Perfect Puppy Problem Solving – Chapter 2 – Coprophagia

Chapter 2 - Coprophagia

Puppies usually love the taste of feces. It's unappetizing but true. They'll eat their own poop. Horse manure can be especially tempting as well. And if you have a cat, well, cat poop is a delicacy to your puppy! The habit of eating stools is called coprophagia.

Not every puppy develops this habit, but if your puppy is eating poop, it's a bigger problem than just bad breath and nasty puppy kisses. She could ingest intestinal parasites and get sick. Puppies that eat large amounts of horse manure can develop severe diarrhea and vomiting.

Usually, puppies who develop coprophagia are not suffering from any nutritional deficiencies. In other words, there's nothing missing in their diet that causes them to crave poop. They can develop the habit out of boredom, from being raised in close confinement that isn't properly cleaned, or because of something as simple as they tried it one day and liked the taste.

What to Do

There are theories about adding things to your puppy's diet to make the taste of her poop less appealing. You can purchase these products from pet stores or your veterinarian. You also may have heard about adding things to her food, from meat tenderizer to pineapple to pumpkin. Some people experience success with these items; others have no success at all.

A surefire way to solve the problem is through good management. As soon as your puppy goes potty, pick it up and deposit it in a waste receptacle out of her reach. If you have other dogs, pick up after them right away, too. Put your litter box in a place where your cat can access it but your puppy can't. If you are around horses, keep your puppy on leash and make sure that she does not get near any horse manure. If she never has access to poop, she can't eat it and thus can't get sick from it. It may be a bit more work to clean up after your puppy promptly, but it's healthier for everyone in your family.

Some dogs crave stool for a few rare medical reasons. If you have concerns, always check with your veterinarian.

What Not to Do

Never rub your puppy's nose in her stool or scream at her for eating her poop. Yes, it's a disgusting habit—to you, not to your puppy. She thinks it's delicious! Just manage the issue and train her to leave her stools alone.