I have a 16 month old female pekingese. She is perfect in just about every way except she has one major flaw. She eats her own stool. Since she was three months or possibly even earlier she has done this. There's no way she has any deficiencies of any kind. The vet even said it was a behavioral issue. Has anyone out there had this issue and was able to solve it. Please help me. I can't take it anymore. I put here in the classifieds to sell her but I love her so much I can't let her go. I am really asking for a realistic solution to this problem. Please help me!!!!!
2007-06-15 14:14:37 · 23 answers · asked by Raven 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
This is to all the people who said that the fact my dog eats her stool is a stupid reason for possibly trying to find her a new home. I have tried so many things. She not only eats it..but she smears it all over my furniture, carpet and kitchen floor. I can't hardly take it anymore. I have spent hundreds of dollars on vet bills...steam cleaning...you name it I have done it....I don't think I am stupid for trying to find her a family that may be able to do more. I work full time and go to school----Please understand that it's not that I love her---I just know know what else to do!!!!
2007-06-15 15:50:39 · update #1
I had this problem with my dog. Sometimes they just like it...its gross i know. But basically...what we did...as soon as she pooped...called her in and gave her a treat...didnt even give her a chance to eat it. Then we pooper scooped it...and there was nothing there for her to eat. I mean...that really is all you can do..is pick it up. Because if you tell her NO after she goes and she starts stiffing it....she might not want to poop outside...so...if that is your only problem with your doggie....then DONT sell her...just pooper scoop it!!! Problem solved!
2007-06-15 14:20:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anna J 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is from Wayne Hunthausen at www.westwoodanimalhospital.com:
"While severe nutritional deficiencies can cause an animal to eat feces, this is unlikely to be a problem for a pet on a good commercially prepared diet unless it has a maldigestion/malabsorption disorder causing chronic loose stools. In most cases we don’t know exactly why some pets develop the desire to eat stool. It can be a real challenge to change the habits of these fecal fanciers. First, you need to deny access to stool whenever possible. Keep the yard scooped at all times. You should always go outdoors with your pet on a leash so you have control over where the mouth goes. Next, you need to assertively interrupt any intention to eat stool. One way to do this is with a shake can. To make one, take a tin can (such as one in which peanuts are sold) and place six large coins in it and seal it. As soon as the pet focuses on some stool, toss the can so that it lands next to it, so that you interrupt it without making it fearful. Repeat the maneuver until the pet learns to stay away from stool. Patience is very important since this can take months to accomplish. Another tool that is humane and works very nicely to interrupt this type of behavior is a remote-activated citronella spray collar. The pet wears a collar that sprays a citrus spray when activated by remote control. "
In my own experience, if you consistently go out with your dogs and immediately pick up the stool, sometimes you can "break" the habit--it you elimate the abilty to poop-eat for 2 months they may forget about it and eventaully stop even if you do not go out with them every time.
2007-06-15 21:22:11 · answer #2 · answered by orphan annie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Walk her on a leash in your yard for potty breaks. After she goes tell her good dog and bring her inside. Go back outside with some "Yuck Mouth" which is about 20 times worse than Bitter Apple spray and available at large pet stores, and soak the stool in it. Then go with her out in the yard and let her play. If she tries to eat it, she will quickly loose the taste for it and will spit it out because it will taste really really really bad to her. There is also a product called "Deter" that you can put in their food that makes their stool unpalatable but it is not always effective. The two approaches together should help.
2007-06-15 21:23:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is a common dog habit and, fortunately, an easy problem to solve! So please don't sell your dog. There is an inexpensive product you can buy under several brand names--"Deter" is one-- that you put in your dog's food. They don't mind eating it, but it makes their stool unpalatable. Just about any pet supply store will carry this stuff.
In my experience, you don't need to use this product for long--once the dog realizes that the poop tastes awful (as if it didn't already), she'll stop.
2007-06-15 21:51:52 · answer #4 · answered by Katharine M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, i so had this happened to me before. i went to petsmart and ask the people there about it and then they showed me these pills that you give to the dog i think once a day. the dog thinks its treat so it was easy. something n the pill made the dog stop eating it. the people and our vet said that the dog food could be very rice in corn or something which the dog can still smell whic causes them to eat it. Hope this help because i know that it helped me!
2007-06-15 21:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by Tati L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make pills (sort of like vitamins) that you place in their food, it also comes in powder form which is a lot easier than a pill, this way it makes their stool smell and taste terrible to them. After a few weeks they automatically think their stool is bad smelling/tasting and they will stop. You just have to look it up on line, there are different brands. go to the website Drs foster and smith and look to see if they have it. It can definately be found on line. good Luck.
2007-06-15 21:20:13 · answer #6 · answered by JessaBelle 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your dog is just basically cleaning up after herself, making her home area clean. Either go out with her and pick it up straight away, or when you catch her doing it, scold her, gently and move her away from it and pick up her poop, or if you really want to discourage her, leave her poop, but put a bit of tobasco sauce on it, she will either love the taste(mine do),or she will stop going anywhere near it. Give some of the products suggested above a go, i admit, i have never heard of them, but i am in rural Western Australia, but they should be worth a go.
2007-06-15 22:15:23 · answer #7 · answered by Big red 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really hope you didn't post a classified ad just because she eats her poop. Thats horrible! But try taking her on a leash and letting her go...take her to the same spot everyday, take her back in the house and then clean it up. It's not that hard!
2007-06-15 21:46:56 · answer #8 · answered by Manda 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pekes are hard to house train. I know this, but try to walk her for pottying anyway. Walk her until she goes and then move on without allowing her to eat it. Dogs are habitual creatures. If you can get them to do the same thing in the same place the same way a few times they will always do that. If you can get her to go outside in the same area and then walk away 5-6 times, she will continue to do that.
2007-06-16 00:26:28 · answer #9 · answered by mama woof 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WhatTttTTttTTTT????????????
Where are you leaving this poor dog that it has the opportunity to EAT its own feces?
I walk my dog and pick it up as soon as she drops it. I don't even understand this question????
I mean first of all, you are putting a classified ad in the paper to 'get rid' of her?????? No, you said, "Sell" her. You're twisted.
Here's my suggestion: Run, don't walk, down to the shelter, and commit yourself. Someone needs to train you! What kind of person allows the dog to be 'playing' with their feces. What do you do? Just leave it home all day by itself????
You shouldn't have a dog.
Don't have kids. They'll play with their poop too if you just let them poop on the floor and leave it there.
2007-06-15 22:29:49 · answer #10 · answered by zoey678789 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋