: Puppy Health

Help! My pup’s eating poo

There are several reasons why your dog may be ‘recycling’, or to use the technical term, indulging in ‘coprophagia'. In some cases, it’s a form of scavenging. Mouthing things (including things that seem unpleasant to us) is also part of ‘exploring’ for a pup, and dogs invariably explore with their mouths. It’s fairly common for puppies to eat their own (and sometimes other animal’s) excreta. It’s nothing to be alarmed at, but it is something to monitor as it could be a symptom of an underlying problem.

It‘s thought that one of the reasons puppies do this is because they see their mothers eat excreta. It’s perfectly normal for a dam to eat the pups’ faeces to keep the den clean. It also minimises the den’s scent, so intruders are not so easily attracted.

Your pup is oblivious as to how disgusting the average person finds coprophagia. But there are other good reasons apart from our own needs to discourage the practice – your pet can pick up internal parasites in the process and/or it can be habit forming.

What you can do about it:

• Coprophagia can be a symptom of worms, so make sure your puppy is adequately wormed.
• Coprophagia can be a symptom of nutritional problems. Ensure your pet is on balanced diet and that there’s something to chew on to keep teeth healthy.
• Avoid leaving temptations for your pet: clear away any excreta as soon as possible. Alternatively, sprinkle cayenne pepper or curry powder on the faeces, to make it less appealing to your pet. Taste deterrents are also commercially available.
• If you have a cat, make sure your pup can’t get at the litter box (your cat will appreciate it too!).
• If you catch your pup in the act, say “No!” and then give praise the moment your pet stops eating faeces. Call your pup over to you, so their attention is redirected. Praise your pet for coming when called, and continue to deter them from the faeces.

If your pup persists with coprophagia, or if your adult dog suddenly starts to ‘recycle’, consult your veterinarian, as they could have a nutritional or enzyme insufficiency, or worms. Your veterinarian will also be able to suggest additives to make up for these deficiencies, as well as products to make the faeces less appealing to your pet’s taste buds. In an adult dog, coprophagia may also suggest a need for attention, or even boredom. While coprophagia is common in pups, a vet should always examine a grown dog with this behaviour.