When you let your dog outside to goto the toilet, do you notice that they sometimes turn around and eat their own poop? Despite what you might be led to believe, the act is much more common for pets to eat their own poo than you would think.
Although it may be shocking and embarrassing to witness, there are a number of reasons why your pet could be choosing to eat something they shouldn’t.
However, pet owners are being encouraged to keep an eye on their animals, along with any other abnormal behaviour as it could be a sign that something is seriously wrong.
At pets can’t speak to us directly, it can be difficult to understand what they are thinking and how they are feeling day-to-day. Dogs, however, are very clever and actually use their entire bodies and specific traits to convey their feelings.
This is why keeping an eye on what your four-legged friend is doing can be extremely beneficial for owners and help give them an insight into what they are thinking and feeling.
Why do dogs eat their own poo?
Hunter Finn, a Veterinarian and owner of an animal hospital, explained that some dogs will eat poo for behavourial reasons, because they like the taste, or because something else is seriously wrong with them.
He said: “I’m a vet and I’m teaching you a few things you may not have known about your pet. Why do they eat poop? Some eat it because they like it. Yes, they literally like the taste.
“Others eat it because they’re scared of repercussions, like if they poop in the house and you get mad at them. Some eat it because of boredom. And then there is that small percentage that eats it because they have a nutritional imbalance or a medical condition.”
According to PetMD, pet owners should take their dog to the vets when they take an interest in eats other dogs’ poop. Coprophagia can be associated with diseases of the intestinal tract and sometimes other parts of the body, such as the liver or brain.
They also warned that if their dog has never been a poop eater and suddenly develops the habit in association with symptoms of disease, such as weight loss, lethargy, discomfort, behavioral changes, vomiting, or diarrhea, they should make an appointment with their veterinarian.
How can you stop dogs from eating their own poo?
It can be difficult to stop your dogs eating their own poo, espcially if you are not with them all the time and rely on friends and family while you’re at work.
Doctor Hunter Finn said: “So what can you do about it? I haven’t found one single thing that works or else I’d probably be rich, but some things that have helped my clients.
“Fresh Pineapple, which you actually feed your dog and after a few days it should keep them from eating their poop. And then of course, just having a dog with good recall or leash or cleaning up the poop always helps too.
“Keep being a great pet parent.”