![]() Then, once it is dry, scatter feed in garden so dog changes its searching pattern to looking for food rather than faeces.įood additives - some dogs may be unable to break down the protein in their food sufficiently and that is why their body is telling them to eat more. If dog eats it own faeces, pick up faeces and hose down the garden area well. If your dog is watching and waiting for a toy to be thrown on a walk, he is less likely to be searching for faeces to eat. Take toys out with you on a walk and play often. Give your dog more things he can do with his mouth, particularly if he is an adolescent, i.e. Give more chances to explore new environments. Give more walks, and play and attention so that your dog something more exciting to do than hunting for faeces. Give more stimulation - both physical and mental. Make sure it is a big basket muzzle that will allow him to pant and get rid of excess heat easily. Until you have found a long-term solution to the problem, you may like to consider muzzling your dog when out walking so he cannot pick up faeces. Put cat litter trays out of reach (not of the cat!), either up high or use a stair gate to prevent access. Feed your dog at regular times so you know when he is likely to produce faeces and then keep watch. Prevent access to faeces - Pick up all faeces in the garden or yard where your dog is kept, and check regularly so faeces can be picked up as soon as your dog does more. Feed half an hour before going out on a walk to allow the food to move out of the stomach (to reduce the chance of bloat) and to allow the nutrients to enter the blood stream so that your dog is not so hungry when on a walk. Increase the number of vegetables too to increase the feeling of fullness (pulverize the veggies in a processor as dogs cannot access the nutrients easily unless the cell walls are broken down). Increase the number of meals given - feeding your dog the same amount of food but splitting it into several meals per day can help to reduce hunger levels and make them feel more full. Qualified canine nutritionists are hard to find but may be of some help with this problem. This will help to ensure that your dog gets all the nutrients he needs, especially adequate digestible protein that is not always sufficient in foods that are cooked at very high temperatures and extruded into pellets.Ĭheck with your veterinary surgeon first before making any dietary changes, but remember that the veterinary profession are not always well trained in nutrition. Try a different brand of food, buy a better quality diet, or try a more ‘natural’ diet (e.g. Dogs, just like people, are individuals and a diet that may suit one dog may not suit another. Once medical causes have been ruled out by your veterinary surgeon, here are some suggestions for solving the problem:Ĭhange the diet - consider changing your dog’s diet to ensure he gets all the nutrients he needs. This may be due to the high fat and protein content. Dogs fed on canned food, puppy food and performance food produce more ‘attractive’ faeces than dogs fed on high-fibre, low-quality food. This could be linked to the big appetite of young dogs, it could be the need for certain nutrients, or that young dogs are more exploratory and hence more likely to need to use their mouths.ĭiet - flavour enhancers in commercially produced dog food can pass through the gut and cause faeces to smell like food once it comes out the other end. Young dogs - coprophagia often occurs in young dogs and then they grow out of it (but not always). cat faeces in flower beds, dog faeces on walks.Īppetite - the habit of faeces eating is more likely to happen in hungry dogs and dogs with increased appetite, for example, recently neutered or overweight animals Once your dog has learnt where to find faeces, it is natural to actively look for more, e.g. Dogs might learn from watching other dogs do it, but if conditions are right, they will learn to do it themselves as it is such a self-rewarding behaviour. Learning - once dogs have learned that eating faecies is rewarding, it quickly becomes a habit. Once they have discovered the enjoyment of eating faeces, they go back to it time and again. They have nothing else to do, nothing to chew, and so faeces may be the only interesting thing in their environment. Introducing A New Dog To Another Dog In The Familyīoredom - many dogs that do it are or have been kept alone for long periods of time with limited stimulation.Courses and Careers In Animal Behaviour. ![]() Puppy Aggression To Other Dogs And Puppies.Puppy Problems With Other Dogs And Puppies.Aggression Over Food And Possessions In Puppies.Problems with Cats, Horses, and Small Animals.Barking eBook - "Shhush! How To Have A Quiet Dog".
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