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Can you stop your dog eating stools?

N.H. Sunday News - Dog Tracks Column
By: Gail T. Fisher

A reader writes: “Dear Gail, I have a very important and disturbing question I hope you can help with. Why do dogs eat their own (and the other dogs that live with them) feces? Can this ever be cured? I have tried the powder for each dog; picking it up the second it is dropped; distracting the dog from the dog actually going and feeding a better diet. I have to put him out separately from my other dogs but if I miss anything in the dark...

“I thought it was unusual until I mentioned it to some friends. Almost all had gone through it with at least one dog at some time. No one wants to discuss it because, let's face it, we don't know what to think of a dog that actually eats it. We are extremely aware of where they clean and sniff but it seems different when you know they ingest it on purpose and seem to like it and seek it out.”

An unpleasant topic to think about, the reasons for coprophagia, eating feces, are not always known, but there are a number of possible, even probable causes. Some dogs only eat their own (autocoprophagia), while some only eat other dogs’ feces (intraspecies coprophagia). Many dogs are attracted to the feces of other animals (interspecies) such as rabbit or cat feces. As for interspecies coprophagia, as abhorrent as this to us, it’s likely that cat feces simply tastes good to dogs.

This is certainly is one of the most offensive and distressing things our dogs do. Theories as to possible causes include age-related, medical, nutritional, and behavioral. Here’s a rundown of some:

Age-related. Often puppies will eat feces, likely as part of their exploratory behavior, when virtually everything goes into their mouths. This is the one type of coprophagia that is often outgrown as the puppy matures.
Nutritional. One theory is that coprophagia is related to something missing in the diet, or improper digestion. It may also be hunger-related. Feed your dog twice a day, and try a diet change to a high-quality natural dry dog food or a home-cooked diet. There are also additives you can try available from your veterinarian. Papaya enzyme is sometimes helpful, as well as adding fiber to your dog’s diet with pumpkin puree (not pie filling) mixed into his food (a teaspoon to a cup depending on your dog’s size). If your dog has been on antibiotics, it’s helpful to mix in some yogurt or probiotics available from a health food store.
Medical/Physical. A veterinary check-up should include ruling out intestinal parasites, especially critical if your dog eats feces other than his/her own. Other medical conditions can contribute to coprophagia. Pancreatitis is something your veterinarian can explore, as well as a thyroid problem. One of our Doggy Daycare dogs was practically ravenous to eat stools. We worked closely with the owner, trying everything we could think of, but it wasn’t until the vet ran some blood tests that it was discovered that the dog had a thyroid problem. Once on medication, the coprophagia reduced to a level we could deal with through supervision and training.
Behavioral. Which brings us to the final category. Coprophagia may result from boredom or lack of exercise. The solution: exercise and finding an outlet for your dog’s energies in a daycare, through training, through a dog sport activity such as agility or flyball, and the like. It may also be a learned behavior either from watching another dog, or even from accompanying you as you clean up your yard. Stool eating can also be an attention-getting behavior—after all, it certainly does get your attention.

Solutions to behavioral coprophagia are all about management and training. Management means preventing your dog from getting to the stool, cleaning it up (pick up rather than sprinkle it with something noxious). If you can’t supervise, accustom your dog to a muzzle and don’t let her out without it. Train your dog to come when you call, and call your dog before she heads for the feces. Train your dog to “leave it”—move away from something—on cue. Break the cycle, and eventually should be able to relax your supervision.