Eating feces, also called coprophagia, can be distressing for dog and cat owners. Whether it’s the pet’s own feces or someone else’s, the act itself is, well, gross, and not acceptable behavior for us to do, so it’s hard for us to watch our pets do it? So why does this happen? What can you, as a pet owner do about it? Should you worry?
Let’s review the common reasons behind this peculiar behavior and what your options are to help eliminate (no pun intended) the problem.
The Science behind Coprophagia
At certain stages of life, eating feces is actually a pretty normal and helpful habit. Nursing or lactating mothers will lick their babies frequently to keep them clean and help stimulate them to use the bathroom on their own. For moms of big litters, this can be a big task, but rarely do we see any issues such as stomach upset or poor health from these mamas.
Coprophagia can be normal behavior for young dogs and cats as well. Being around a mother who licks them clean may help them develop the habit. It may also be an instinctive drive to ensure normal gastrointestinal (GI) tract development.
Puppies and kittens are not born with bacteria in their GI tract, and some scientists theorize that infant pets that eat poop are helping their body develop healthy gut bacteria (also known as intestinal flora). Unfortunately, eating feces, can become a difficult habit to break. Puppies may continue the habit as young adults, and although some may grow out of it on their own, you may need to seek guidance to help them.
Medical Reasons
Medical issues can lead to a pet eating feces even if they normally wouldn’t or never did before. In some pets, poor diet, malnutrition, or not eating enough calories can lead a pet to eat feces.
Nutritional deficiencies within the diet are not as common as they used to be, because most commercially prepared pet foods are formulated to cover general nutritional needs. Home-made diets are more likely to be an issue because it can be difficult to achieve a good balance of a pet’s dietary needs with limited ingredients and resources without the assistance of a veterinary nutritionist.
Other common causes of eating poop include intestinal parasites (worms) and poor nutrient absorption and digestion within the GI tract (e.g., chronic diarrhea, pancreatic issues, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.).
The good news with medical causes is that a trip to your veterinarian can help discover the problem. With a good exam, a thorough questioning of your pet’s history and symptoms, and screening tests such as lab work and fecal examinations, your veterinarian will likely be able to pinpoint what is going on and help you decide what to do next to keep your pet healthy.
Behavioral Reasons
Many pets eat feces because of an underlying behavioral issue. This seems to be more common than coprophagia in pets with medical issues. Even if the problem started out innocently, it can quickly become a habit or compulsive issue. Some pets literally develop a taste for fecal matter, they enjoy eating it, and that will make the habit much harder to break. So what are some common behavioral issues that can cause coprophagia?
Common behavioral causes include anxiety, such as separation anxiety, and stress, such as when a pet’s normal daily routine is broken up by a new pet in the house or moving to a new home. Boredom or a lack of playtime with owners can also lead to coprophagia.
This is especially common in young puppies who are confined or crated too frequently during the first few months of their lives. This is their socialization period of growth and being kept to themselves too often during this period has been shown to contribute to future issues with coprophagia.
Another somewhat unexpected behavioral cause of coprophagia comes in the form of pets using the bathroom where they shouldn’t, and eating the feces to avoid chastisement. This could start out with accidents because of stomach upset, which then turns into a coprophagia habit.
It can also occur with older pets who have arthritis or cognitive dysfunction. They may have difficulty making it outside in time and have to use the bathroom elsewhere. The pet doesn’t want to cause trouble, so will eat the feces to avoid an upset owner.
What Can You Do?
Try to prevent your pet from eating feces by picking it up in the yard or removing it from the litterbox as soon as possible. An automatic litterbox that scoops the feces immediately after your kitty goes can be helpful in these situations.
Some owners have had success with sprinkling hot sauce on feces in the yard as a deterrent, but many pets are not bothered by this initially, and it may lead to an upset stomach if too much is eaten. Another option is to keep a harness or leash on your pet when they go outside so you can quickly pull them away from feces that haven’t been picked up.
Try slowing down your pet’s eating, which may help your pet digest food better and improve feces consistency, with chew toys placed in the food, slow-release food toys, or bowls that are irregularly shaped and made specifically for pets that eat too fast. Consider feeding at set times during the day so you can predict when your pet will need to go. This may help you avoid constant monitoring to prevent your pet from eating their own feces.
Increase your pet’s exercise and activity level. Provide numerous opportunities to play and interact with you and your family. Offer toys that are fun to chew on and play with. This can be especially helpful for pets with anxiety or boredom-induced coprophagia.
A diet change may be helpful if your pet’s current food isn’t of the best quality. Changing to a diet higher in fiber may also be helpful. If your pet is eating the feces of another pet, consider changing their diet as well. It will be important to discuss a dietary change with your veterinarian to determine if this is necessary and to get the veterinarian’s opinion on the best dietary options and how to safely switch to a new food.
Preventive medication and food additive options that change the flavor of the feces deter some pets from eating it. Be sure to feed them to the pet whose feces is being eaten. Forbid, probiotics, charcoal dog treats (for dogs only), canned spinach, and fresh pineapple have all been shown to occasionally work as a preventive option for changing the feces flavor.
Medication options for anxiety or compulsive behavioral issues can sometimes be rewarding. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what may help and if your pet is healthy enough to try these types of medications.
Avoid harsh punishment or scolding your pet when they eat the feces. This can worsen their anxiety and may encourage them to continue to eat feces if they are doing so to avoid punishment. Always highly reward your pet when they do not eat feces at a given opportunity. This will encourage them to stop the habit.
Result of Eating Feces
While coprophagia is not a major medical concern, there are risks. If your pet is eating the feces of an animal taking medication, your pet may accidentally absorb some of the medication. This is rare, but documented cases of pets getting sick from pain medication and thyroid medication in another dog’s feces have occurred.
Your pet is also at a higher risk for infection with certain diseases, such as E. coli or Salmonella, or developing intestinal parasites. Unfortunately, this also puts you, the owner, at a slightly higher risk as well. Avoid letting your dog lick you and wash your hands frequently until you can get the problem under control.
It is important to understand that coprophagia is a difficult habit to break. Patience and trying many tactics can provide the most likely improvement. Your veterinarian should be able to help you with tips and strategies as you work through the problem. Don’t ever hesitate to call your veterinarian with questions and concerns.
