I have shepherd cross puppy, 5.5 weeks old, who eagerly turns around after eliminating (urine or feces) and laps it up. If I catch her, which I usually do, and pick her up, she wiggles around like she is looking for it, she wants it that bad. She is on home made food, which consists of raw beef, cooked mashed vegetables (currently carrots, potatoes, cabbage, though it is variable), the odd raw egg yolk, buttermilk, milk, butter, water. Yesterday she got some bones from the butcher shop to chew on.
2007-01-09 15:10:55 · 9 answers · asked by JouLe 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I am not looking for a cure, just a cause. I am not going to feed her something strange so that she will quit eating something strange - seems counter-productive. I believe there is a reason, and it does not appear to me that she doesn't know any better - she is on a mission! She WANTS that pee, (though she has mostly quit eating her poop).
As far as her diet, the milk, buttermilk and butter are all raw and fresh, containing all the enzymes she needs to digest them , and I have no intentions of feeding it long term. She is a very young pup without her mother's milk, and she needs the calcium and fat from milk. Pasteurized milk I would not feed, as it is dead and causes all kinds of problems for all kinds of critters.
2007-01-11 10:18:57 · update #1
they clean up after them selfs, for example when a puppie/dog vomits they clean it up.
2007-01-11 03:39:32 · answer #1 · answered by LindseyTime! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only reason that I can give on why a puppy would do this is because they don't know any better, however there are remedies that can be purchased from your vet or large pet store that you feed to the dog and in turn it makes the waste unappetizing (like it isn't anyway) But because this additive will not make him/her any less interested in other dogs waste these three tips can break the habit 1) Always clean up after her;get to the poop before she does 2) Keep her on a leash during the training period and if she makes a beeline for a pile, say "Leave It" in a stern voice and move her along and reward her with a small treat whenever she listens to you 3) Be patient and maybe this is just a phase and will pass but use the tips so the phase doesn't become habit. Good-Luck
2007-01-09 23:28:51 · answer #2 · answered by Katprsn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its completely behavioral and may never stop! However, it has nothing to do with any nutrient lacking in their diet!!! If people tell you different, dont listen..its a myth.. but it would sure make the dogs look better for doing it! The buttermilk, milk and butter are really not a good thing to be including in the diet.. unless you mean milk replacement or formula? Dairy products used for a long period of time can cause alot of digestive distress like enteritis.. have you talked to a vet about the home diet you are feeding this puppy?
2007-01-09 23:25:37 · answer #3 · answered by doodlebugmeem 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It comes from them being wild once....when food and water was scarce they could eat their poop or drink their urine. Since all the nutrients and proteins are used up they can eat it and get more substance out of it. Yes it is gross.....mine don't do it every time but they do it sometimes....I just get out the old doggie toothbrush and give them a good brush.
2007-01-09 23:28:42 · answer #4 · answered by Jenn J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one know the reason why some dogs do this. But there are several products on the market to stop stool eating.
Ask your vet for some "Forbid" or "Deter" or go online.
2007-01-10 00:44:42 · answer #5 · answered by empresspekes 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure why they do it, but I believe you can get some stuff from the pet store that you put in their food that will make it taste bad to them and they will stop. check with your vet, however, cause I'm not sure its safe to use when the puppy is that young.
2007-01-09 23:33:34 · answer #6 · answered by lady_daizee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably because she doesnt know any better. When I scold my pittbull/catahoula mix she pees all over the place and then turns around to lick it up as if she is like, "whoops, I'll clean it up".
2007-01-09 23:16:45 · answer #7 · answered by amyleeroxs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, a long time ago dogs used to eat & drink their own waste to show that they strong.
2007-01-09 23:19:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
my dog did the same thing when he was a puppy
dogs are so stupid
they'll do anything to get attention
my dog once ate a rock before he's so stupid
dogs will eat anything
and they dont know better
2007-01-09 23:24:16 · answer #9 · answered by jml 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋