Why Do Little Dogs Eat Poop?

Your little dog or puppy eating their poop? Worried? Thinking something might be wrong? Well don’t be. You are not the only little dog owner to encounter this. There are many young pet dogs that are into this habit. We’ll have a look and find out the reasons for this practice amongst little dogs. We’ll also try to find out ways this problem can be addressed adequately and positively.

There could be many reasons for your little dog is getting into the habit of eating poop. As a dog owner you shouldn’t be unduly worried when your puppy is into this habit. You must refrain from being alarmed about it and also ensure that you don’t pass on your emotions to your little dog. He or she is bound to get a little jittery with emotional outbursts from you. This could in turn cause more damage and you could end up with other behavioural issues. For many puppies this is perfectly normal behaviour, but for us watching we might find behaviour as a bit gross (well maybe a lot) and unacceptable. The challenge lies in identifying the underlying reason and cause that leads to this habit of your little dog. Many dogs do it because simply because they are too bored. Others do it to draw attention, while some others might be into this habit because they would like to avoid punishment. There could be some health issues that could force your little dogs to get into this grossly wrong habit. Identifying the reason for this behaviour and finding a way to remedy should be your goal rather getting into a state of panic. It is also ideal to identify the problem as early as possible. If the habit becomes a constant practice for the little dog, then it might be more challenging to change its behaviour or overcome. In other words the earlier you begin to implement changes in behaviour the easier it’s going to be.

While we have touch-based on the possible reasons for poop-eating habits of your puppies, let us try and look at a few possible reasons in some detail. This will help you to get into the root of the problem and give you a better idea of what course of action to take. Possibly even avoiding a trip to the veterinarian and a lot of trial-and-error guess work.

Your puppy or little dog may have some problem digesting its food properly. This could be due to low digestible nutrients in their regular diet. When digestion is poor, food that your little one eats has a tendency to come out almost undigested. Hence, the poop also tastes pretty much the same and your puppy might start eating it for obvious reasons of taste and liking. The solution, try moving your little dog’s diet to a higher quality food that is easily digestible.

Quite often stress will make puppies, little dogs and even big dogs to try eating their own stools. Dogs in general can get stressed for a number of reasons, little dogs more so. Many dogs might feel stressed when they are in a new home. The presence of other pets and dogs could also increase their stress levels. Unusually high sounds could also be the reason. Finding out the reason for such stress requires a little investigation on your part and then in turn addressing them adequately and speedily.

Little dogs and puppies like company and if you leave them alone for long periods of time, they certainly will feel bored. With nothing much to do, the puppies might start playing with their own poops and also start eating them once in a while. Therefore, if you are out, you must make sure that they have some healthy way to keep themselves entertained.

Many puppies suffer from intestinal parasites like worms. These parasites suck the nutrients away from the little dogs. Hence, he or she might feel hungry even after a few hours of a full meal. As an owner you may not be aware of this and you might be busy work or day to day things. In these situations, there is a reasonably big chance that the puppies and little dogs might start resorting to poop-eating to address their hunger pangs. Growing puppies need to be fed two to three times a day and as an owner you must always keep this in mind.

When all the above reasons have been ruled out, but you still find your little guy indulging in this unsavoury habit, then it could be because of their attempt to seek some attention from you. Even if your reaction is one of anger and negative in nature, puppies and little dogs won’t seem to mind as long as they are getting some attention. Hence, the simple solution to this problem would be to give your little one some of that much needed attention that he or she is craving for.

The above information gives you an idea about the main reasons for poop-eating by puppies, little dogs and even adult dogs in some rare cases. While identifying the main reasons are extremely important, and of course the solutions. If you feel that the poop-eating habit is related to some health problems, then I highly advise you to take your little dog or puppy to the veterinarian. He or she will examine it thoroughly and identify any underlying health issues that could be leading to this habit of your puppy dog.

If health issues are ruled out, then you have to check on the other possible reasons. But the crux of the matter is that, as a pet owner you must leave no stone unturned to identify the actual reason for the poop-eating habit of your puppy. You could then address the problem accordingly. If it is stress, avoid situations that are leading to a stressful situation for your pet dog. If the reason is lack of attention, you must ensure that your pet puppies get the attention that they deserve. If hunger is the reason, ensure that they are well-fed at the right intervals. Especially for younger puppies who will ideally need to eat a few times a day.

Apart from the above mentioned suggestions there are also some more common proven and time-tested ways by which this problem could be tackled.

There are some off the shelf deterrents available in the market. You could buy them and ensure that the poop of the dog tastes really bad. This will deter the puppies from eating their stool and they will give up the habit sooner than later. If you spend some time on the internet, you will be able to identify a few popular brands that could be tried out. Always try and go for reputed brands and do not cut corners on price because you will end up compromising on quality.

Apart from market-deterrents, you could also try some home-made deterrents which could also work wonders. Once a puppy excretes, you could add lemon juice or hot sauce on it. This makes the poop taste awful and it will start avoiding it. You also could a few tablespoons of canned pumpkin to its food. Pumpkin tastes good for the dog while they eat, but the poop will taste awful. You can be sure that they will avoid next time around.

Meat tenderizers could also work very well. They again add taste to the little guy’s food but the waste will taste very bad and foul smelling. It won’t be long before you little dog starts avoiding even smelling their own poop. Finally, get into the habit of removing dog waste on a regular basis. Something I’ve gotten into the habit of doing without even thinking. Also for those of us with small spaces in their backyard (if you are fortunate enough to have) it makes the place look so much pleasanter.

Alternatively if you have an incredibly busy life style or simply it’s something you can afford then taking up professional help to ensure that this is done on a regular basis might be your best option. Allowing waste to lie around for long periods of time will not only smell bad, and leave more opportunity for you little dog to eat, but will also cause a big health hazard for you, your family members and other pets in your home.

It may not always possible to identify the underlying health issue that is leading to poop eating by your puppy. However there are some tell-tale signs to look out for. If you find that your little dog or puppy is inactive, dull and yet continues to indulge in this yucky habit, it could be because there is some health issues that are bothering it. Without doing any further self-research, it would be better to take the puppy to the vet and have it thoroughly examined.

Identify the reason for stress and try and move the dog away from it or remove the stress-causing factor. If the dog is feeling stressed because of a new environment, make it feel comfortable by cuddling it, keeping it close to you and playing with it. The same applies to puppies that are seeking attention. Try and keep your puppy dog under your watch as much as possible.

This should not be a big problem. Little dogs and puppies love company. Ensure that you are able to give them the company that it needs.

Poop-eating by little dogs is not an uncommon problem. It is known as coprophagy in scientific terms. The solution to this problem lies in accepting that your little dog or puppy has a problem rather than trying to brush it under the carpet. Identifying the cause of the problem should help you come out with the right solutions. Additionally, there are also deterrents available both in your home and in the market which could also come in handy to overcome and reverse this problem.