Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

Bella is only 2 1/2 months old and I have heard that it is very common for puppies to eat their Poop . I know when we first got her, she was doing it and we have used the Tabasco technique with her and it has worked.

**For those that don't know the Tabasco thing, when the puppy goes you leave it there, poor Tabasco all over it and when they attempt to eat it, lick, etc.. 9 out of 10 times, they will never do it again.

This worked with her, but we still monitor it and she goes and then does not even walk over to smell, she does her business and walks away. But, for the past 2-days, she has been back to her old habits and now I feel like it's back to stalking her again!!!

If you have exp.this problem, how long does it usually last? How did you get them to stop? I am sure it's going to take a little time and we should still stick to what we were doing. I guess I thought "Hey it worked" and now we don't need to worry about it again (Guess not)


Sorry for the TMI, I know this is a gross subject!!!

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

my dog did this for a little while.. i guess it was a phase of hers... eventually when we realized what she was doing , we would make sure we would clean it up after she went to the bathroom... it was a pain, but it was the only way for her to stop...

HTH

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

I've never had that problem...the only thing you can do is clean it up as she goes and wait for her to grow out of it. Usually it takes almost a year.

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

Posted by Gertyrae

I've never had that problem...the only thing you can do is clean it up as she goes and wait for her to grow out of it. Usually it takes almost a year.

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

Clean it up as soon as she goes, my pit is 7 and to this day will eat if I do not pick up asap.

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

My puppy does the same thing. I was like gross when i first saw that. But I have learned to just clean it up right after she goes.
I never knew about the tabaco trick.

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

It could be a submissive behavior. See if you can look online for info about submissive behaviors. But in a young puppy I am not sure if that applies.

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

ha! Puppy...

My Bella is FOUR YEARS OLD and she STILL eats her friggin poop!!!

This week she did it and I literally threw up all over the place. After crying and holding a TOWEL over my face, I mustered the strength to clean up the leftovers.

MAKE IT STOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

We initially had this problem with our dog. We used DETTERENT - stop eating your stool for dogs---You just but the tablet in their food and he no longer even went near his poop anymore. Now we dont even out the detterent in his food and he will go to the bathroom, smell it for a second and walk away.

here is the link

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

you can go to the vet and they can give you powder to sprinkle in their food. DH's aunt's dog does this and it works well for her.

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

we only had this prob with char once or twice - she was very young and i think she thought it was "wrong" to poop and would try to eat it to get rid of it -- b/c she always looked like she was worried or something...

so, when she did it - honestly, my husband just yelled at her, grabbed her snout and said NO!! very stern and kind of just biffed her on the nose - she never, EVER did it again.

Re: Puppy and eating thier (fill in the blank)!!

Stool Eating (Coprophagy)
Holly Nash, DVM, MS
Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.


Q. What are the causes and cures of stool eating?

A. Coprophagy (pronounced kä - präf’ - je) comes from the Greek copro which means feces and phagy which means eat. And that is what it is – eating feces. A habit of dogs we all find disgusting, but as we say, dogs will be dogs. Some dogs especially like feces from herbivores like rabbits, deer, and horses. Others love to raid the cat's litter box. Still others only eat dog feces if it is frozen.
Why do dogs eat feces?

A lot of theories have been suggested as to why dogs eat feces. Are they missing something in their diet? Generally not.

Dogs who eat their feces usually do not have a dietary deficiency. Some medical problems, however, can contribute to coprophagy including severe disorders of the pancreas (pancreatic insufficiency) or intestine, severe malnutrition from massive parasitic infestations, or starvation. These cases are rare.

Some dogs, especially those in kennel situations, may eat feces because they are anxious or stressed. One researcher suggests that dogs who have been punished by their owners for defecating inappropriately start to think any defecation is wrong, so they try to eliminate the evidence.

Another theory is that coprophagy is a trait passed down through the ages. Dogs' cousins, the wolves and coyotes, may often eat feces if food is in short supply. Feces from herbivores (animals that eat plants for food) contain many of the B vitamins. Some researchers suggest that wolves (and some dogs) may eat feces to replenish their vitamin supply.

In some instances, coprophagy may be a behavior learned from watching other animals. It may also become a habit in the course of play and puppies having to try out the taste of everything.

There is a stage of life in which coprophagy is common and expected. Can you think of what it is? ******* and queens normally eat the feces of their offspring. This is presumed to occur in an attempt to hide the presence of the litter from predators.

Finally, some dogs may eat feces just because it tastes good (to them).

How do we prevent coprophagia from occurring?

The best way to prevent the problem is to keep yards and kennels free of feces.

Some owners find it successful to use something to make the feces taste horrible. Products such as For-bid (for cats or dogs) and Drs. Foster and Smith Dis-Taste (for dogs) are added to the food of the animal whose feces are being eaten (it could be the food of the dog with coprophagy if he eats his own stool; or the food of the cat, if the dog with coprophagy eats the cat's feces). The product is digested by the animal, and results in giving the feces a very bad taste. Some people try putting Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper (chili powder) on the feces (not the food!). Unfortunately, some dogs have acquired quite a taste for Tabasco. These methods work best if the behavior has just started. Once coprophagy has become a habit, it is very difficult to break.

Dogs should be on a leash when walking, so you have control over the dog in case a luscious pile of feces is found along the way. Sometimes, the only way to prevent coprophagy is to fit the dog with a wire muzzle. The dog will be able to sniff, pant, and do most things dogs do, but the dog will not be able to eat with the muzzle on. DO NOT LEAVE A MUZZLED DOG UNATTENDED.

Adding toys and other diversions to the environment may be helpful. We need to find something that is more fun for the dog than eating feces. A dog may find a Kong toy laced with peanut butter a better alternative. Also give the dog lots of exercise to help it ultimately relax.

In situations in which the behavior may be linked to stress, the cause of stress should be eliminated or at least reduced. In some instances of extreme anxiety, or if the behavior becomes obsessive-compulsive, medication may be necessary to try to break the cycle.

One researcher recommends checking the dog's diet to make sure he is getting enough B vitamins and is not getting an excess of carbohydrates.

Some dogs will improve if they are fed more often, so you may want to increase the number of meals (but keep the total daily intake about the same).

There have been anecdotal reports that adding Prozyme to the diet may aid in eliminating this problem.

For dogs attracted to litter boxes, you may need to be quite creative. Using covered litter boxes and placing the opening towards a wall may help. Some people put the litter box up high. Others put the litter box in a closet and secure the closet door so that the opening is big enough for the cat but will not allow the dog to enter. Keep in mind that if we make the litter box too difficult to reach, the cat may not go to it either.

Above all, do not punish the dog for eating feces. This may reinforce the behavior. General work on obedience is sometimes helpful. If the dog knows what is expected of him and looks to you for cues, he may be less anxious and less likely to start or continue the behavior.

What are the health risks of coprophagy?

Many parasites can be transmitted through eating stool. Generally, herbivores have parasites specific to them; these parasites will not cause disease in carnivores. But dogs eating the feces of other dogs or cats can infect themselves repeatedly with parasites such as giardia, coccidia, and if the feces are around for 2-3 weeks or more, roundworms and whipworms. Such dogs should have regular fecal examinations and dewormings with the appropriate medications depending on the parasites found.

Summary

We are not sure why dogs eat their own feces or the feces of other animals. We do know that if a dog starts this behavior, the sooner we implement prevention measures, the better the chance of success.