a dog has been punished for accidents indoors, they might eat their stool to “hide the evidence” and avoid reprimand.
Medical Reasons:
- Nutrient Malabsorption: Certain conditions like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, or other gastrointestinal issues can prevent dogs from properly absorbing nutrients from their food. This leaves undigested nutrients in their stool, making it appealing to eat.
- Parasites: Intestinal parasites can also lead to nutrient deficiencies, prompting a dog to seek additional nutrients from any available source, including feces.
- Diseases and Medications: Conditions such as diabetes or Cushing’s disease, or even certain medications (like steroids), can increase a dog’s appetite or affect nutrient absorption, potentially leading to coprophagia. Pica, a disorder characterized by craving and eating non-food items, can also manifest as stool eating.
- Calorie-Restrictive Diets: Dogs on diets that are too low in calories or lack the right combination of essential nutrients may feel constantly hungry and look for supplementary food sources.
Always consult your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions before implementing behavioral or dietary changes. This ensures a comprehensive approach to your dog’s health.
Beyond Prevention: What Can You Give a Dog to Stop Eating Poop?
Once medical causes are ruled out, you can explore various dietary additions and supplements that might make stool less appealing or address nutritional gaps.
1. Optimizing Their Diet with High-Quality Food
A fundamental step in addressing coprophagia is ensuring your dog receives a high-quality, nutritionally complete, and balanced diet. Dogs with a poor-quality diet often struggle with proper nutrient absorption, leading them to seek out “supplements” in unsanitary places. Look for a dog food with highly digestible ingredients that can be properly broken down and assimilated by your dog’s system. Ensuring they absorb all the necessary nutrients from their regular meals can significantly reduce their urge to consume waste. It’s also vital to be aware of what dogs can’t have in their diet to prevent stomach upset or nutrient imbalances that could exacerbate the problem.
2. Digestive Enzyme Supplements
If your older dog is engaging in coprophagia, it could be a sign of a digestive enzyme deficiency. As dogs age, their bodies may produce fewer enzymes needed to break down food efficiently. Supplementing with digestive enzymes, particularly those containing proteolytic enzymes, can help increase protein absorption and ensure more nutrients are extracted from their meals. Brands like Prozyme have been utilized to support better digestion. When an animal’s digestion is compromised, it can’t absorb nutrients well, leading it to seek out alternative sources.
3. Probiotics for Gut Health
A healthy gut microbiome is essential for overall canine health, including efficient digestion and nutrient absorption. Introducing a high-quality probiotic supplement can help balance your dog’s gut flora, improving their digestive efficiency. A well-functioning digestive system is better at extracting nutrients from food, potentially reducing the feeling of hunger or nutritional deficiency that might drive coprophagia. Consult your vet for a suitable probiotic specific to dogs.
4. Natural Digestive Aids: Apple Cider Vinegar
Some adult dogs who eat stool may have a deficiency in hydrochloric acid, which is crucial for digestion. While not a universal solution, introducing diluted apple cider vinegar into their food is a traditional home remedy. Always ask your veterinarian before adding apple cider vinegar to your pet’s diet, and ensure it’s heavily diluted (e.g., one teaspoon per 25 pounds of body weight mixed thoroughly into food, if your dog will consume it). For a gentler digestive aid, some pet owners have reported success with raw zucchini, which is a healthy veggie option for dogs and generally safe.
5. Taste Aversion: The Pineapple Method
For dogs that eat their own stool or the waste of other pets, taste aversion can sometimes be effective. One popular method suggested by pet experts is to feed your dog pineapple snacks. The theory is that pineapple enzymes can alter the taste and smell of the dog’s stool, making it unappetizing. While it doesn’t work for every dog, some owners find that it significantly reduces the habit by making the feces less appealing.
6. Scent Aversion: A Pinch of Black Pepper
While taste aversion isn’t always successful, altering the scent of feces might be a more promising approach for some dogs. Sprinkling a small amount of black pepper directly onto the stool can make it irritating and less inviting to your pup. This method aims to deter them through an unpleasant olfactory experience. However, the most reliable strategy remains immediate cleanup of all waste.
7. Fiber Boosts and Satiety: The Power of Pumpkin
Canned, unspiced pumpkin (ensure it’s not pumpkin pie mix, which contains sugar and spices) is a fantastic addition to your dog’s diet for multiple reasons. Its high fiber content can help your dog feel fuller for longer, potentially reducing the hunger-driven urge to eat poop. Beyond that, pumpkin is excellent for digestive health, assisting with both constipation and diarrhea, and can even support urinary tract health. It’s a safe and healthy supplement, but remember to introduce any new food gradually. It’s also critical to know foods that dogs absolutely cannot eat to prevent adverse health effects.
Behavioral Strategies and Environmental Enrichment
Even with dietary interventions, addressing behavioral aspects is crucial for long-term success.
8. Immediate Waste Removal: The Simplest Solution
This might seem obvious, but it’s the most important preventive measure. Supervise your dog closely during walks and in the yard, and pick up their poop immediately after they’ve finished. If you have a cat, ensure the litter box is inaccessible to your dog or cleaned frequently, as cat stool can be a particular draw. Eliminating the opportunity is often the most effective way to stop the behavior.
9. Engaging Mental and Physical Stimulation
Boredom and stress are significant triggers for coprophagia. Provide ample environmental enrichment through:
- Food Puzzles and Dispensing Toys: Use food puzzle toys, snuffle mats, or treat-dispensing toys like a Toppl to make mealtime last longer and engage your dog mentally.
- Regular Exercise: Ensure your dog gets sufficient physical exercise suited to their breed and age.
- Training and Play: Engage your dog in training sessions and interactive play. Redirect them when they show interest in stool by initiating a game or asking for a trick, followed by a reward. Understanding specific meats to avoid is also important when choosing treats for positive reinforcement.
10. Professional Guidance and Medical Check-ups
Always involve your veterinarian when addressing persistent coprophagia. They can perform diagnostic tests to rule out underlying medical conditions, such as parasites or nutrient absorption issues. Additionally, discuss any dietary changes or supplements, including the appropriate dosage, as some vitamins and minerals in excess can be harmful. If the behavior is primarily stress-related or deeply ingrained, a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist can provide tailored strategies and support. Always be mindful of things you should not feed your dog when adjusting their diet or offering new treats.
Conclusion
Stopping a dog from eating poop requires a multi-faceted approach, often combining dietary adjustments with behavioral interventions. By understanding the potential causes, optimizing your dog’s diet with high-quality food, and selectively introducing natural supplements like digestive enzymes, probiotics, or taste aversion aids, you can often mitigate this undesirable habit. Crucially, consistent waste removal and providing ample mental and physical stimulation are indispensable. Remember, your veterinarian is your best resource for diagnosing underlying medical issues and guiding you on the safest and most effective solutions. With patience, persistence, and professional advice, you can help your dog overcome coprophagia and ensure their long-term health and well-being.
References
- VCA Hospitals. Dog Behavior Problems – Coprophagia. Retrieved from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-problems-coprophagia
- ScienceDirect. Coprophagia. Topics in Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/coprophagia
- PRN Pharmacal. Prozyme Digestive Enzyme Supplement for Animals. Retrieved from https://www.prnpharmacal.com/products/gastrointestinal/prozyme/
- West Paw. Toppl Treat Toy. Retrieved from https://www.westpaw.com/products/toppl-treat-toy
