Why do dogs eat their poop?
Some dogs eat their poo, there are no two ways about it. The strange behaviour has many of us baffled. Scientifically known as ‘coprophagia’, this phenomenon is surprisingly common in the animal kingdom.
Take for instance rabbits, in order to meet their nutrient requirements they produce a special type of poo just to eat it again! Young horses, on the other hand, will eat adult excrement to help with digestive development (2). In other species, the behaviour is only observed under certain conditions and could be a sign that something is up.
Most people put this down to a bad habit in dogs, but there can be a method in the madness. Let’s dive into a few of the reasons.
Pups will be pups
Coprophagia is common in young puppies but don’t be alarmed. This is a relatively normal part of learning and development. The act is demonstrating natural foraging and exploratory behaviours (5); think of it as trial and error. If coprophagia continues beyond the early stages of development other causes are likely.
Poor nutrition
Sometimes dogs will perform coprophagia if they aren’t getting enough nutrients from food (e.g. when malnourished or starved). Most meals will meet the nutrient requirements of our pets, but digestibility will vary.
When your dog doesn’t digest a particular food very well, intestinal absorption will decrease and nutrient content of the faeces will increase (3,5). A deficiency is created, which can be alleviated by re-consuming the partially digested food. Thus, increasing the appeal of eating poo!
Disease and digestive function
Disease can also be at play. Coprophagia is occasionally a symptom of intestinal parasites and inflammatory bowel disease (5). The outcome of this is similar to that of a poorly digestible diet, whereby more nutrients are being excreted rather than being absorbed.
Another thing to consider is your dog may be insufficiently producing pancreatic enzymes (6) (essential for good digestion). Excrement is rich in digestive enzymes, making it more appealing to deficient dogs. If a vet confirms a deficiency, they may suggest (non-poo) enzyme supplements. The lack of pancreatic enzymes may be occurring due to poor nutrition and pancreatic disease.
Behavioural causes
To put it simply, some dogs think poo is really tasty. In this case, coprophagia can be a result of positive association. If a dog knows they are not supposed to defecate in a particular place, they may also learn to hide the evidence.
Other behavioural causes are thought to be innate den cleaning behaviours and learned attention seeking (5). If you make a fuss every time your dog does it, they may mistake this for praise!
Research suggests that stress, boredom and separation anxiety correlate with the incidence of coprophagia (1,3). So leaving your dog for long periods of time may increase the habit, and you wouldn’t even know about it.
Why do they eat other animals’ poo?
Unfortunately, degraded plant material in horse, cow and sheep poo can make it irresistible to some dogs. Cat poo is particularly odorous and high in protein, which again, increases ‘poop-appeal’. Dogs will eat rabbit poo for the same reasons that rabbits eat their own (5).
Potential risks:
There are a few risks associated with coprophagia to be aware of:
- Increases susceptibility to parasites and pathogens (inc. worms and viruses)
- Toxicosis; accumulation of medications in faeces can be toxic (4)
In most cases, your dog will be fine. If you are worried about persistent poo eating then get your dog checked by a vet and/or see a trainer. As you now know, there are multiple potential causes.
A few quick prevention tips:
- Feed good quality and highly digestible food
- Discourage the behaviour through positive reinforcement
- Do not leave your dog alone for long periods of time
- Provide adequate stimulation to combat boredom (e.g. activity toys)
References
1. Boze, B.G. (2010). Correlates of coprophagy in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as assessed by owner reports. J. Appl. Comp. Anim. Behav, 4, pp.28–38.
2. Boden, E. (2007). Black’s student veterinary dictionary. 1st ed. London: A. & C. Black, p.156.
3. McKeown, D., Luescher, A. and Machum, M., (1988). Coprophagia: Food for thought. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 29(10), p.849.
4. Raekallio, M., Hielm-Björkman, A., Kejonen, J., Salonen, H. and Sankari, S. (2006). Evaluation of adverse effects of long-term orally administered carprofen in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 228(6), pp.876–880.
5. Tilley, L., Smith, F. and Smith. (2015). Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline, 6th Edition. 6th ed. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, pp.324–325.
6. Westermarck, E. and Wiberg, M. (2006). Effects of diet on clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 228(2), pp.225–229.