Dogs eat poop

A frequently asked question by dog owners is, my dog keeps eating its own poop, how can I stop it? There is no simple answer or solution to the habit of eating poop, otherwise referred to as Coprophagia. Unfortunately dogs may be drawn to the highly unsociable practice of eating their own poop or other dogs poop for a variety of potential reasons.

Dogs have a naturally developed instinct to both guard their own territory from intrusion by other dogs and also to maximise their dietary efficiency. These two factors are suspected to be the most likely cause of dogs eating their own poop.

The dogs we accept into our family homes as pets today have all originated from wild animals such as the Grey Wolf.

It is believed that in the wild where food is often scarce and difficult to find or catch, such animals may eat their own poop (faeces) to digest as many nutrients as possible from scavenged or hunted food. It is also believed that wild dogs and wolves may eat their own and other animals faeces (poop) to recognise and identify territorial intruders or mask their own sent.

It is unfortunate that this built in survival instinct is widely inherent in the pedigrees and mongrels we now treasure as family pets.

There is another factor unique to domesticated dogs that may be responsible for coprophagia. This cause is unfortunately down to dog owners providing their pets with a house training regime based on punishment and not praise. In such circumstances it is believed that dogs may associate going to the toilet with punishment. This negativity encourages the dogs to only go to the toilet when humans are not around (hence, I cant believe it, didn’t do a thing on walk, got home and there’s a stool on the carpet) furthermore the dog may attempt to hide stools by eating them to prevent being punished.

So how do we break the habit?

Firstly, as I am sure you are now aware, there is no single reason that is openly identifiable as the definite cause of dogs eating their own poop. We must therefore as responsible dog owners attempt to remove the obvious temptation and address the many factors that may have induced the desire in the first place.

Factors that may induce dogs to eat poop (coprophagia)

Temptation to eat dog poop - dogs may eat dog poop for many reasons and a simple solution is to house train dogs properly and clean up poop from the dogs surroundings at the earliest opportunity. As dogs may also eat dog poop whilst out walking it is important to steer them away from poop whilst on the lead and observe them carefully whilst off the lead.

Cleaning poop from their own surroundings - It is important for us as dog owners to take full responsibility for keeping our pets surroundings free from dog poop. Dogs like most animals do not like to live amongst their own faeces and may be tempted to clean up for themselves if we don’t offer the support they deserve.

Dietary deficiencies causing dogs to eat poop

It is important for anyone considering taking on the responsibility of a new dog to fully understand the dietary requirements and frequency of feeds that the breed of their choice will need. Of course the needs of dogs do differ even within the same breed at times. If we take into consideration the age and weight of the dog and allow ourselves to be guided by the advise of reputable breeders and food manufactures we should be on the right track.

If we cut corners with our dogs diet their may be an imbalance or insufficient nutrients to support their needs. Dogs may then eat their stools to improve their intake of nutrients. Also cheep dog foods are often difficult to digest and the stools of dogs on such diets can include high levels of undigested food. This may in turn encourage the dog to eat their poop.

Another dietary factor that may encourage dogs to eat their own poop is hunger. Feeding the correct amount of food for your dogs weight at the appropriate times and frequency is essential for your dogs health. This important good practice is also a great way of reducing the chance of your dog getting hungry and feeling the need to eat its own poop.

Dogs may also be drawn to eating their own poop when suffering from underlying health issues affecting their ability to digest and utilise the food they eat. It may also be a sign that your dog is suffering from the infestation of an intestinal parasite such as worm. In such cases the parasite benefits from the dogs healthy diet leaving insufficient nutrient to support the dogs dietary needs. In such circumstances the assistance of a vet should be sought as a matter of urgency.

Curiosity builds dog poop eating habits

A dogs curiosity will encourage it to investigate everything in its surroundings, including dog poop. Furthermore, dogs may be encouraged to investigate dog poop when they observe us cleaning it up around the garden and mimic what we do (allelomimetic behaviour). They may see the poop as something that is good to handle because they see their owner picking it up on a regular basis.

An unfortunate coincidental of this initial investigation is that the dog may actually enjoy the taste and texture of the faeces and thus develop a taste for poop that forms into a habit.

Boredom and attention seeking - play with me or I’ll eat it!

A very important part of dog ownership is dog entertainment. Dogs need a good balance of exercise from dog walks and stimulation through play interaction around the home and garden with their owners. These two important aspects both relieve boredom and de-energise our pets. Without a good combination of both our pets are likely to mischief for entertainment which may include eating poop. They may also recognise that a normally disinterested dog owner suddenly gives them lots of attention when they are caught in the act of eating dog poop. This can become a method of gaining your attention even though it may not be welcome attention.

Stress, anxiety and fear

There are many issues that may stress our pets or make them anxious. These issues may include the conditions in which they are kept, the levels of exercise they receive, picking up on negative things happening in their home, abusive behaviour from owners or maybe a new addition to the family that they do not understand, amongst others.

Chastising a dog for going to the toilet where it shouldn’t or eating their own dog poop will only confuse them. This will instil negative memories together with fear into the dog. It is very possible that the dog will develop a fear of going to the toilet in view of their owner and attempt to hide their poop by eating it to prevent punishment.

Masking sent - territorial and puppy preservation

Dogs have naturally developed and built in instincts to protect their territory and defend their puppies from predators. In order to mask the presence of themselves to potential challengers to territory and dominance a dog may eat their poop to disguise their presence. A bitch with a litter of pups may also eat her own poop and the poop of her litter to prevent predators locating their position.

Summary

Put your dog on the correct diet and feed them at regular times with the correct amount of food for their weight. House train them properly using positive motivation and not negative reaction and punishment. Let them out regularly and clean up their mess before they can. Remove boredom through regular exercise and stimulating interactive play with you. A combination of the above should when put in place help stop your dogs eating their poop.

Treatments to prevent dogs eating poop

There are certain dietary supplements that can be used to help break the habit of dogs eating their own poop.

For further information visit our page - Stool Repel, stop dogs eating their poop!

Why should dogs be groomed?

Grooming dogs is a very important part of responsible dog ownership. Dog grooming is necessary for the promotion of good dog hygiene, good dog health and also provides time for social interaction and bonding between dog and owner. Many dogs moult at regular intervals which involves the shedding of fur thus removing old damaged and dirty fur which in turn makes way for the growth of a newly generated healthy and clean coat. Other dogs however do not have the luxury of moulting and require regular visits to a professional dog groomer or more informed and intensive grooming from their owners. Dogs with the ability to moult such as the Labrador are now being crossed with breeds such as the Poodle (Labradoodle) to eliminate shedding around the home and to reduce the need for persistent grooming.

Basic dog grooming should be carried out by owners as a matter of routine. The time spent on grooming our pets is highly dependent on the breed of dog we own. Dogs with denser and longer fur obviously require greater time and effort to prevent knots and tangles developing and to promote a clean, dirt free and healthy coat.

Dog Grooming Services

With many unusual and extravagant looking breeds now appearing in competitive dog shows specialist dog grooming techniques have been used to give people that competitive edge. With high demand for people with dog grooming expertise many courses are now being run from recognised colleges and other official education establishments throughout the United Kingdom. Many professional dog grooming services are now available as a result of such courses. These can either provide dog grooming from specially adapted premises or even as a mobile home visit grooming service. These services should not be used to substitute a regular dog grooming routine by owners in the home.

Dog Grooming Tools

The traditional dog brushes and dog combs we know so well are now complimented with a vast array of weird and wonderful devices developed to help dog owners groom their pets. Dog grooming tools such as shedding blades, rakes, stripping combs, knot busters, slicker brushes and grooming mitts or gloves are all now widely available together with more professional type electrical grooming clippers and traditional style dog grooming scissors for cutting and thinning. Also available are devices for trimming dog nails which come in various styles including the guillotine and scissor
type.

Tools available include:

• Brushes
• Combs
• Grooming Clippers
• Grooming Scissors
• Grooming Rakes
• Stripping Blades
• Shedding Blades
• Grooming Mitts
• Slickers
• Knot Busters
• Nail Clippers

Good reasons for grooming your dog:

• Helps reduce the risk of skin irritations and health problems related to poor coat and skin condition.
• Improves the general cleanliness of your dog and reduces doggy odours.
• Provides opportunity to check for underlying problems that may indicate a health issue such as bald patches, flea and flea faeces, cuts and abrasions, lumps or swelling, lameness, or any uncharacteristic change to the dogs temperament whilst being handled which could indicate discomfort or pain.
• Close grooming also provides that golden opportunity for some quality down time with your dog. Grooming is an ideal bonding and socialisation exercise between dog and owner.

Pet Grooming and related products from Pet Treats

Dog Worms

There are different types of worm that we as dog owners should be aware of . All of these can effect the health of our pets to varying degrees. Certain dog worms also run the risk of cross contamination with humans. All of these dog worms live as internal parasites which can be difficult if not impossible to spot with the naked eye. It is therefore important that as responsible dog owners we visit a vet for the routine preventative treatments for parasitic worm. It is also important that we can recognise the signs and symptoms of an infection and respond accordingly.

Types of dog worm include:

• Tapeworm
• Roundworm
• Hookworm
• Whipworm
• Heartworm

This article provides information on dog worms and will hopefully help you to identify, treat and most importantly prevent the parasite before a problem occurs. It should be noted that both roundworm and hookworm can be transferred to humans and therefore pose a health risk to both pet and owner.

General signs and symptoms of dog worm

The signs and symptoms of a dog worm can appear in different ways being dependent on the specific type of worm causing the infection. Weight loss, bloated appearance, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in stools and the appearance of spaghetti or tape like deposits in the vomit, stools, around the anal area or in the dogs bedding are all indications of a parasitic infection. Other indications can be an uncharacteristically poor coat condition, the dog becoming unusually lethargic and loss of appetite.

Prevention is better than cure

Don’t forget that any of the above signs and symptoms can very easily be related to other dog illnesses and it is always advisable to visit your vet at regular intervals for routine health checks and additionally when a problem is suspected.

Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum)

The Tapeworm is another type of intestinal parasitic worm. Tapeworms like roundworm are visible to the naked eye and appear as long flat worms with a tape like appearance, hence their name.

Segments of tapeworm can often appear in the stools and bedding of an animal suffering from the parasite. These broken sections of the tapeworm can also be found around the anal area of infected dogs. Despite being separated from the original adult tapeworm these segments can normally be seen still moving.

Symptoms may include weight loss, diarrhoea and vomiting, itching around the anus (dog may drag their bum on the floor), tenderness of the abdominal area and nervousness.

Fleas are carriers of tapeworm and dogs therefore infested with dog fleas can also become infested with tapeworm by ingesting fleas whilst nibbling at irritations and the general grooming of themselves.

As with all worms prevention is far better than cure. Close observation of pet dogs for the signs and symptoms of worms and regular visits to the vet for general healthy checks, vaccinations and worming treatment is highly recommended.

Roundworm (Toxascaris leonina / Toxocara canis)

Roundworms are a parasitic worm that live in a dogs intestines. There are two genus of the roundworm that can affect our family pets, Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara canis. The Roundworm is the most common type of parasitic worm that can infest dogs. Puppies are often effected by roundworm having contracted the parasite from their mother. Puppies can contract roundworm from feeding on their mothers milk or before birth through the mothers uterus.

The eggs of the roundworm can lay dormant for extensive periods in garden soil. Once ingested by an ever inquisitive pup the eggs will hatch and develop inside the dogs intestines. Roundworm can also be found in the stools of infested dogs. This again can pose a risk to other dogs particularly if they have developed the bad habit of eating stools.

Symptoms of Roundworm can include the dog developing an uncharacteristic pot belly, weight loss, diarrhoea, vomiting, poor coat condition and lethargy. The roundworm itself may be seen in vomit or stools and recognised by its spaghetti like appearance.

Roundworm is a parasite that can cross contaminate humans and care should therefore be taken by using good hygiene practice after handling dogs. Regular preventative treatment is highly recommended.

If left untreated roundworm can develop into a life threatening condition. If suspected consult your vet for advise and treatment.

Hookworm (Ancylostoma caninium)

Hookworm is another genus of parasitic worm that lives in the intestines of dogs. Much in the same way as the roundworm, the hookworm can infest puppy litters by being passed on by the bitch. Another similarity between roundworm and hookworm is they both have a risk of cross infection to humans.

Hookworms survive by hooking themselves to the intestinal wall where they can feed from capillary blood vessels. The act of feeding by the worm can cause damage to the intestinal walls causing internal bleeding. In severe infestations of hookworm the loss of blood can result in anaemia and then death.

Symptoms of the hookworm parasite can include diarrhoea, weight loss, anaemia and pale gums, pets may also become uncharacteristically lethargic. Stools can also appear to be bloody .

The hookworm is a microscopic parasite undetectable to the human eye. Prevention is far better than treatment and therefore regular health checks and worming at the vet is highly recommended. Close observation and monitoring of any early signs by dog owners is the best way of catching any parasitic infestation at the early stages for more effective treatment.

Whipworm (Trichuris vulpis)

Whipworms like most other parasitic worm live within the walls of a dogs intestines. Like hookworms the whipworm is not visible by the naked eye and correct diagnosis is therefore only possible by a qualified vet or similar.

The whipworm takes its name from a long and thin whip shape in appearance.

The whipworm feeds in the same manner as the hookworm resulting in damage to the intestinal wall and subsequent internal bleeding. Symptoms may include weight loss and diarrhoea, anaemia, blood deposits in the dogs stools and lethargy.

Effective treatment of whipworm can only be carried out by a qualified vet or under veterinary supervision. Regular health checks, vaccinations and routine preventative treatment for worm is highly recommended.

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)

Heartworm is an extremely dangerous parasitic worm effecting the heart in dogs. If undetected and left untreated the condition will almost certainly result in heart failure and death.

The signs and symptoms of heartworm infestation do not materialise until late in the condition posing greater risk to our pets. These symptoms are easily confused with the symptoms displayed by less sinister parasitic worm which poses a risk of misdiagnosing the condition.

Correct diagnosis and the effective treatment of Heartworm is extremely important and can only be carried out by a qualified vet. Regular health checks, vaccinations and routine preventative treatment for all parasitic worm is essential and limit’s the risk of infection throughout our pets life.

Dog Mite (Cheyletiella Yasguri)

Cheyletiella Yasguri is a form of mite found prodominently on dogs. This mite is also known as the dandruff mite due to the mite causing the dog to suffer with flaky skin. This skin condition is apparent to dog owners in the form of dandruff like deposits throughout the dogs fur. This form of dog mite does not burrow into the dog like other forms of dog mite but instead lives on the surface of the skin.

Cheyletiella is a highly contagious genus of mite that can by contracted by direct contact with an infected host. Whilst humans are not the chosen host of this form of mite infections are known to occur but normally subside within two to four weeks.

Mite in dogs can only be correctly diagnosed by microscopic analysis. Any suspected infection in a pet should therefore be followed up by a visit to your vet.

Successful treatment of any dog mite infection can generally be treated by the application of an appropriate pesticide once the cause of the problem has been correctly diagnosed.

Dog Mite (Demodex Canis)

Demodex Canis is another form of mite also found prominently on dogs. Unlike Cheyletiella Yasguri this genus of dog mite does not live on the dogs skin surface but burrows itself deep beneath the surface of the skin. Demodex Canis is the form of dog mite that is related to the condition in dogs known as Mange. The dog will often have bald patches appearing with a hard scaly surface, these areas can often be prone to secondary bacterial infection.

As with the dog mite Cheyletiella Yasguri correct diagnoses can only truly be made by microscopic analysis. Any suspected infection in a pet should therefore be followed up by a visit to your vet.

Due to this genus of dog mite spending its life cycle embedding beneath the surface of the skin cross infection is less likely in cases other than those where prolonged direct contact occurs.

Infestations causing problematic factors are more common place in animals suffering with a suppressed immune system.

Demodex Canis can be treated by the introduction of an improved nutritional program together with an appropriate anti-parasitic treatment combined in some cases with antibiotics.

Itch Mite (Sarcoptes scabiei)

The itch mite is another genus of burrowing mite and commonly associated with the condition known as scabies in humans and mange in dogs. Itch mite is known to infect a wide range of animals including both dogs and humans.

The action of the female mite burrowing into the dogs skin to lay her eggs and other mites moving around the skin causes severe skin irritation in the form of itching.

Due to the severity of the irritation dogs my scratch themselves franticly to the point of breaking the skin surface. Open lesions are a common area of secondary bacterial infection with dogs infected by itch mite.

Ear Mite (Otodectes cynotis)

Ear Mites as the name states are found in the ears of dogs. The ear mites appears as minute white specs that are almost invisible to the naked eye. The mites will migrate between the ear and ear canal as they feed on ear wax deposits. The movement of the ear mite can be extremely irritating to your pet casing them to scratch at the ear and shake their head in an attempt to relieve the irritation.

Ear mite can be identified by a build up of a dark brown deposit in the outer ear. This deposit can be responsible for blocking the ear ducts and causing secondary infections. For treatment to be successful it is important to remove all deposits within the ear before treatment commences. Ear mite is a highly contagous genus of mite and vetenary assistance is therefore highly recommended as soon as any ear infection is suspected.

Kennel cough is an illness found in dogs that predominantly affects the upper respiratory system of the animal. Common symptoms in dogs suffering from the illness are coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge and vomiting. Kennel cough can be the result of a number of viral infections and is highly contagious particularly when a number of dog are kept in the close proximity of boarding kennels or other more social gatherings.

It is essential when choosing a boarding Kennel that you choose one with strict rules regarding guests providing proof of all necessary dog vaccinations. Don't forget, although Kennels are an obvious risk area for infection, our dogs can just as easily become infected whilst they socialise on dog walks, dog events or dog training classes or by simply coming into contact with an alternative infected location.

Kennel cough would normally become apparent within the first week of exposure to the infection and may last for two to three weeks even with the appropriate treatment.

Kennel cough is highly efficient at transferring the Virus or Bacterial cause through either inhalation of air born source or direct contact with contaminated areas. Disinfecting the kennel area and isolating the infection is therefore very important.

Kennel Cough can generally be treated successfully with an appropriate course of antibiotics and cough medicine. As with any predictable illness or problem prevention is always better than cure. It is therefore highly recommended that all responsible dog owners visit their vet for all appropriate vaccinations and boosters.

Remember to check your pets vaccination documentation is up to date when concidering anything that may involve placing your dog in kennels .

This is the first in a series of articles by Pet Treats on dog fleas, dog flea prevention and ways of dealing with dog flea infestation.

What are fleas?

Fleas are an external parasite that live off the blood of mammals and birds. The flea has developed a mouth which is capable of piercing skin in order to suck the blood from their unfortunate host.

Dog Fleas

The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) is the flea which most dog owners will encounter at some point. This flea has developed to thrive on the blood of our beloved pet dogs but is also quite partial to taking a bite out of us. Dog fleas can live for several months without a host to feed on. The female dog flea does however need to feed on blood before it has the ability to lay its eggs. Dogs may carry several thousand eggs within their fur at any given time depending on the level of flea infestation.

Life Cycle of a dog flea

Dog fleas just like other fleas have four stages to their life cycle.

Stage One - Flea Eggs

After the female flea has fed on a suitable source of blood she is capable of laying eggs. The eggs are laid in batches of around 50 at a time but an individual flea can lay as many as 500 on a dog in its lifetime. As the dog moves around scratching itself these eggs can often fall from your pet and deposit themselves around the home. Areas where the dog frequently lays down can become primary locations for eggs to become deposited. Eggs can take anything from two days up to two weeks to hatch depending on the ambient temperature.

Stage Two - Larvae

Dog flea larvae immerge from the eggs after hatching. The dog flea larvae are blind and unlike the adult flea do not suck blood. The larval stage can take from as little as a week up to several months to develop into its next stage (the pupae). During this cycle of the fleas life the larvae will feed on the adult fleas faeces and other organic produce such as dead skin. The Larvae will eventually weave a silken cocoon around themselves in which the larvae transform into the final stage before adulthood, the pupa.

Stage Three - Pupa

Dog flea Pupa morph into adult fleas in as little as just a few days time or up to two weeks time in total depending on the ambient conditions. The adult dog flea can remain within the cocoon at rest until they detect the presence of a host. Indications to the flea that the time is right to immerge from the cocoon are vibration, heat, noise and the sense of pressure from the weight of an animal above.

Stage Four - Adult dog flea

Adult dog fleas cannot re-produce without first feeding on blood. If a newly hatched dog flea is unable to find a host to feed on it will die in about one week. However if adult fleas do not leave the protection of the cocoon they are capable of surviving for several months and even up to one year.

Related Articles:

Signs and symptoms of dog flea infestation - coming soon

Treating dog flea infestation - coming soon

Preventing dog flea infestation - coming soon