Why does my dog eat poo?

Why is my dog eating poo?

Don’t panic! Although we humans think this is a pretty disgusting behaviour, it’s actually very common and not unnatural for dogs.  And they’re not fussy either… some will eat the poo of cats, cows, horses, other dogs – and even their own poo. 

There are a few reasons why your dog might indulge in this, but what should you do about it?

Reasons your dog might be eating poo

• There are times that dogs eat poo naturally. Bitches will ‘clean up’ after their puppies, and one of the jobs our dogs’ ancestors would perform in their early relationship with us humans was to keep villages and settlements ‘tidy’.
• It can happen in dogs that have had a bad or stressful upbringing, with little stimulation or mental enrichment.
• If a dog is feeling hungry or are generally greedy ‘eat everything’ dogs, they are more likely to partake in some opportunistic snacking.
• Boredom can be also a trigger
• While in some cases, dogs lacking in adequate nutrition are more likely to eat poo, it’s so common that it’s often because they just enjoy it!
• Sometimes it is a puppy/juvenile behaviour that they grow out as their world fills with far more exciting things.
• Owner reaction can exacerbate poo eating

Is it a health risk?

Not surprisingly, eating poo is really not that great for your dog’s health. It fills your dog up with often worthless fibre and bulk, poo can contain parasites, and a serious a worry is that some livestock poo can contain medication that could be dangerous to dogs.

How should I stop my dog eating poo? 

First steps:

• Your first step is to talk your vet, to make sure your dog doesn’t have any dietary issues or nutritional deficiency, especially if this is a new behaviour.
• Make sure you’re feeding a really good quality dog food.
• Consider feeding more meals in the day – little and often. Feeding just one meal can leave a dog feeling hungry and then they are more likely to eat poo.

My dog is eating its own poo!

• If your dog is eating their own poo, reduce the access they have to it. Clean up immediately after your dog has been to the toilet. That means going outside with them every single time, so they don’t get the chance to eat it.
• Take a high-value treat, such as chicken or sausage, out with you when your dog’s going to the toilet. As soon as they’ve finished, distract them immediately with the treat.
• Throw the treat a little way away from you so that your dog moves away from the poo to get the treat.
• While the dog’s eating you can clear up, then give your dog another treat once you've finished.
• Continue rewarding with treats every time your dog goes to the toilet for quite some time. It’ll give you a chance to clear up, and it’ll prevent your dog from continuing this bad habit.
• IMPORTANT: Don’t get too fixated on grabbing the poo before your dog does. Be calm and relaxed about it. If you leap on the poo frantically the moment your dog has finished, you can make the poo seem more valuable (“it must be great if my human wants it so badly too”). and it can become a competition as to who can grab it first!

My dog is eating cat poo

Cats do not utilise protein very well, and so cat poo is almost totally protein. In other words, like it or not, it’s really tasty for dogs! So if you have a multi-species household, what can you do to stop this?

• You need to make sure that you clean your cat’s litter tray as often as you can to keep temptation to a minimum.
• Move the litter tray to an area of the house that your dog can’t get access to.
• Using a stairgate to restrict access to a certain room or area where you can place the litter tray can help. If you have an elderly or rather portly cat, you can fit a cat flap into the stairgate to allow your cat through easily if they can’t jump over the gate or fit through the bars.
• If your cat toilet is outside, fence off their preferred toilet area so your dog can’t get access.

Eating other poo

Sometimes the temptation of horse poo – or livestock poo – can just be too much when you are out and about in the countryside. If you know this is likely, keep your dog’s focus on you, use training exercises with plenty of tasty rewards to keep their attention, and consider using a long line or even a muzzle (although that doesn’t stop the most determined!).

More ways to stop your dog eating poo

If you suspect that boredom could be causing the problem, think about your dog’s daily routine and how you can add interest to their day.

This might be giving them more short walks rather than one long one that leaves them with nothing much to do for the rest of the day.

Make sure they are getting an outlet for the things they really enjoy doing. These can be breed or type specific, or just things your dog particularly enjoys.

Introduce braining games and enrichment toys like Kong toys. You can stuff these with food to give them a bit of a challenge to get the food out. This gives your dog the chance to chew and gnaw, which is a stress-buster in itself, and is something rewarding to do that gives them a tasty (non-poo!) treat.

Make sure your dog gets enough exercise and interaction with you. Social company and quality time with their human is vital for our dogs.

And remember, don’t panic! No matter how revolting you find it, most dogs will get out of the habit of it with just a little bit of help from you.

As an Agria Pet Insurance customer, you can speak to a vet completely free whenever you have a question or concern about your pet’s health. Simply download the Agria app for free 24/7 video calls; giving you expert advice to help keep your pet happy and healthy.

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