Dog eating poop, it has a name Coprophagia.
Not all dogs do it, some don’t even like it but it does exists, Coprophagia that is. Just what is this long and hard to pronounce name? Well per wikipedia.org
“Coprophagiais the consumption of feces, from the Greek κόπρος copros ("feces") and φαγεῖν phagein ("to eat")… ”
Although this may seem like a highly unusual practice it is common among domesicated pets, especially dogs. Why do they do this? There are many different reasons as no two animals are the same; however here are a few examples as to why dogs do this:
- Hunger – your dog may simply be eating his/her feces because they are hungry. Simple and straight to the point.
- Boardum – some dogs just have that need to chew, and if its avalible they will chew and digest their feces.
- Stress – there are many things that can cause ‘fido’ to feel anxious, nervous or upset.
- Copycat behavior – your dog may have seen other dogs do it, or seen you cleaning up after them, so they are just practicing what they have seen.
The list goes on and on of course, but those are just a few reasons.
How to fix the problem?
This problem can be fixed by monitoring your pet while outside. As well as cleaning up after them right when it happens, don’t leave droppings out for them to eat; and take away the temptation once they’ve ‘done the deed’ so to speak. If you can not afford the time to follow ‘spot’ around with a baggie then there are also a number of over the counter pills and supplements that are designed to prevent such behaviors. If you tried the over the counter stuff and find its just not doing the trick, then speak with your veterinarian and see if they know of a different method to stop this madness.
Aside from bad breath, and it being a horrible habit coprophagia does also pose a threat to the general health of your pup. If your dog is eating feces that have been left out they could also be ingesting a whole host of things: fly eggs, worms, fungi, ants and anything else that may have had the time to take up residence in the feces. It would be highly recommended that you address the situation and if necessary seek medical attention to help deter this behavior.
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