Due to the commonality of puppy poop eating, there is actually an official term for the intentional eating of feces by dogs – Coprophagia. This type of behavior is not only gross, but can potentially make your puppy ill. Many common dog health problems are distributed through dog feces including worms. Poop can also contain maggots, parasites, and other harmful insects. And while many state that a puppy’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s, would you want a puppy to lick your face after eating that?
Understanding the reasoning behind the problem is the first step towards finding an appropriate solution.
First and foremost, if your puppy is hungry and there is no food accessible, eating poop might seem like a good alternative. Therefore, the first solution is to determine if lack of food is the root cause.
Next, territorial instincts can be a large cause of puppy poop eating problems. Who wants puppy poop inhabiting their space? Some puppies simply like to carry it around in their mouths. They could also just be curious about the poop. The aroma and taste might even be irresistible to your puppy, as hard as that may be to believe.
Your puppy’s poop eating habits might also be caused by worms or other parasites that are busy feeding off your dog’s nutrients. Your puppy may be trying to replace the energy that is slowly being eaten away. If your dog is eating the poop of other animals it may be because the nutrition in it appeals to him in some way or there is something missing in your puppy’s diet.
Perhaps the puppy poop eating is the result of pure boredom. Maybe he is lonely or feeling neglected. Maybe the pup’s nerves are getting the best of him. If a puppy is anxious or stressed out they are more prone to this type of problem. If the dog has watched you cleaning up his messes, he could be mimicking your cleanliness.
Mother dogs will eat their puppies’ poop instinctually to keep the fecal matter from possible predators.
If you can figure out the reason behind the puppy poop eating, finding the right solution is always easier. However, if you have no idea why your puppy is so inclined, test different root causes listed above one-by-one to see if the situation improves.
Here are some quick tips to begin with:
First, make certain your puppy eats a balanced meal with all the nutrients a growing puppy needs. If you are unsure of what these are and want to learn more, check out our eBook atPerfect Puppy Care where we cover this in great detail. Also, make sure your dog is getting enough food so that he is full. A hungry dog will go looking for anything to eat, which could lead to puppy poop eating.
Next, make an effort to clean your yard or outside play area often. Your dog cannot eat something that is not available. Use a command such as “Off” to train your puppy to stop when you call. If your puppy attempts to eat its own poop directly after going, distract him with loud noises or calling out to him to distract the habit.
Some experts say that if you add pineapple, spinach or pumpkin to your puppy’s food, the resulting poop will become unappealing to your dog. You could also add something like pepper to the poop to discourage eating, but if you are going to all that effort you might as well just clean the mess up after he goes.
If you fear that the puppy poop eating is the direct result of a health concern, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian to have your puppy tested.
Your puppy is not eating poop to be disgusting or to deliberately drive you crazy. Young dogs are very trainable and while the thought of this habit might gross you out, you can take matters into your own hands to curb this through consistent training, proper nutrition and frequent clean ups. Puppy poop eating can be stopped if you put enough effort into it. The result will be beneficial to both you and your puppy.
Related posts:
- Stop A Puppy From Eating Shoes
- Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?
- Grass Eating
- Puppy Poop Disposal
- Why do Dogs Get Sick After Eating Chocolate?
Comments on this entry are closed.