Blog - The Good German Shepherd

Dogs can eat poop from cats, birds, or even their own poop. If your dog is eating poop, this behavior could be caused by various reasons such as nutrient deficiency and behavioral issues, which must be addressed immediately before you hate his kisses forever. Puppies can eat poop as a way of exploring, but for adult dogs, you must find the reason behind the act, how to wash his mouth and how to stop him from eating his poop. Why do dogs eat poop? Poor diet If you feed your dog food with low nutritional values, he might try to find the nutrients in the poop. Feed your dog the best food you can afford but not the cheapest food you come along with. Malabsorption Your dog might be having a problem with his digestive system where he is unable to absorb nutrients from the food. If there are some undigested particles in the poop, your dog will be tempted to eat it. Parasites The intestines might have parasites that compete for nutrients with your dog. This can lead to your dog eating poop in search of extra nutrients. Cleanliness When dogs give birth, they lick the bottoms to help clean them and to ease the elimination process. In case his environs are full of poop, he might eat it as part of cleaning. Isolation When left for long hours on their own, dogs can eat poop. Dogs that stay alone without a relationship with other pets or people tend to eat poop more than the well-socialized dogs. Confinement If you keep your dog locked in a small room or crate for long hours continuously, he might end up eating his poop. This is because he will get used to the smell of poop that he won’t differentiate it from food. Stress If you punish your dog for having an ‘accident’, he gets stressed and fears pooping. This may trigger a behavioral change, where he starts eating poop so that you don't find out about the "mess". Boredom If your dog is not exercised or does not have play toys, he can feed on his poop out of boredom. Attention It might be that you’ve ignored your dog for long and he is craving your attention. He will eat his poop and you won’t ignore that. Copied habit A dog easily copies a habit from another one. This is common where a younger dog copies the habit from an older dog. https://youtu.be/HoGtnzGtB9Y How to Wash Your Dog’s Mouth Give him food and water When you serve your dog enough food and water, the eating process will help clean up the poop in his mouth. The saliva will wash down the poop in the process. Brush his teeth Use a recommended dog toothpaste and a dog toothbrush to clean his mouth. At no time should you use human toothpaste. You can buy a dog toothbrush online or at the local pet store. Brush in a moderate motion and rinse thoroughly. Use a mouth wash Rinse your dog with a mouth wash or wet a piece of cloth in it and wipe his mouth. Do not use human mouth wash. Give dental chews Dental chews make your dog produce saliva and also generate friction making the mouth clean. Wipe the mouth Wet a piece of cloth with salty water or coconut oil. Wrap the cloth around your finger and insert it inside his mouth. Wipe around the tongue, cheeks, and the roof of his mouth. Do not insert the finger too much to avoid choking him. How to Stop a Dog from Eating Poop Give your dog a balanced diet This will ensure your dog is supplied with enough nutrients hence he won't look for them elsewhere. A balanced diet also prevents diseases like malabsorption. Have a regular feeding schedule A regular schedule will make your dog poo at a regular interval. This will help you to collect the poop on time and prevent him from feeding on it. Exercise Exercises will keep your dog entertained hence he can’t eat poop out of boredom. It is also advisable to buy him toys. Clean his environs If your dog’s environment is clean, there will be no chances of him eating pop in an attempt to clean his place. Do not punish him In case of ‘accidents’, do not punish or scream at your dog. Let him know that pooing is normal and okay but show him where. Deworm regularly Deworming reduces the chances of parasites competing with your dog for nutrients. Enquire from your vet for the finest deworming remedies for your dog. Conclusion Understanding the main reason why your dog is eating poop will help you to choose the best method of stopping the behavior. Once you've detected this behavior in your dog, you should find out the exact cause, and find a way out of this bad habit in the shortest time.