Often, our dog will get out of the house and run throughout the yard eating her own feces. She doesn't do it all the time, only if she is trying to spite us it seems. Also, if she has an accident in the house or in her crate, she will eat it then, too. Is this normal? And if so, how do we get her to stop doing it?
2006-06-17 15:08:07 · 12 answers · asked by Amanda O 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
A large number of dogs suffer from the same problem you're describing. It is an actual disease called coprophagia. It's most common in younger dogs who are still on puppy food, and dogs of any age who are very interested in the cat litter boxes! There is a good reason - often, it's a digestive issue. Rich, palatable foods like puppy chow or cat food are often not fully digested, and therefor some palatability is retained after elimination.
There are a number of "wives' tales" on household things you can add to your dog's food to discourage this yucky habit, but after almost five years of veterinary medicine, I've yet to see any of them work. There are special additives that are sold in pet specialty shops (like PetsMart) that DO work - one I'm most familiar with is called ForBid. You simply add a packet to your dog's feedings each day for around a week to make the feces taste EXTRA foul (as if it already didn't, right?) and break the cycle of stool eating. It does have great success!
There are food companies who manufacture bags of food that you can feed through with the same idea - breaking the cycle of coprophagia. One company - I'm not sure which - makes one called "Stop Eating Poop" (right to the point!). It, in my experience, also works.
Best of luck with your pooch's problem. It is a very undesirable trait, and I hope you have some success with curbing that behavior!
2006-06-17 15:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by sjlawson12 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
A lot of dogs develop this trait. It is nasty and sometimes difficult to change the behavior. The vet can give you something to give the dog that will make his feces less "attractive." Another tip is to put hot sauce on the feces in the yard and let fido out. He won't care for that (it will not harm the dog.)
2006-06-17 15:12:55 · answer #2 · answered by execglenn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 3 dogs and they try to eat each others feces. They have stopped over the past two weeks and the only thing that has changed in their diet is they now get a daily vitamins.
2006-06-17 16:55:22 · answer #3 · answered by Mommy Pit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no. First of all, labs are the first to eat the strangest things! (Work in a vet office, see some really weird stuff come out of labs bellies through exploratory surgery.) What kind of food are you feeding? If you are feeding something with a lot of filler(corn) chances are your pup isn't getting the nutrients it needs, thus eating its own feces to try to balance things out. Try going with something meat based. If you already are feeding a meat based diet, then consistency with training!
2006-06-17 15:14:19 · answer #4 · answered by ethansma24 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does no longer recommend that they are lacking some thing of their eating routine, it quite is an previous better halves tale. canines are whats said as copperphagic, which signifies that in the adventure that they are eating some thing reliable or in the adventure that they locate feces of yet another animal that has eaten some thing reliable the feces tastes reliable. at the same time as it may well be gross to you to them that's a thoroughly organic habit. you may attempt meat tenderizer sprinkled on their nutrition and that frequently facilitates the region.
2016-10-14 06:32:20 · answer #5 · answered by mathison 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never done it but sombody told me to feed the dog a little bit of pineapple and the scent will discourage him from eating the feces
2006-06-17 15:25:12 · answer #6 · answered by Lauren 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a pretty common thing. Your vet should carry a product called ForBid that you can put in her food to stop her from doing that. A little meat tenderizer seems to do the trick as well.
2006-06-17 15:14:35 · answer #7 · answered by autumnfaerie8 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's not trying to spite you, she's just enjoying a snack. Ask your veterinarian for a food additive to make her stop. If you want her to stop, seems to me a great way to keep your yard clean.
2006-06-17 15:12:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to transfer the dog
2006-06-17 15:11:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. there is something the vet can give you. You apply it to her food, and it will make her feces less appitizing
2006-06-17 18:44:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋