Help! My Dog Eats Poo!

It may come as a surprise to know that approximately 15% of dogs are in the habit of eating their own, or other dogs’, poo.
 
The clinical term for this undesirable, albeit natural behaviour is ‘coprophagia’ and as yet, a definitive answer as to why it occurs is still to be agreed upon!
 
What we do know is that during early domestication, more than 10,000 years ago, dogs would gain nutrients and keep the areas around human settlements clean by scavenging human faeces and other waste, leading to the notion that the behaviour is engrained within the dog’s DNA. Indeed, when a litter of puppies is born, the nursing mother dog stimulates her puppies to eliminate by licking their rears and then consumes their faeces, in order to keep the nest area clean and hygienic.
 
The consumption of faeces is also often seen in young puppies, although this is usually as a result of normal exploratory behaviour, tending to cease with maturity and if enough alternative enrichment is provided.
 
However, in adult dogs, faeces consumption may be considered to be more problematic. There are many anti-coprophagia products on the market claiming to help with this, although they have only been found to be effective in 2% of dogs.
 
If your dog currently eats his own, or other dogs faeces, he should be taken to your vet in order to rule out any suggested medical causes, including digestive problems. If a clean bill of health is offered, other suggested causes include hunger and boredom. To combat this, feed your dog an adequate amount of a good quality diet and ensure that he has plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. It is also important to make sure that your dog’s toileting area is kept clean and any faeces is picked up immediately. An excellent recall helps too. If these tips do not improve the situation, a qualified canine behaviourist should be contacted for further assistance.
 
Finally, if your dog is coprophagic, he should be kept up to date with his worming and people should follow basic hygiene measures, such as avoiding being licked by him. ©