14 Reasons Why Dogs Eat Poop and How to Stop It

If your dog raids the cat's litter box like you raid the fridge or happily chows down on piles left by the neighbor's dog, you might wonder: Is it normal for dogs to eat poop? Rest assured, this quirky dog behavior is not uncommon. One in four dogs have been caught in the act at least once, while one in six dogs make a regular habit of snacking on the brown stuff.¹

The scientific name for this behavior is coprophagia,¹ and a wide range of reasons can help explain why dogs engage in it. But just because your dog thinks poop eating is neither gross nor abnormal doesn't mean you should encourage it. This habit could expose your dog to contagious diseases, like parvo, as well as to bacteria and internal parasites that can cause illness.² And those sloppy wet kisses could pass those things on to you, too.³

Here are 14 common reasons that might explain why your dog eats poop, along with helpful tips for getting them to stop.

1. Vitamin or Nutrient Dietary Deficiencies

Today's dogs typically don't have as much variety in their diets as their wild ancestors. Your dog's modern domestic diet might be lacking in nutrients and enzymes that are needed for good digestion.³ For instance, some studies suggest that a vitamin B deficiency might lead some dogs to eat poop.¹ This could be a dog's way of getting the enzymes and nutrients they're missing.

How to get them to stop: Try adding a digestive supplement to their diet that includes enzymes, as well as a multivitamin that includes B vitamins.¹ You could also try adding more variety to their diet to ensure they get a wide range of enzymes and nutrients, and also to prevent food boredom.

2. Food Obsession

Prolonged hunger or malnutrition may cause a dog to develop a food obsession, in which case they'll be likely to fill their stomachs with anything even remotely edible. This obsession can continue even after a dog is well-fed and cared for on a regular basis. Some dogs might also be hungry all the time no matter how much you feed them, which could be a sign of illness.²

How to get them to stop: Check with your vet to make sure there's no underlying illness causing your dog to be hungry all the time, and to ensure you're feeding your dog the proper amount for their breed and size. Try using a slow feeder bowl or puzzle feeder to help them eat slower so they'll feel more satiated. Between meals, give them low-calorie, healthy treats like fruits and raw veggies so they won't feel deprived.

3. Instinct

Some experts believe that wolves and other wild canids eat the fresh stools of other pack members to protect the pack from potential parasites.¹ It generally takes at least two days for parasite ova to hatch into larvae that can cause a parasitic infection.⁴ This theory is born out of the fact that the overwhelming majority of dogs who eat poop do so when it's less than two days old.¹

How to get them to stop: Good training can override instinctive behavior. Teach your dog the “Leave it" command so you can stop them when they're about to take a bite of another animal's poop.²

4. Attentive Mothering

Dogs with newborn puppies lick the feces from their behinds to help them stay clean. As the puppies start soiling the nursing area, their mothers will continue to clean up after them by eating their poop.⁴

How to get them to stop: There's no need. This is a natural behavior for nursing dogs, and they typically stop on their own once the puppies start going outside of the area where they eat and sleep.

5. Positive Associations

Puppies who smell feces on their mother's breath may develop positive associations that attract them to the smell of poop as they get older. Also, a puppy who eats food regurgitated by the mother that contains poop particles can develop a taste for it, which is a process referred to as “appetitive inoculation."¹

How to get them to stop: When going through potty training with your puppy, lure them away from their poop as you offer them a treat. If you can, clean up after them right away. Otherwise, direct them to another activity, like training or playtime, to keep them from returning to their poop until you can pick it up.⁴

6. Boredom

Dogs like to alleviate boredom by exploring new scents and will often eat anything they come across that smells good to them.³ Eating poop might be to your dog what munching popcorn at the movies is to you.

How to get them to stop: Provide them with plenty of toys, exercise and mental enrichment to keep them from getting bored.³ Also, don't let them hang out in the backyard without supervision or engagement.

7. Attention Seeking

Your dog may have learned that eating poop is a good way to get you to engage with them.¹ For some dogs, even negative attention, like being shouted at, is better than no attention. And if their poop eating ever resulted in you chasing them, then they might think it's a game.⁴

How to get them to stop: Don't make a big deal out of your dog or puppy eating poop.³ Instead of reacting, simply lure them away with a treat or toy and redirect their attention elsewhere.⁴ Also, be sure you're making plenty of time to play with your dog and show them the attention they crave.³

8. Fear of Punishment

Punishing puppies for accidents during potty training doesn't teach them not to go inside the house — it simply teaches them that they'll be punished if you catch them. This might prompt some puppies to eat the evidence in order to avoid punishment, a habit that can continue into adulthood.¹

How to get them to stop: Never punish a puppy for house training accidents. When they mess up, simply take them to the spot where they're supposed to potty, and use positive reinforcement by rewarding them when they go where they're supposed to.⁴

9. Health Conditions

A number of medical issues can cause dogs to start eating either their own or other dogs' poop, including:³

• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). This is a condition that keeps dogs from being able to break down nutrients and absorb them properly, which can result in eventual starvation.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Chronic inflammation of the bowels and intestines can also keep your dog from absorbing nutrients, making them feel hungry all the time.
• Internal parasites. Parasitic organisms that live in your dog's digestive tract can absorb the nutrients your dog eats, keeping your dog from getting them, which can also result in excessive hunger.
• Endocrine disorders. Diseases like diabetes or hypothyroidism can cause your dog to feel constantly hungry, which might cause them to eat poop to ease their hunger.
• Medications. If your dog takes steroidal medications, these can also make them feel extreme hunger that can lead to poop eating.

How to get them to stop: If your dog suddenly starts eating poop when they haven't before or if it's accompanied with symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea or other changes in behavior, have your vet give them an exam.⁴

10. Anxiety or Stress

Eating poop might be a self-soothing behavior for dogs who are stressed, nervous or anxious.² This is especially true of dogs who have been kept in isolation or in kennels that are too small for them, such as those who've been rescued from puppy mills.¹ Dogs with separation anxiety might also eat their poop when left alone.⁴

How to get them to stop: If you crate train your dog, keep their crate in the same space where you or your family hang out so they can see and be near you. Their crate should be large enough to allow them space to stand up, turn around and stretch out, and you should let them out for a break at least once every few hours. Provide them with chew toys and enrichment toys to keep them from becoming anxious or bored. If your pup has separation anxiety, talk to your vet about ways to help.⁴

11. Compulsive Behavior

Poop eating is a form of pica, a disorder in which animals or people eat things that aren't food.² Pica could be one manifestation of canine compulsive disorder (CCD), which is similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans.⁵ Other compulsive behaviors include biting at invisible flies, tail chasing, excessive licking and barking nonstop.⁵

How to get them to stop: If you notice other signs of compulsive behavior, talk to your vet. CCD can be triggered by seizure disorders or other underlying health conditions. Behavior modification training, combined with managing their environment to limit their access to feces, might help them overcome their compulsive behavior. In severe cases, medications like Prozac® might be required.⁵

12. Curiosity

Dogs explore the world primarily with their sense of smell.⁶ And much like human toddlers, puppies examine new discoveries by putting them in their mouths. Both dogs and puppies who come across poo that smells interesting might taste it to satisfy their curiosity.

How to get them to stop: Keep a close eye on your dog when they're outside, and pay attention to what they're sniffing. Teach them to respond reliably to the “come" command so you can call them to you when they show too much interest in another animal's poop.¹

13. The Taste

Some dogs just like the taste of poop. They might have started eating it for any of the previous reasons but continue because, to them, it's a tasty treat.⁴ This can be especially frustrating for pet parents who have multiple pets that inadvertently keep a regular supply of fresh snacks for the resident poop eater.

How to get them to stop: Block off access to litter boxes, and pick up dog poop to dispose of right away. Supervise your dog when outside or on walks so you can redirect them or call them away when they go after another animal's droppings.¹

You could also try feeding your other pets foods or supplements that will make their poop taste bad to the offender. Many poop-eating deterrents include these ingredients, which are thought to make poop unpalatable to dogs:¹

• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Pepper
• Chamomile
• Yucca
• Parsley
• Garlic

Note that garlic can be toxic to dogs and cats in large enough quantities, so check with your vet before feeding garlic to your pets. Also, while one bit of popular advice says that feeding pineapple will deter poop eating, unfortunately, there's no evidence to back this up.²

14. Life With a Sick or Senior Dog

Sometimes, healthy dogs consume the feces of their sick or elderly housemates, especially if they're incontinent. This most likely relates back to the instinct to protect the pack by consuming potentially parasitic stool.¹

How to get them to stop: If you have a sick or geriatric dog who is prone to accidents in the house, use crates or pet gates to limit your healthy dog's access to their stool, and clean up accidents as quickly as possible.¹

Tips to Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop

To recap, here are some ways you can stop your dog from eating poop:

• Check with your vet to rule out an underlying illness or behavioral issue.
• Feed them a high-quality diet and add variety and supplements to ensure proper nutrition.
• Use a slow-feeder bowl or puzzle feeder to slow them down and increase satiety.
• Teach the “leave it" and “come" commands.
• Don't punish accidents, but use positive reinforcement during potty training.
• Supervise your dog outside and on walks.
• Quickly clean up after your pets.
• Don't overreact when you see your dog eating poop.
• Provide plenty of exercise, engagement and mental enrichment.
• Don't isolate your dog or confine them for too long.
• Provide a crate that has plenty of room for them to be comfortable.
• Block off access to litter boxes and to incontinent pets.

There's no question that, from a dog parent's perspective, poop eating is gross. And while it's often relatively harmless, it's not without health risks. Combine that with the fact that it could indicate a lack of good nutrition or a health condition, and this is definitely a behavior that should make you sit up and pay attention. Your vet is the best source for determining whether your dog's poop-eating behavior is something you should be worried about.

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Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist with eight years of experience. Her work has appeared on Hill's Pet, Chewy and AKC.org and more.