Have you ever wondered why dogs eat poop – or is this question not high up on your list of things you need to know?
If you are one of the 83 million dog owners in America, perhaps you ought to know. If you don’t own a dog, then you can just introduce your knowledge of this subject into a flagging conversation.
It seems that different dogs eat different kinds of feces for different reasons. By the way, the scientific name for the practice of poop eating is coprophagy – a good word to know!
Why do dogs eat the poop of other animals?
Dogs are attracted to cat feces, for example, because cat food is higher in fat and protein than dog food, and so are their feces.
Eating feces can be a sign of illness
Not all coprophagy is harmless. Dogs who suffer from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency sometimes eat stools, including their own. They are probably trying recover the nutrients they can’t absorb in normal digestion.
You should note if that if your dog eats its own and other dogs’ poop, and you’re buying the cheapest possible dog food, it may be worth changing to a more expensive brand with greater nutritional value.
Why Do Dogs Eat Their Own Poop?
There can be a behavioral explanation for dogs eating their own poop. Pet store puppies seem to eat their own poop more than the average dog. Dogs forced to poop in their cages will try to clean up. After a few times, they develop the habit of eating feces.
How can you prevent your dog from eating poop?
If your dog has access to the kind of feces it likes, it will find some. For example, homeless people often defecate in public parks; if your dog running free, you need to establish a solid recall pattern, so the order: “Leave that alone” will be obeyed. If you live in the country, chances are you can’t control the availability of horse, cow and other animal droppings.
Try to prevent access to poop
Keep your yard clean and tidy. If your dog is diving for it’s own feces as soon as they are produced, keep it on a leash until the pooping is over. Then lure it away with something really tasty before it gets to the poop.
Keep litter boxes out of reach
Keep cat litter boxes where the dog can’t reach them. Train yourself to hear the cat feet scratching, which is an indication they are pooping. Collect the poop as soon as possible.
Coprophagy is the clearest possible indication of how dogs differ from humans. Eating feces is dangerous to humans, but usually not to dogs.
So, now you are better equipped to reply to the question, “why do dogs eat poop?” than you were before.
Are you a dog owner? Do you have any observations from your own experience that you would like to add?
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