How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop (Coprophagia)

Watch what your dog is hunting for...

Coprophagia - otherwise known as 'stool eating' is normally a habit picked up by your dog. This habit is usually started when they sense something edible in the stool (poop). This poop can be that of a dog or another animal. When it is dog poop they are eating, the culprit is more often than not due to feeding a poor quality dog food. No matter the reason, it's not only disgusting when you're aware of it happening but it's also a health concern given the amount of bacterias and viruses that can be present in the stool.

Things You'll Need

• Meat Tenderizer
• Commercial Product for deterring stool eating.
• Quality dog food

Instructions

1. Learn to decipher dog food labels and ensure you are feeding your dog a quality dog food. A quality dog food will break down properly before being defecated. Those that do not, leave the dog poop smelling, and tasting much like dog food. As cheaper dog foods lacking in quality are notorious for adding in flavors (normally meat greases) to make the food more palatable to your pet, dog poop eating can become commonplace.

   ** See link in resource section below for how to read dry dog food labels. You will get an education from it, I promise.

2. Sprinkle a small amount of meat tenderizer on top of your dog's food. This helps aid in the digestion of the dog food, believe it or not. Do not use much. Just think of it as adding salt.

3. Purchase a commercially available product such as 'Forbid' and add that to your dog's food. This will create a bad odor and taste to the dog's stool so your dog will be more inclined to break any formed habit of eating poop.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog has eaten dog poop from unknown dogs/animals or those known to be ill, you need to take your dog to the veterinarian asap. An antibiotic will likely be prescribed. Don't wait until there is something obviously wrong with your dog or you will have a harder time beating it.

• Parvo is transmitted through feces, among other things. Flies and birds can transmit it from an infected dog to the stool pile of an unaffected dog so be wary.

Resources

• Author's Coonhound Kennel
• How to Read Dry Dog Food Labels