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Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?
Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

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Why do Dogs Eat Poop?

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Dogs are goofy and cute animals that do the strangest things at times. We have all noticed puppies and dogs roll in the mud, lick their paws, or even sniff other dogs. Yet, the most disturbing sight is to witness a dog eating poop. Yes, dogs often try to eat their own poop, and at times another animal’s poop as well. This strange habit of dogs can be very worrisome to its caregivers, but why do dogs eat poop? Is there a valid reason for dogs to eat poop? Also, what happens if dogs eat poop? Well, there are numerous reasons to why dogs eat poop. Read the following to know more about this condition and why it occurs.
 

Why do dogs like to eat poop?

Coprophagia is a medical issue that conditions dogs to eat poop. It is a common condition and is believed to affect at least one in six dogs at a serious level, while at least one in four dogs have been caught trying to eat poop. This condition often occurs because of a decrease in the absorption of essential nutrients. Limited nutrients cause gastrointestinal issues which sometimes lead to coprophagia. A dog suffering from coprophagia finds their own as well as other animal’s stool appealing and appetizing. If you have noticed your dog eating poop or sniffing poop, then you should try to understand the reason for it before the condition exceeds.
 

Why do dogs eat their own poop?

Although coprophagia can cause dogs to eat poop, what causes this condition? Why do dogs eat their own poop because of coprophagia? Read the following to understand the various hypothesis that may be contributing to your pooch’s poop-eating habit.

  • Motherly instinct: Most new and nursing momma pooches are found eating their puppies’ poop. Female furballs often do this to keep their kennel clean after their little one has littered the area. Your pet might eat its puppies’ poop to protect it from predators that might follow the poop’s smell. This condition can easily be controlled by always keeping your fur ball’s bed and kennel clean. You can install a puppy pee pad that can be regularly changed and cleaned to ensure the newborns are in sanitary conditions. Keeping the mother dog and puppies in a clean and tidy environment can immediately stop their willingness to eat poop.
  • Finds poop tasty: Poop is basically digested food. Therefore, one of the reasons for your dog to eat poop could be they simply find other animals’ stool more appetizing. If you notice your pooch trying to eat certain animal poops such as rabbits, cats, cows, etc. then they might like the taste of digested plants. In such cases, you can always consult their vet and get a preferred dog food prescription that might help in curbing your pet’s cravings.
  • Going through anxiety: One of the reasons your dog prefers eating poop could also be linked to anxiety. Dogs often get anxious because of new surroundings, unfamiliar sounds, and other similar reasons. Anxiety can lead to dogs getting involved in displacement behavior such as eating poop. At such times pet parents should try to identify the cause of anxiety and resolve the issue to control coprophagia.
  • Lack of nutrition: Sometimes dogs might feast on a stool to make up for the nutrition they are lacking. Feeding your pet, a nutrition deficit diet can lead them to eat poop. Indigestion, underfeeding, lack of vitamins and minerals, and parasites are some other reasons that might cause a lack of nutrition and an increase in the dog's urge for eating poop.
  • Need for attention: Dogs are also notorious for seeking attention with unusual activities. Your canine friend might do the most absurd thing to get some extra attention. Eating their own poop or others' poop can be one such act. In such situations, you can easily get your pooch to give up the habit by training it and giving it some extra love and attention.

What happens if dogs eat poop?

If your dog eats poop there are chances of it suffering from numerous health concerns. Poop is simply waste that might carry harmful pathogens which can cause illness and uneasiness if consumed. Your pet might suffer from gastroenteritis, vomiting, decreased appetite, nausea, intestinal parasites, and diarrhea after consuming poop. Hence, it is necessary to identify the root cause of this habit and treat it at the earliest. Given below are a few steps that you can take to control and eventually stop your dog’s poop-eating habit.

  • Training: It is easy to train your dogs to follow a certain command or pattern. Therefore, getting your dog to stop eating poop can also be taught through training. You can simply train them to not eat poop by using a stern and commanding voice each time they try to eat stool. However, ensure to treat them with their favorite treat each time they listen to you. Follow this activity regularly until they stop trying to eat poop. Training a dog can sometimes take weeks, so you need to be patient and consistent while training.
  • Redirecting attention: If your pet eats poop to seek attention or out of anxiety, then you can easily get it to stop by giving them some attention. Starting a game of fetch, offering their favorite toy or treat, or simply calling their name are some ways to distract your pooch from consuming stool.
  • Make poop less appealing: Keep the pooch away from the general toilet area and use a commanding tone every time they try to get needed poop. This will make them stay away from poop to avoid trouble. Making poop less appealing and treating it like a hazard can make your furball eventually stay away from poop. Potty training your dog and clean up soon after they have done the deed also helps in controlling their urge to eat poop.

Although coprophagia seems like a very serious condition, it is a very common condition. As mentioned previously one out of six dogs suffer from this condition, but with a little guidance and training, you can easily get it to stop consuming unpleasant hazardous things like garbage and poop. You should also try changing your dog’s food to more nutritious and nourishing food with high protein content, the right amount of fiber, and other nourishing elements like vitamins and minerals. However, if they continue eating poop, then you should visit a veterinarian doctor to get the condition diagnosed and treated at the earliest.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Is dog eating poop normal?

    2. Yes, it is dogs who often eat poop because of various reasons ranging from anxiety to lack of nutrition. At least one in six dogs consume poop, but this habit can be controlled by taking the right measures.

  2. Can dogs get sick from eating poop?

    3. Yes, poop is bodily waste that contains a lot of harmful germs, undigested food, and other harmful substances. Dogs can suffer from nausea, digestive issues, vomiting, and diarrhea because of eating poop.

  3. How do I clean my dog's mouth after eating poop?

    4. If your dog has eaten poop, then you can do the following things to clean its mouth.

    • Wipe their mouth with a clean cloth.
    • Use a dog toothbrush to remove dirt.
    • Offer a dental stick to chew on. This will help get rid of the unpleasant stink and impurities.
    • Lastly, offer it food and water to wash away the unpleasant stench.

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  • Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog
    Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog
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    Common Questions & Tips About Feeding Dogs

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    Giving your dog the right nutrients and a complete, balanced diet does not have to be a head-scratcher. All you need to know is what can dogs eat, how much to feed your dog or puppy, how to feed dogs, how many times to feed a dog, how to handle treats and supplements, etc. And this article tries to answer commonly asked questions on dog feeding.

    1. How do I decide what to feed my dog?

          When deciding which dog food is right for your pet, consider these three factors: 

    • Your dog’s life stage (Whether your dog is a puppy, an adult, or a senior)
    • Lifestyle (How active your dog is)
    • Condition (Overall health and body weight of your dog)  

     

    1. How many times should I feed a dog?

    Puppies should be fed three times a day from weaning (3 to 6 weeks) to 4 months of age. After 4 months, they should be fed twice a day. Most dogs should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.

     

    1. How much should I feed my dog?

    The answer to this question depends on your dog’s age, size, and activity level. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily-recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding your dog with this amount and adjust according to its needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.

     

    1. How much should I feed a puppy?

    The amount of food you need to feed your puppy depends on 3 main factors — breed, weight, and age. However, you can look at this puppy feeding table that we recommend for puppies:


     

    Puppy

    Adult Target Weight (KG)

    Recommended Daily Feeding (g/day)

                                                    <3 months         3-6 months      6-9 months      9-12 months        12-18 months

    Toy breed

    1-3

    15-72

    32-83

    37-83

    		    
     

    3-5

    33-106

    72-121

    83-121

    		    
     

    Small breed (25-50)

    5-8

    48-151

    106-172

    111-172

    111-170

    Transition to IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Adult Dog Food
     

    8-10

    69-178

    151-204

    170-204

    170-201

    		  
     

    Medium breed

    10-20

    82-299

    178-343

    201-343

    201-339

    		  
     

    20-25

    137-346

    339-404

    339-404

    339-404

    		  
     

    Large breed

    25-40

    136-492

    346-575

    404-575

    396-575

    396-563
     

    40-50

    191-509

    493-675

    575-681

    563-681

    553-676

     

    This diet contains 390 kilocalories of metabolizable energy (ME) per 100 gms. Remember to have clean, fresh water available for your dog always.

     

    1. When should I switch puppy to adult dog food diet? 

    You should not change your puppy’s food to adult abruptly. Giving your pet time to acclimatize to the new taste of adult food is very important. Also, if you suddenly switch your pup’s food, it can cause digestive problems. Go through this schedule that will help you understand how much to feed your dog and transition your dog’s diet from puppy food to adult food:

    • Day 1 – Add 75% puppy food and mix 25% adult food in your dog’s plate. 
    • Day 2 – Add both foods in equal quantities i.e. 50% puppy food and 50% adult food.
    • Day 3 – Increase the quantity of adult food to 75% and bring down the quantity of puppy food to 25%.
    • Day 4 – Fully transition to adult dog food.  

     

    If you are wondering how much to feed your puppy by weight and age, check out the weight and age-wise breakdown on when to transition your puppy’s diet to adult food: 

     

    Weight Range

    Age to Begin Transition

    Small breeds that weigh < 9.07 kgs 

    9 and 12 months of age

    Medium breeds that weigh between 9.07 and 22.6 kgs

    12 to 14months of age

    Large breeds that weigh more than 22.6 kgs

    12 to 24 months of age

     

    1. When should I switch my dog to senior food?

    While transitioning from adult dog food to senior dog food, it is important to factor in your dog’s weight. Look at this weight table to know when to transition your dog’s food from adult to senior:

    Weight Range

    Age to Begin Transition

    More than 40.8 kgs

    5 years

    23.1 to 40.8 kgs

    6 years

    9.5 to 23.150 kgs

    7 years

    Up to 9.07 kgs

    7 years

     

      

    1. What is the best way to introduce a new diet to my dog?

    When changing your dog’s food diet, it’s important to slowly introduce new food. Start by offering your dog’s daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% current food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of the old food.

     

    1. What to feed my dog if they are overweight?

    If your dog has gained unhealthy weight, make sure to cut down on fats along with increasing regular exercise. We recommend you browse through IAMS™ products and choose dog foods that are low on fat. How much food to feed your dog if they are overweight is another major concern. You can consult your vet to understand the right amount of food your furry friend needs for each meal.

     

     

    1. What should I feed my pregnant or nursing dog?

    It’s important to understand that your dog’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and ensure you feed her nutrition-rich food. For pregnant dogs, we recommend IAMS™ Puppy food as it’s full of proteins that can help your pregnant dog during the gestation period and improve the quality of milk to nourish her puppies post-delivery.

     

    1. Is it necessary to feed both wet and dry food?

    Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Although IAMS wet dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken and contain all the essential nutrients pets need. The crunchy texture of dry food also promotes healthy teeth and gums, and aids in overall good oral hygiene. In addition, some of our dry dog foods contain a dental enhancement to help block tartar buildup on teeth during and after meals.










     

     






     

    1. Will my dog be bored eating the same food all the time?

    No. Unlike humans, dogs have fewer taste receptors. Hence, they won’t feel the urge to eat something different every day. In fact, if you find something that suits your dog’s overall health and preferences, stick to that food.

     

    1.  Is it all right to moisten dry food? 

    Soaking dry food will ease up the initial job of the digestive enzymes. While water will not change its nutritional value, the food should be eaten relatively soon. Moreover, ensure that the leftover portion is discarded to avoid spoilage. We recommend providing your dog with IAMS™ dry food because it is beneficial to your dog’s dental health as well.

     

    1. Will it hurt my dog if they eat my cat’s food? 

    No. Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements. Moreover, cat foods are made with higher fat levels, which can be harmful to a dog. While it is okay for dogs and cats to sniff and lick some food from each other’s bowl, you shouldn’t let dogs eat cat food.

     

    1. How many biscuits can I feed my dog each day? 

    We recommend feeding your dog approximately two to four small biscuits per cup of food. Keep in mind that when you add biscuits to your dog’s daily diet, this increases its daily calorie intake, so you should reduce the amount of food you feed. Check the calorie content of the biscuit since biscuits vary in size and formulation.

     

    1. Can I supplement my dog foods with vitamins, minerals, oils, etc.? 

    Since IAMS™ dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced,  adding more vitamins, minerals or oils can disrupt the balanceour dog food provides. The reason why you provide your dog with a high-quality product is that it has been developed to offer nourishment in proper ratios and ensure optimal nutrition. Hence, nothing needs to be added.

     

    1. Why does my dog need to eat protein? 

    Protein is one of the essential elements that should be a part of your dog’s diet. Including protein in your dog’s diet will strengthen its muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. A protein-rich food also brings about a healthy shine to your dog’s coat! 

     

    1. Why should one maintain a feeding schedule for dogs? 

    It is important to maintain a feeding schedule for dogs so that they are conditioned to expect food at that time and avoid irregular snacking in between.

     

    1.  What are the things a dog dannot eat? 

    You should never feed your dog home-baked goods, candy, gum, chocolate, limes, onion, and grapes. They can harm your dog’s digestive tract and cause infections as well.

     

    1. Why should you feed IAMS™ dog food over homecooked food?  

    IAMS™ dog food is full of key nutrients that your dog needs for its healthy growth. The basic ingredients in our food include chicken, fish oil, beet pulp, wholesome grains, and natural prebiotic.

     

    1. How can I learn more about pet nutrition?  

    Follow our blogs to know more about pet nutrition & and dog food diet. Feel free to contact us here in case of any queries.

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