Why do dogs eat their own poop?

Why do dogs eat their own poop? A frequently asked question! The first thing you should know is that poo eating is a very common canine behaviour, and most of the time it is nothing to worry about. While it may seem disgusting to us, most dogs do it from time to time, and it usually doesn't harm them.

In this guide, we cover why dogs eat poop, whether it's linked to gut health, and when to visit your vet.

Why do dogs eat their own poo?

The technical term for poo-eating is coprophagia, and it's not uncommon in our canine companions. There are many reasons why your dog might eat poo:

1. Attention seeking: If your pet gets a reaction out of you when they eat poo, you could be accidentally encouraging them to repeat the behaviour. Dogs quickly learn that eating either their own poo, or another animal's, often gets a loud reaction from their owners.
2. Boredom: Under-stimulated dogs may explore and try their poop out of curiosity or to seek attention (see above point!).
3. Anxiety and stress: Stressed and anxious dogs may act out of character or develop some unusual habits while dealing with their emotions. Learn how to help a dog with anxiety. 
4. Hunger: Poop can sometimes contain bits of undigested food which may be appealing to some peckish pooches! This may explain why dogs eat other dogs' poop.
5. Habit: Your dog may simply associate poo eating with feel-good feelings and want to continue out of habit.
6. Mothering instincts: When puppies are very small, their mother will stimulate toileting through licking and ingest any waste produced. Some dogs' maternal instincts may drive them to ingest poo similarly.
7. Nutritional deficiencies: Nutrient deficiencies can give dogs the urge to eat things outside of their normal diet. We can see deficiencies when dogs are on poor-quality or nutritionally imbalanced diets, as well as secondary to health issues that cause reduced nutrient absorption.
8. Health conditions: Some health complaints can drive dogs to eat unusual things through increased hunger. Malabsorption issues may also cause nutrient deficiencies, leading pets to eat strange things. Inflammatory bowel disease and dysbiosis in the gut could cause this behaviour, as well as parasites like Giardia in dogs.
9. Medications: Some medications could increase your pet's appetite, resulting in poop-eating.
10. Scavenging nature: If your dog’s drive to scavenge for food is high, then they may experiment with poop eating.
    

Is it normal for dogs to eat their own poop?

Why would a dog eat its own poop? While we find it pretty gross, it is actually quite normal for dogs to eat their own poop from time to time. It is usually harmless, and in most cases, it is driven by habit, curiosity, and instinct. However, if the behaviour is becoming excessive, or if your pup seems unwell, then it is worth intervening.

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Is a dog eating poo linked to gut health?

It can be! Certain health conditions, such as severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can prevent effective nutrient absorption. This may drive affected dogs to look for other sources of nutrition, including poo.

We also know that a healthy dog's gut contains millions of friendly microorganisms, which make up an ecosystem known as the gut microbiome. This careful balance of friendly bacteria, fungi, and viruses helps dogs digest their food properly and produce healthy stools, as well as keeping their immune system in good working order. An imbalance in the gut microbiome can occur for a variety of reasons, leading to problems.

Signs of poor gut health in dogs include diarrhoea, vomiting, increased gas and abdominal discomfort, as well as reduced nutrient absorption. It's therefore possible that some dogs will start poo eating to replace missing microbes and nutrients. The importance of a healthy microbiome shouldn't be underestimated, and there is currently a lot of interest in this field of medicine.

Can eating poo make my dog ill?

Coprophagia in dogs rarely causes illness on its own, especially if your pet is just eating their own poop. However, if your dog eats other dogs' stools regularly, then it could expose them to internal parasites, as well as potential bacterial and viral infections. Symptoms of worms in dogs are variable; some will have stomach upsets and weight loss, whereas others will show no external signs at all. It's worth seeing your vet for regular check-ups and ensuring your dog is protected with de-worming treatments and routine vaccinations.

Why do puppies eat their poop?

Puppies are curious creatures and explore the world with touch, taste, and smell. However, this can sometimes result in some unfortunate behaviours, like poop eating! Puppies also learn from others, so they may just be copying their mother's normal maternal activities. Try not to worry; most puppies will usually grow out of it, with the right approach.

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When should I be worried about my dog eating poop?

As we've explored, a certain amount of poop-eating is considered normal in dogs. Most will give it a try occasionally! However, if you notice any of the following, then you must speak to your vet for advice

• if it’s out of character for them and not something they would normally do
• if it’s a sudden onset behaviour or it seems obsessive in nature
• if they have other symptoms that could indicate an underlying health issue, such as weight loss, loose stools, or vomiting.

Unsure if your dog's stools are healthy? Why not check out our dog poo chart to see if a trip to the vet is recommended?

How to get a dog to stop eating poop

How do you get a dog to stop eating poop? There are many things you can do to help, including -

• Clear up any faeces straight away to remove the temptation.
• Distract your dog from faeces with more interesting things like their favourite toy.
• Never scold or punish your pet for their behaviour, as this could accidentally reinforce it or create feelings of anxiety.
• Check that your dog is on a good-quality, complete diet. This should be appropriate for their age, size, and life stage, and you should feed the correct amount according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Consider adding a small amount of pineapple or courgette to their diet, as this can make stools taste unpleasant to dogs. There's no strong evidence that this works, but there's usually little harm in trying.  Just remember that any extras like fruit and veg should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily diet, or you could accidentally cause stomach upsets and dietary imbalances.
• Speak to your vet, especially if your dog is acting abnormally or seems unwell. If there are no underlying health issues, they may refer you to a qualified pet behaviourist for extra help.
• If you've covered all bases and your vet agrees, then consider trying a probiotic to help improve your dog's gut microbiome. This may be especially helpful if your dog suffers from regular stomach upsets or other signs of poor gut health.

Remember, you should always use positive reinforcement rather than punishments when addressing your pet's behaviour. Shouting or using aversive training methods can sometimes make the problem worse, and will create feelings of anxiety, stress, and uncertainty in your dog.

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Conclusion

Hopefully we've answered the question of why dogs eat their own poop. As we've explored, there are actually many reasons why dogs eat dog poop! Most of the time it is a normal behaviour, driven by curiosity and habit, but occasionally it can indicate something else. If your dog is acting out of character or showing any signs of ill health alongside their poop eating, then make sure to get them checked over by a vet.

If you are interested in gut health, click on the following link to read more about dog digestion.