How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Poop - Stools, Coprophagia
★ 2.5 min read
In this article:
- Clean-up
- Review your dog's diet
- Address behavior issues
- Provide healthy alternatives
- Once you've implemented the steps above.
First it is important to identify why your dog is eating poop - also
called stool eating or coprophagia. Understanding why your puppy or dog
is eating poop will help you identify the most appropriate strategy for
correcting the situation. You can do a quick analysis by going here.
My
approach is a holistic approach. By making sure you address all
contributing factors to an issue you have the best opportunity to
resolve the issue.
Don’t punish your dog as this will not resolve
the issue and will create additional problems. Instead work to change
your dog’s habits and perhaps some of your habits too.
I recommend
that you go through the list below, decide which items apply to your
situation and implement changes to help your dog leave the habit behind
(pardon the pun).
1. Clean-up
Puppy and Dog Poop
Pick up your dog’s poop as soon as he/she eliminates. This is the #1 most effective method to curb the habit dog-poop eating - also known as coprophagia or stool eating. If you have a large property or your yard backs on to a forested make sure you clean the stools from the immediate surround of the house.
Pick up your dog’s poop as soon as he/she eliminates. This is the #1 most effective method to curb the habit dog-poop eating - also known as coprophagia or stool eating. If you have a large property or your yard backs on to a forested make sure you clean the stools from the immediate surround of the house.
Remove Access to Cat Poop
Don’t set your puppy or dog up for failure, set him/her up for success by placing cat litter boxes where your puppy or dog cannot access them. My cat litter boxes are not accessible to my dogs - a simple and effective approach.
Don’t set your puppy or dog up for failure, set him/her up for success by placing cat litter boxes where your puppy or dog cannot access them. My cat litter boxes are not accessible to my dogs - a simple and effective approach.
Farm Animal Poop - Cow, Horse, etc.
Don't permit your dog to eat poop from farm animals that are given conventional wormers (anti-parasitics). Consuming this poop can cause your dog to experience serious health issues including:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Neurological issues, including seizures.
Wild Animal Poop - Rabbit, Deer
This is one form of poop eating that you really must be present to stop. Even dogs on a truly biologically appropriate diet may still choose to indulge in this form of poop eating sometimes.
This is one form of poop eating that you really must be present to stop. Even dogs on a truly biologically appropriate diet may still choose to indulge in this form of poop eating sometimes.
2. Review Your Dog’s Diet
Processed Dry Dog Food
Processed dry dog food is a common trigger for poop eating as dogs are not evolved to thrive on dry processed food diet. Transition your dog to a species appropriate raw or gently cooked and fresh food diet.
Processed dry dog food is a common trigger for poop eating as dogs are not evolved to thrive on dry processed food diet. Transition your dog to a species appropriate raw or gently cooked and fresh food diet.
Add Digestive Enzymes
Your dog’s pancreas may not be able to make enough digestive enzymes to support her digestive requirements. In the absence of sufficient enzymes, a dog will naturally seek alternate sources of digestive enzymes. In the absence of better options a dog may seek other dogs poop, rabbit poop, deer poop, cat poop etc.
Your dog’s pancreas may not be able to make enough digestive enzymes to support her digestive requirements. In the absence of sufficient enzymes, a dog will naturally seek alternate sources of digestive enzymes. In the absence of better options a dog may seek other dogs poop, rabbit poop, deer poop, cat poop etc.
Add Probiotics Foods
Viable (live) probiotics are another important element in the digestion of food. Add probiotic foods to your dog's diet. Don’t count on the probiotics included in processed dry dog food - the heating and processing kills the probiotics rendering them useless.
Viable (live) probiotics are another important element in the digestion of food. Add probiotic foods to your dog's diet. Don’t count on the probiotics included in processed dry dog food - the heating and processing kills the probiotics rendering them useless.
Vitamin B and Potassium
Add vitamin B rich foods to your dog’s daily diet and potassium rich foods, herbs and nutraceuticals.
Add vitamin B rich foods to your dog’s daily diet and potassium rich foods, herbs and nutraceuticals.
3. Address Behavior Issues
Resolve Anxiety
As noted here, anxiety is another trigger for poop eating in dogs. If your dog is anxious it’s time to work on resolving his/her anxiety issues. This is something that should be done for your dog’s long-term health and happiness anyway.
As noted here, anxiety is another trigger for poop eating in dogs. If your dog is anxious it’s time to work on resolving his/her anxiety issues. This is something that should be done for your dog’s long-term health and happiness anyway.
Work On Recall and General Attentiveness
If you have not yet developed good recall and attentiveness between you and your dog it is time to work on doing so. Again, as with anxiety this is something that should be done for the over-all health of you and your dog’s relationship, your dog’s health, happiness and safety. If your dog is indulging in poop eating solely out of greediness improving recall and general attentiveness is essential.
If you have not yet developed good recall and attentiveness between you and your dog it is time to work on doing so. Again, as with anxiety this is something that should be done for the over-all health of you and your dog’s relationship, your dog’s health, happiness and safety. If your dog is indulging in poop eating solely out of greediness improving recall and general attentiveness is essential.
4. Provide Healthy Alternatives
This is last on my list as I am not big on ‘treat training’ and if used exclusively without consideration of the other interventions listed above you may make matters worse…
If you see your dog is about to
partake of poop offer your dog a real whole food ‘treat’ rich in
vitamins and nutrients.
Appropriate fresh food:
- Go to this article.
Goat milk, kefir or yogurt:
- Go to this article.
Smoothies:
- Go to this article.
5. Once You've Implemented The Steps Above
Your dog still indulges in eating poop eating. Your dog may just be a greedy eater, or less likely but possible - there may be an underlying medical reason for his/her chronic coprophagia.Get some blood
work done to see if a medical issue may be causing
the poop eating.
Once you have the test results, work with a holistic wellness practitioner to address the situation.
Holistic Diet, Nutrition, Wellness Services Tailored to Your Individual Dog and Cat
For information about my holistic diet, nutrition and wellness services, visit my holistic wellness services page.
Maintain good health | Address acute and chronic health issues | Pre and post surgery support and recovery
My holistic wellness services are available worldwide via video consultation.
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To set-up your holistic wellness consultation get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page.
Holistic Behavioral Services for Your Dog
For information about my holistic behavioral services, visit my holistic behavioral services page.
For dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds.
My behavioral services are available worldwide via video consultation.
🌎 USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia | New Zealand | Asia | South and Central America | Africa | UAE
📱FaceTime | Facebook | Skype | WhatsApp
To set-up your holistic behavioral session get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page.
Affiliations to Companies
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✓ I don't sell food, supplements, or other products.
✓ I'm not aligned with any companies.
Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld.
