Everytime my dog finds cat poop, she eats it...why? I scold her for it but cant get her to stop.?

Question

Its like a drug to her. Then she wants to lick my kid's face...I am at my wits end trying to stop her. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Yummy - Tootsie rolls! It's because cats don't fully digest their food, so there's a lot of good stuff left in their poop.

My lab used to do it too - Try putting the catbox up on a counter in the garage (with a kitty door) or try a covered litter box (My lab just stuck his head through the door of it...).

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Yummy. She's just trying to share it with her/your children.

Cats digestive tracks are very short and very small. That's part of the reason that cat food is so calorie-packed- they have to get a lot out of it in a short amount of time. It's also why they tell you not to let your dogs eat cat food. Well, becuase their digestive track is so short, their feces still, "tastes good," to some creatures. Your dog is one of them.

Obviously, not only is it disgusting, but it can also be pretty dangerous. It is a quick way to spread all sorts of feline sickness to dear, sweet Fido. Heartworm is the biggest concern. You should probably take her to the vet if she isn't on a regular heartworm medication. They can check her to make sure she's OK now (you don't want to just give her heartwork medication becuase you can kill the dog if they are infested). If she is on regular heart worm medication, she is probably OK as the monthly medication will keep them from developing.

To fix the problem, I would suggest changing your cat's litter habits. By scolding the dog, you are probably only confusing thr issue. It's possible that the dog is eating the cat feces to, "clean up," after the cat so that she doesn't get in trouble for, "Going in the house." How does Fido know the difference between being scolded for going in the house vs being scolded for eating the cat feces? She likely doesn't.

Where is the cat box? Try putting it someplace you can keep Fido from visiting it for her afternoon snack. What about a laundry room and use a baby gate to keep her out? Or, buy a cheap plastic side table that accompanies deck furniture and put it up so that she can't get it. If it isn't a covered box, I would suggest getting one! Do you scoop? I, personally, hate scooping, but our dog hasn't enjoyed cat feces in a long, long time. If you are using clay litter, try going over to scooping it regularly. If you do scoop, scoop more! Is your dog crate trained? If so, crate her when your gone so she can't get into it. If she isn't consider confining she so that she can't get into anything. Again, a baby gate across the kitchen could work well.

Lastly, I know that when I dog-sat for a friend, his German Shepherd puppy was on a pill for this type of behavior. The other thing that comes up is that the dog is trying to supplement their diet with all the fun goodies they get in the poop (vitamins and minerals equivalent for people). When they're on the pill regularly-I think it's given twice or thrice daily- they don't feel the need or urge to eat the cat's feces.

Best wishes and good luck!

You might want to clean her mouth with a toothbrush and doggy paste or a Greenie's bone!

Answer 4

Cats have a different digestive system from the rest of us animals, it's not very efficient at pulling nutrition from the food. Because of this, cat food is high density nutrition. Dogs can smell the nutrition that has not been absorbed and know its good for them.

It this is your cat's poop, put a baby gate in the door where the cat's litter box is so your dog can not get to it. Also feed your cat in that room so the dog will not eat its food.

If this is not your cat, how do you know it's cat poop?

Answer 5

When a b***h has pups, whenever they poop she will eat it to clean it up and keep their den clean. Other dogs in the pack will also do it to keep the area clean. They also eat other dogs poop not of the pack to eradicate a rival scent. As far as she is concerned she is just helping with house keeping. I am assuming that you mean she is finding cat poop in the garden? Well if thats the case then i am afraid there is not a lot you can do. Sorry.

Answer 6

Eating cat poop will not give your dog heartworms. The only suggestion I have is putting the litter box where the dog can't get to it. We always kept our cat's litter box in the spare bathroom with the door closed. When the cat needed to use it she would just stand there by the door. Good luck!!

Answer 7

As previously stated dogs like poo. It's in there nature to eat it. There really isn't anything you can do discipline-wise to get a dog to stop. You simply have to remove the temptation.

As also previously stated, cat feces carries the heartworm larvae as well as several other possible parasitic infections. If your dog is important to you, your vet can recommend a heartworm pill that should protect her.

Answer 8

You need to keep the litter box where the dog can't get to it. Mine did the same thing, but I don't allow her in that room anymore

Answer 9

I once had a dog that would poop then eat it.The vet said this was normal behaviour for dogs.Maybe normal but disgusting.

Answer 10

its natural dogs like poop. my cousins dog does this all the time.