Why do dogs eat their own poo?

If there’s one thing that never fails to turn the stomach of any dog owner, it’s when they see their dog eating poo.Sometimes poo eating in dogs can be a one off, but some dogs eat poo all the time. Pretty gross!

Why Do Dogs Eat Poo?

The scientific term for the eating of poo is Coprophagia, which if you can get past the obvious horror of it all is actually quite interesting. There’s a good deal of science to explain many of the causes of poo eating, but at the same time there are also dozens of long-standing theories that could also shed light on the subject.

For example, a great many animal experts insists that the act of a dog eating poo dates right back to the ancient origins of the animal. Prior to being domesticated, dogs were scavengers and would basically have no choice other than to eat anything that presented itself in order to ward off starvation. As such, the theory remains that poo eating is a historic behavior that still presents from time to time.

One of the most common instances in which a person will see their dog eating poo is when the dog has recently given birth to a litter of puppies. Dogs are instinctively wired to keep tabs on their babies and to ward off any potential predatory attacks. And as predators would pick up on the smell of her new babies’ poo, she’ll make sure she cleans up every last bit of it by eating it. Disgusting it may be, but at the same time she’s just being a good mum!

And then of course come the instances of simple domination, which are common in households where there are several dogs present. In such cases, it may be a natural and instinctive behavior for a submissive dog lower down the pecking-order to eat the poo of his superior.

Why Poo Eating Shouldn’t be Ignored

More often than not, poo eating won’t cause any real harm to the dog, other than terrible dog breath.  It isn’t necessarily anything to worry about. At the same time however, it should never be ignored, but instead brought to the attention of a professional as soon as possible.

When a dog eats poo, there’s always the chance that it could be a sign of a potentially serious illness which will need checking up straight away. For example, when and where a dog has a digestive problem and is unable to absorb enough nutrients from its food, there’s a chance it may instinctively eat his own poo. There are also various health problems associated with nutritional deficiencies that could be the cause of the poo eating.

Along with physical health problems, there are also certain behavioral issues that poo eating can be a sign of. For example, high levels of stress or anxiety can trigger poo eating in dogs as something of a compulsive behavior they have little to no control over. This is precisely why poo eating is common in boarding kennels and other such communal doggy areas as the animals may become too stressed out to really know what they are doing.

In some instances, it has become clear that the actions of an irresponsible dog owner have contributed to the poo eating problem. When and where a dog is made to feel that pooing is a crime and is scared to death of being attacked by its owner after pooing, the dog may resort to eating the poo in order to get rid of it. This is a rare and highly distressing behavioral trait for which the owner is 100% responsible.

Regardless of the cause of the poo eating however, one of the main reasons it is crucial not to ignore it is the way in which you cannot predict or control which poos your dog may eat. And if he decides to eat the poo of a dog with a serious illness, chances are he’ll end up with the same disease.

What to Do About Poo Eating

The first thing any responsible pet owner must do is take their dog to the vet and have him checked out for any signs of illness. If the vet gives the dog the all-clear, this essentially means that the poo eating isn’t a serious problem and can therefore be addressed by the owner.

First and foremost, the best tip of all is to prevent access to any poop in the first place. If and when the dog goes to the toilet, it’s the owner’s duty to pick it up and dispose of it as quickly as possible, which over time can teach the dog that it’s not in fact to be eaten.

It sounds awful, but in some cases it has been reported that dogs resort to eating poo either because they simply cannot stand the food they are being given at home, or their daily diet is lacking what their body needs. As such, in all cases of poo eating it’s a good idea to look carefully at the dog’s diet and ask – is it really 100% premium, or just the cheapest garbage on the shelf?

Last but not least, dogs often eat poo simply because they are bored and have nothing else to occupy them, so it’s always a good idea to try adding a few new toys and generally giving him all he needs to stay occupied and happy.