my pet chihuahua has just started eating her own mess, why is she doing this and how do i combat it? i feed her regularly every day
2007-11-15 22:59:25 · 34 answers · asked by tom_penney 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Hide her cutlery between meals.
2007-11-15 23:02:46 · answer #1 · answered by Jack 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is definantely not breed specific. I read an article on this in a vet magazine I recieved through the mail. The test show that there is not any really reason why dogs do this. They have begun to think that is has to do with nature alone. In the wild, undomesticated dogs will eat their feces, as well as, the puppies to keep the smell from attracting predators. Bitches eat the feces to keep them away, the smell will attract predators to small puppies!
The mother will teach a pup to do this as well in a way of covering tracks. I know it sounds odd, but they have seen this through research. They say DO NOT scold your dog for eating feces. The problem is that the dog will associate the spanking with "got to eat them right away so I do not get caught." The dog thinks they are getting scolded for pooing, therefore many will turn around quickly to "hide the evidence."
2007-11-16 01:41:03 · answer #2 · answered by rascal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The positive posts have a lot of good info!
Note that your dog suddenly started eating its stool. With that in mind, read some of the references as to diet changes, empty stomach, etc.
Below is another link with info. Note the reference to adding meat tenderizer to the food. It is a 'work-around' and not a cure. I urge you to find the root cause.
Since its been eating "who knows what", you may want to have a stool check done for parasites.
Good luck!
2007-11-15 23:55:28 · answer #3 · answered by Charlie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very common in dogs and it dates back to their natural instinct in the wild to help food last longer and get more nutrients from it or just from cleaning out their den or cleaning their puppies up in that area(as disgusting as it sounds).
The waste still has quite a lot of nutrients in it because of how dogs don't digest their food fully if they are on a rich diet, and this is what makes it appealing to the dog.
To help stop it, try feeding your dog on a premium dry food if you are not already and it will make their waste less apealing to them.
It's quite normal though so i wouldn't worry too much! :)
2007-11-15 23:17:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They do this because they like to clean up after themselves and to get more nutrients the second time around. Garlic or fresh pineapple in his food may work, but not all the time. This is normal but that does not make it a good thing for them to do. Try putting something really hot on the faeces so they will be discouraged next time they go to the bathroom.
2016-05-23 09:22:30 · answer #5 · answered by cathy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up FOR-BID places like ebay and fosters and smith call your vet ask them if they have it or know where to get it.You put some on the food and it makes it so they do not want to eat it anymore.
And do not listen to the people who say your dog is missing something .I have had my dogs to the vet MANY times we ran blood tests and changed foods they still do it!! I dont think we will ever really know why a dog eats poo but we do know are things to do like clean it up every time get things to make it not so yummy (to them) and never punish them!!
2007-11-15 23:07:29 · answer #6 · answered by EducateDon'tJudge! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had a lot of dogs, 2 of them are poop eaters (I no longer have one) both females. Not only does she eat her own poop but constantly picks up other dogs poop when we are out. She's 4.1/2 yrs. now and I've gotten her to the point where she'll immediately drop it (rather than eating it - YUK), I only have to look at her. It's taken 4 years to get her to this point, apparently the lure of a tasty snack is strong. I've tried natural enzyme supplements they don't work. So my suggestion is you keep after your dog and watch her at least to get her to the point where she'll think before eating it and drop it on command. Good luck.
2007-11-16 00:34:45 · answer #7 · answered by Little Ollie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mine does also. I have tried everything. It is getting better. He was not only eating his own, he would eat other dog's mess. He is getting better, but must stay on him all the time.
I think what happened to mine was that he was with his mother until he was almost 4 months old. So he was use to seeing his mother clean up the pen, and that is how she did it, by eating it.
You must stay on him/her and give him/her **** when him/her do it.
Good luck, and be patient, it will get better.
2007-11-15 23:06:23 · answer #8 · answered by Steve O 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know how disgusting it is. When my dog was a puppy, she would eat her feces. The vet told me it was because she didn't want to leave her "mark" and to ward off other animals. If you put a very small amount of hot pepper in her food (Vet told me this too) she will not "recycle" it. Sometimes they eat poop is because they like the taste, like their own food, hence the pepper in food...makes poop taste very bad. My dog quit doing it when she grew larger.
2007-11-15 23:14:20 · answer #9 · answered by mermaid007 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes if a dog has been scolded for leaving a mess they will eat their poop or vomit so they don't get reprimanded again. If you have reprimanded her then try to be more gentle if you see her doing it or if she leaves a mess..Other than that don't know..but they do eat poop..and other dogs/rabbit/fox pooop..A weird dog thing i guess
2007-11-17 01:56:07 · answer #10 · answered by W1llow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
funny my J.R.T. does not do this but my beagle will do it now and then with her own poop and when i take her to the nature park we will walk the trails she loves to eat Deer poop
nothing is medicaly wrong with her she not missing anything
i think she prolly ate something good and it came out and she eating it again same with the deer poop deers eat lots of ruffage and good stuff she prolly smells smothing yummy in there and is like woooo hoooo treat
2007-11-17 10:17:34 · answer #11 · answered by poeatree_td 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋