Why does my dog suddenly eat poop?

Question

I HAVE TWO DOGS, A BASSET HOUND AND A LABRADOR/GOLDEN RETRIEVER MIX. THEY ARE BOTH TWO YEARS OLD. A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY BASSET STARTED EATING MY OTHER DOG'S POOP. IT TOTALLY GROSSES ME OUT, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE CHANGE IN HIS BEHAVIOUR (HE DIDN'T USED TO DO IT, NOT EVEN AS A PUPPY). SO WHEN EVER I CATCH HIM, I HAVE HIM WALK AWAY. WHY DOES HE DO IT, AND IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO BRAKE HIM OUT OF HIS NEWLY DEVELOPED HABIT? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Answer 1

Boredom or because he is lacking certain vitamins.

Answer 2

Hey, I have this problem also. My dog will eat her own poop which is even more unexplainable than eating another dogs poo. Some dogs will also eat old cat poo if they find it while walking around. You had an answer from Doodlebug and what he said is exactly right. This is not traced back to any type of deficiency at all. It is purely behavioral or boredom. In some cases it could be that your dog is smelling the different foods in the poo but I'm sure you feed your dogs the same food so that wouldn't apply, nor does it apply to my problem. There is a great med. that comes in a real tasty pill form, my dog takes it like it's a treat. It's called DETER, a month supply is about $11.00. you can get it at any feed store, it's not carried at the large pet store chains, but smaller ones in your area may have it or may order it for you. Your vet would likely give you a powder to sprinkle on their food, which is just more trouble. It's such a disgusting habit, it just grosses me out!!! Go with the Deter, it has made a huge difference around here.

Answer 3

This isn't uncommon behavior for dogs. Sometimes they decide to eat their own poop, poop from the catbox, or any old poop they find lying around. It all depends upon the dog. It looks like this is called 'coprophagia' - a short article below.

Answer 4

My dog sometimes does this too. Believe it or not, a lot of dogs do this! I asked my vet about why this happened and what to do to prevent it. He told me that dogs usually do this because they see another dog doing so, and pick up on the nasty habit. There is something you can put on your dog's food that's tasteless, but will help to keep him away "after he's eaten the food." Ask your vet about this. I'm not sure exactly what the powder was called, but it sure worked! Eventually, your dog will grow out of the habit.

Answer 5

Some say it could be a dificancy in their diet, some say it could be they are trying to hide the evidance, if he is eating it in the house or somewhere he isnt suppose to poo. If you put some meat tendarizer in their dog food, or anything with MSG it will make it taste gross when it comes out the other end ( as if it isnt already gross ) and they in most cases, wont eat it any more.

Answer 6

Your dog food isn't good.

Try upgrading the food-- if that doesn't work take him to the vet.

Answer 7

That animal whisperer dude said on oprah, theres 2 reasons, 1 being the dog is bored, and smelling out poop keeps their nose busy, and 2 they are lacking vitamins...........................

Answer 8

Maybe the question you should be asking is why does your dog's poop suddenly taste so good.

Answer 9

1. Call your vet make sure your dog is ok.

2. Do what you did to it as a puppy when you wanted it to stop doing something.

Oh yeah...

DONT FEED YOUR DOG MSG.
thats just stupid.

Answer 10

He is lacking a nutrient, make a vet appointment to be sure it is not serious and consider changing his food.

Answer 11

People like to believe that dogs do this because they are lacking something in their diet... this is NOT TRUE! It is behavioral, and there is actually a scientific name for it - coprophagia... im not sure how you get it to stop, but i know that he isnt lacking anything in his diet!