Caring for working dogs
What Should You Do if Your Dog Has Coprophagia?
Jose Reid
Dogs sometimes eat faeces. This condition, known as coprophagia, might really concern you. After all, it is not the most pleasant of habits, and you might be horrified when your pet does this.
What is canine coprophagia? Is this a behavioural, dietary or medical problem? What should you do about it?
What Is Canine Coprophagia?
It is actually quite common for dogs to eat faeces. Some only eat their own poo; others prefer to eat poo from other dogs. Some won't eat any canine waste products but prefer to snack on faeces from other animals such as cats.
Typically, this is a puppy habit. It might be linked to juvenile curiosity and a lack of awareness of the place of things in the world. Most dogs will naturally grow out of it as they get older and work out that there are nicer things to eat. However, some dogs never really kick the habit and carry it on into adulthood.
Why Do Some Dogs Have Persistent Coprophagia?
Some dogs carry on eating faeces as they grow older because it becomes a behavioural habit. They don't see anything bad in eating bodily waste. They probably quite enjoy it.
However, coprophagia might be a sign that your dog's diet isn't supplying all the nutrition it needs. Some dogs eat faeces because they don't get enough food to satiate their appetite. Or, they might eat food that they can't easily digest, leaving them feeling hungry. In some cases, dogs do this because they have some kind of nutritional deficiency in their diet.
Plus, some dogs develop coprophagia because of an underlying medical problem. For example, dogs with parasitic infections, diabetes or thyroid problems might start to eat faeces. Some medications, such as steroids, might also encourage this behaviour.
What Should You Do if Your Dog Has Coprophagia?
If your dog eats faeces, then you should investigate the problem. Your pet might simply have some behavioural issues. However, they might also have an underlying dietary or medical problem that makes them do this.
So, make an appointment to have your dog checked over by your vet. If they do have a medical problem, then your vet can diagnose and treat it. If you need to tweak your dog's diet, then your vet can give you advice on how to do this. If your pet's coprophagia is a behavioural problem, then your vet can also give you tips on how to break this cycle of behaviour.
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We've always had a large property and our dogs are working dogs. They like to have freedom to run around and play with each other as well as helping us round up the sheep at the end of the day. We don't coddle the dogs by any means, but we do care for them deeply and want them to stay healthy. Sometimes our dogs do get into scrapes and do some silly things, like last year when my older dog ate some baited meat from a fox trap, and do need vet care. This blog has some tips on getting veterinary care for your beloved animals.