Dog Eats Poop
If you are wondering why your dog eats poop then read on. It’s gross and embarrassing but also very common for dogs to do this. There has been discovered a link between the poop eating and anxiety issues as well as nutritional issues. The information is below on why your dog eats poop.
An Explanation for Why Your Dog Eats Poop
There are a variety of reasons for dogs eating poop. This habit is called coprophagia and, although nauseating, really does your dog no harm. Sometimes they do this to clean up their own living space. If you don’t keep your dog’s space clean, this is what you can expect. Dogs do not like being in a space with a lot of poop.
There are also some health related issues. Your dog may have a nutritional problem which will cause him to eat his poop. Have the vet check your dog for worms or other parasites that are getting more of the nutrition from the dog food than your dog is. Eating the poop is just a way for him to get more nutrition. Once the dog receives medication to kill the parasites, the poop eating should stop. This is one reason why your dog eats poop.
They say that imitation is the highest form of compliment, so if your dog sees you cleaning his space of poop, he might just be imitating you or possible another dog that he sees eating poop. Other dogs do this out of anxiety and it becomes a habit with them.
No matter what the reason of your dog’s poop eating, it is a pretty easy habit to break. And it is a habit that needs to be stopped.
Stopping Your Dog’s Poop Eating
The first thing to make sure of is that there aren’t any health problems involved in your dog’s poop eating habit. This is especially true if the dog has never done this before. Find out if the dog has worms or other internal parasites, if not, then increase the dog’s food portion.
If this doesn’t solve the problem, then start keeping the dog’s area clean of poop daily. Check everywhere in the yard and make sure it is free of dog poop. This will remove the source of the bad habit.
Making Adjustments in Your Dog’s Behavior
There are other measures that you can take to change your dog’s “eating habit”. Adding a distaste to the poop such as cayenne pepper or sour apple should put an end to the poop eating. Another method is to feed your dog a spoonful of pumpkin puree on a daily basis. Also spraying them with a water bottle when they start to eat poop accompanied by a firm “No” will make them stop. Dogs hate being sprayed with water.
Taking them for frequent walks in the park and keeping their area poop free will cure your dog’s habit. This is why your dog eats poop, because it is there. But don’t let the dog lick your face.