my girlfriends dog seems to pig out a lot. problem is its in the cats litter box. he has food he seems quite happy with but will still go to the litter box and start eating. any idea why and how to stop?
2007-01-20 06:57:48 · 18 answers · asked by jrtoyboy 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
ill that's disgusting...
2007-01-20 07:39:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there could be several reasons for why, but the only thing that matters is getting him to stop. There are all kinds of stay away products to deter animals from going near stuff, but you gotta make sure it's won't deter the cats at the same time! You might try keeping the box in another location so doggie can't get to it, just so that the cats know where you move it to. If you're really serious you can take him to training classes, and the point of those is to strengthen the bond between you and your dog, and to make sure he knows you're the alpha dog.If you establish this kind of relationship with your animal he should listen to your commands and respect them more readily. There are different kinds of training methods, some more extreme than others, I recommend speaking with a local trainer about what is best for your schedule and your level of commitment. Now, you should realize all dogs are different, but there are basic similarities with all of them, use these to your advantage! Know this, even if you train, spray or click to deter him, he will NOT pass up any opportunity he might happen to get! Dogs are very opportunistic creatures, and they see it as their right to take advantage of any situation they can, so I would take care of this asap. That cat litter with feces and urine can really tear up an animals stomach and intestines. And will cost a lot more than training=) Good Luck
2007-01-20 15:35:05 · answer #2 · answered by unico 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are many reasons why your dog could be eating it's poop. One reason why animals eat poop is that poop contains vitamins produced by their intestinal bacteria. The animal is unable to absorb the vitamins through the intestinal wall, but can get at them by eating the poop. Another reason that animals such as dogs and flies eat poop is that poop contains a certain amount of protein. You can fix this problem my giving the dog multi-vitamins. More reasons is stress,anxiety, boredom and even parasites. You might want to try taking to the vet to see if he has worms.
How to get him to stop? There are no guarantees but the best way is to avoid it. Make sure that you clean up after his messes often. If he knows the "sit" command you can try that on him when you see him going for a poop. Be sure that you reward him for sitting and then point to the poop and say "No!" in a firm voice. Scoop up the poop before he gets a chance to go after it again. You can also give your dog something to put in his food which will deter him from eating the poop. Don't hit him or punish him harshly. Doing this causes some dogs to think that they are being punished for pooping, so they try to eat it to hide the evidence. There's a product called "For-Bid" or you can use meat tenderizer mixed in with the food. This makes the poop taste bad and isn't toxic to your dog. You can also have the vet recommend other alternative. I hope this helps.
2007-01-20 16:00:31 · answer #3 · answered by pinkcandyjunkie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is common with dogs; don't really know why. Just let him know with a loud command (DON'T hit him) that this is not acceptable and hope for the best, unless you can put the litter in a room with a cat door.
2007-01-20 15:03:15 · answer #4 · answered by lulu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the nerve of him...the little crap eater! Try keeping him out of the room where the litter box is kept. Ask the vet if he's lacking in some vitamin or mineral and don't let him give you any puppy kisses. :-)
2007-01-20 15:06:28 · answer #5 · answered by Jan J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Move the litter box up so the dog wouldn't be able to reach.
2007-01-20 15:02:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Easiest solution is to move the litter box up high enough that he can't reach it. It's a common problem and that's the best solution
2007-01-20 15:03:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
my dog used to do that all the time. its for one of the same reasons dogs get into the garbage - also because it is from the cat is a major factor. when dogs are hungry, theyll eat almost anything. if you feed your dog once a day, try feeding him twice (the same amount, just split into two times). that could help his hunger. plus the spread out meals will help the dogs metabolism as well! good luck
2007-01-20 15:09:40 · answer #8 · answered by looking for love this time 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is a very bad thing to do and it is not healthy for the pet dog. and it is hard to break them of that. but a Friend of mine cut a small opening in the door to the bathroom and her dog was to big to get in there but the cat went in there just fine. But please try to stop this from happening. l was told that cats carry the parvo germs which does not hurt them but will harm the dog.
2007-01-20 15:04:32 · answer #9 · answered by Star-Dust 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog used to do this when she was a puppy. Doesn't anymore. I don't know if she grew out of it or because I started to give her a high quality holistic dog food. I give her Solid Gold brand. Good luck.
2007-01-20 16:57:20 · answer #10 · answered by bwitty 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is called coprophagy (the medical term for eating poop) and here is what you can do to stop this..... coat the stools with hot sauce or vinegar, thereby making the experience of eating it unpleasant.It is safe and effective. It will take no time @ all and he will stop.
2007-01-20 15:08:26 · answer #11 · answered by ~*common sense*~ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋