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The proper term for poo-eating is coprophagy.
Depraved appetite: An unnatural craving to eat unsuitable food is known as depraved (corrupt) appetite, or pica (Latin for magpie).
Whether it be tasty rabbit poo nibbles, big dollops of horse poo or scavenging for other dogs poo hidden in the long grass, poo eating is an issue we are frequently contacted about. It seems that this is something that many dogs like to do and unsurprisingly, it is something we find unpleasant and difficult to cope with.
Poo eating in itself, especially herbivore poo, is unlikely to cause any acute issues, however it can be a transmitter of parasites and so any dog that is likely to have this habit is best kept up to date with all types of worm prevention medication.
There can be many different factors involved when a dog has been eating poo – life stage is the first factor to take into account.
Puppies like to explore the world with their mouths – young dogs will give eating most things a go at some point, including poo. For some it will be a passing phase, but for others they can realise they enjoy it and so a habit of ‘hunting’ for it can kick in. At this point, training is likely to be the key factor in solving the issue to prevent it from continuing on into adulthood.
If the behaviour has suddenly started in an older dog, this is when we would look more carefully at the issue and make sure all dietary aspects have been carefully considered.
As with many “bad habits”, poo eating can occasionally be linked to an underlying health issue.
Some dogs may show obvious signs of digestive upset such as occasional loose stools but for many, the only indication is poo eating. In the same way that some dogs eat grass when they are feeling unwell, some may eat poo (or other unusual things) instead.
As with many common health issues, a holistic approach to health and nutrition can offer a solution.
The first port of call is to feed a highly digestible, natural, wholesome, hypoallergenic food which is high in complex carbohydrate and low in protein and fat. A highly digestible diet reduces the workload of the digestive system so that the digestive process is more efficient. We have found over many years experience that food which uses wholegrains as the mainstay of the diet gives excellent results but other ingredients such as potato and buckwheat can also be effective. Not every food suits every dog so it may be necessary to experiment with several foods to find the right one for your own dog. This should be done with professional advice, for instance with our Nutrition Team.
Just as important as the right type of food, it is vital to get the feeding amount right too. This is where many pet owners fall down – too much food reduces the efficiency of the digestive system. Overfeeding, even good quality food, also contributes to the toxic burden of the system which can lead to other health problems. Many pet owners believe that they cannot be overfeeding as their pet is not overweight. Very often that is not correct; excessive weight gain is not the only health-related outcome of overfeeding.
A bonus of digestible food fed in small amounts, is that less material reaches the lower bowel, meaning less dog poo to clean up (and less for them to be tempted to eat…!)
The Burns Health and Nutrition Team can give you individually tailored advice on finding the right food and the right feeding amounts for your dog
Alternatively, see Daily Feeding Amounts.
When trying to eliminate poo eating, it is important, initially, to have as little variety in the diet as possible, i.e. no treats, other pet food brands, fruit or even homemade foods containing meat and fat (vegetables are OK). Keeping it simple helps to identify what works best. Treats may be tried at a later stage once the poo eating has been resolved.
While coprophagy might be a baffling aspect of dog behaviour, it’s often a manageable one. Please do not hesitate to contact our free Nutrition Helpline either through email, live chat, or a phone call at 0800 083 6696.
