Is this healthy?

Question

Lately I have been catching my 4 month old black lab/huskey mix digging in my cat's litter box. At first I though it was just something he was doing to entertain himself until I caught him one day chewing on something. Turns out he has been snacking on my cats poop. I was just wondering is this healthy? Is there a reason why he is doing this? I hope it isn't a nutrition inbalance, we do buy the good food. Any feedback?

I discourage it and watch him all the time. Also, it isn't like something else he gets into I can just pull out of his mouth. It's a wonder how he can even consider it tastey.

Answer 1

Tasty treats for your dog!? Just kidding. I know, it's a major turn off & makes you want to vomit, right. You know what, It's actually normal. However, if your dog had access to the litter box prior to this & never touched it, that might mean a change in behaviour significant to a change in medical status. It could also mean that he found something yummy to feast on.

If you suspect it's a medical problem & esp. if he's showing all signs of it, then, see your Vet. Otherwise, you will now need to place the litter box where it's completely impossible for your dog to get to.......but easy for your cat. And another thing, cats sometime will abandon using a litter box when a dog starts intruding its space.

You can try this:

-put a box over the litter box with an opening at one end, and then put a bigger box over that one with an opening in the other end.
The cat can go in one opening, through the "tunnel" between boxes to the other opening, and into the box. Remember that cats see well in the dark, so the darkness inside this contraption is not a problem.


Good luck.

Answer 2

Ummm!
Now it's not gonna hurt him unless the cat's ill & passes something on 2 the catty-litter thief.
My dog did this when neighbourhood cats mess in my garden.
I asked the Vet, it's a dominance thing & Doggy is making sure he's top-dog.
Nasty but it U try 2 stop him, he'll think U want it 4 URself!
Yuk, huh?
In time he should get bored & stop on his own.
My Dog has stopped as far as I'm aware.

Try not 2 make an issue out of it & it'll B a mill-stone round UR neck.
Make sure U wash UR hands after U pet the Dog.

Answer 3

Justin,

it's not healthy and it'll make your dog's breath stink!!

dogs LOVE cat poop! don't know why either but this isn't the first time I hear this.

Cesar Milan actually addressed this, he said that (and I am not using an exact quote here) that your dog eats feces because it has bent up energy and it needs to be walked for about an hour a day. BUT it actually fixates on cat poop because it has a distinct smell and it's interesting. However if you hide his/her food around the yard and have him look for that, eventually it will stop eating cat poop.

-Morena =o)

Answer 4

well, I wouldn't let him lick my face!

Pet food has an awful lot of nutrients in it. Not all can be absorbed in the time it passes. So yeah, the little guy is getting some nutrition here, but it isn't necessary or something you want to encourage. I would move the litter box to a less accessible place and re-direct him whenever he shows interest.

Answer 5

Dogs love any kind of other animal poop! My dogs usee to love to eat horse poop...and now that i have brought home a cat from work i have caught one snacking in the litter box...I guess as long as everyone is disease and parasite free it isnt terribly awful..But it is a great way to spread illness/parasites,ect...I'm gonna get a doggie gate and put in my bathroom where the kittie box is..Its just Nasty!.

Answer 6

very common. dogs like that sort of thing. Not healthy though. Make sure to clean the litter box frequently for your cat's benefit & perhaps move it to a spot the cat can get to, but not the dog (like on a platform)

Answer 7

Not normal but a lot of dogs do this as well as eat their own poop or other dog poop. Living in the country, there are other wild animals around plus we used to have goats and horses and they would eat their poop as well. It is not healthy and they can get worms from this.

Answer 8

Cat litter is very dangerous for dogs. It can do bad things to their stomach and yours when you see the vet bill. Do what you can to keep the litter box out of "snacking" range

Answer 9

It's a dog's natural scavenging instinct, but I'd discourage it if I were you. Sprinkle some pepper or chilli powder on the cat poop, he'll get the idea.

Answer 10

im not sure but try buying the litter boxes with the lid so that the dog cannot get into it, thats what I have. there is a opening with a swing door that only my cat can get into and not my dog