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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Anyone else have a poo eating dog?

26 replies

beepsheep · 17/06/2018 12:39

I'm exasperated! My boy has had a nasty habit of eating poo (only his thank God) since he was around 5 months. We've tried changing his diet along with some other tips that we've read online but nothing appears to work. It's such a shame because it means we can't just leave our patio doors open and let him go in and out of the garden as he pleases, the sneaky boy has to be watched! It also means we have to put him on lead and walk to his spot for him to relieve himself. We can distract him when we take him for a walk but he becomes obsessed with chowing down when in the garden. Has anyone else been successful in overcoming this problem?

OP posts:
Hamandcheesebaguette · 17/06/2018 12:48

I've read somewhere that this can be a sign that they aren't digesting their food properly and absorbing all the nutrients? Maybe a food change?

Otherwise, some dogs are just vile little buggers. One of mine takes great joy in licking the crotch/arse area of any worn pants left on the floor.

sweetboykit · 17/06/2018 13:05

Probiotics?
My dog loves cat poo. Apparently cat poo is high in protein and has healthy gut bacteria in it. Like a pepparami and activia combination!

newme175 · 17/06/2018 17:32

My puppy eats horse and rabbit poo (I try to stop him obviously) and once ate a cat poo.
I'm looking after a dachshund at the moment and she eats her own poo/horse poo and just now tried to eat my puppy's poo! It's gross....

I'm trying preventative measures ie.. always watching them! But I guess it's more common than is talked about (dachshunds owners didn't even mention it to me before their holiday so was a bit of a nasty surprise the first time she did it!)

whateveryousay · 17/06/2018 17:37

My 5.5 year old Golden Retriever has always eaten her own poo 🤢 I have tried EVERYTHING over the years, but nothing has worked. I think it’s because she was perhaps kept in a dirty environment as a puppy? Anyway, I have resigned myself to just watching her now, but you have my sympathy.
She only eats her own too, not my other dogs, but also loves a nice fresh horse or cow poo 😋

ICantCopeAnymore · 17/06/2018 17:40

Feed them some pineapple.

pigsDOfly · 17/06/2018 17:50

It's instinctive for a bitch to clean up the poo after her new puppies so it's not surprising dogs do it.

I had two elderly cats when I got my dog as a puppy -- cats are no longer alive so no more poo to eat - the first time I saw her eating their poo really wasn't my best dog owning moment.

Thankfully it was only my cats' poo that she ate, never her own. However, rabbit droppings are irresistible apparently.

Wellfuckmeinbothears · 17/06/2018 17:59

My husky is delighted if he manages to eat a bit of his own poo before I can pick it up. He also has a habit of peeing while he’s squatting for a poo and drinks the fountain of pee! Vile bugger.

Wolfiefan · 17/06/2018 18:02

Mine stopped when I switched her food to raw. She was a demon for this on kibble. I had to watch her like a hawk and pick up. If it's in a poo bag they can't eat it!!

YorkieDorkie · 17/06/2018 18:26

I heard maize in food can be a culprit.

Vallahalagonebutnotforgotten · 17/06/2018 19:06

Don't blame the dog blame the food manufactuers!

Most of the ingredients of kibble can not be digested by dogs so when they poo the poo smells and tastes (so I have been told!) pretty much like kibble. So may dogs will eat the poo as it smells like food to them.

Raw fed dog poos only contain was the waste product so do not smell or taste like real food. Many poo eating dogs will not eat raw fed dog poo.

You can feed pineapple if you like but it will not stop the poo eating-it is worth getting vet check as some dogs may be deficient but there will usually be other symptons alongside the poo eating.

ICantCopeAnymore · 17/06/2018 19:09

I've raw fed for 20 years and my dogs were all weaned onto raw. I've still had a few poo eaters.

You can feed pineapple if you like but it will not stop the poo eating

It did with all of mine.

whateveryousay · 17/06/2018 19:41

Pineapple didn’t stop mine, neither did raw. I really believe it’s because she was rescued from vile conditions as a puppy. What is your dog’s history?

Original poster
beepsheep · 17/06/2018 20:09

We got my boy from a reputable breeder (first-time owners didn't have the skills for a rescue) so don't think it's related to his early environment. He is, however, an extremely fussy eater, he will turn his nose up to most things so I suspect it is due to some dietary deficiencies. If that's worse thing we have to deal with I'll consider myself lucky! The constant vigilance whenever he is in the garden is a pain in the arse though as he won't miss a beat to scamper to the bushes (where he's out of shot) and do his business the second you are distracted.

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 17/06/2018 20:12

My puppy came from a clean home and did it but not so much now. He poos more when I walk him now rather than the garden so straight into a poo bag.

tattychicken · 17/06/2018 20:18

Mine used to "clean" the children's potty. They'd run to find me to proudly tell me they'd done a poo, we'd rush to the potty to view this achievement, offering congratulations. Potty was clean as whistle and the dog had shitty whiskers. Child gutted.

clearingaspaceforthecat · 17/06/2018 21:39

Yep, have one of these.
Raw fed from a year old and now 5 years old. Will still eat own poo given half a chance. Makes me want to heave.

Knowivedonewrong · 18/06/2018 08:55

4 year old lab bitch here. Always eats her own poo. Has to be watched like a hawk. On walks will run as far away as possible so I can't reach her. She will eat the poo of our other dog as he's doing it! Given half a chance.

I'm constantly cleaning her teeth. Dirty little fecker. 🤢

Lucisky · 18/06/2018 10:59

Mine eats hers if given a chance. Fortunately she has a fairly regular poo schedule, so I am on guard with my little shovel to scoop it up straight away in the garden. She has got a bit wise to this and on occasions spins as she poos to catch it coming out of her bum. She probably manages to get one about once a week. I just ignore it if she beats me to it. She also eats horse, rabbit and cow shit.
How do you get a dog to eat pineapple? Do they actually like it? Mines also a really fussy feeder.

QuestionableMouse · 18/06/2018 11:07

Would a muzzle be worth a try?

Andthatsthat · 18/06/2018 11:13

I have a poo eater too!

We’ve changed food to no avail! I know what you mean about not being able to let them roam the garden freely, it’s a pain.

Mine is almost a year old now and the poo eating has got less frequent but still happens.

Not sure there is much to be done unfortunately, especially if people are saying they still do it on raw. That would have been my one suggestion. It’s not a feeding method for us though, so admittedly we’ve not tried.

Andthatsthat · 18/06/2018 11:13

I have a poo eater too!

We’ve changed food to no avail! I know what you mean about not being able to let them roam the garden freely, it’s a pain.

Mine is almost a year old now and the poo eating has got less frequent but still happens.

Not sure there is much to be done unfortunately, especially if people are saying they still do it on raw. That would have been my one suggestion. It’s not a feeding method for us though, so admittedly we’ve not tried.

Andthatsthat · 18/06/2018 11:14

Oops, double post!

BlueEyedBengal · 18/06/2018 11:42

My Staffordshire bull Chelsea Girl, (died in her sleep just short of her14th birthday) was a totally spoilt dog. She had the best food , bedding, toys and was a total fur bucket. She would clean up like a hoover she was always under the table waiting for the kids to drop anything. He one weakness that she had from a pup was eating poo. She would eat her own poo, sheeps poo any poo. What made use gag was when we caught her head first in the covered corner litter tray eating the cat poo as it came out of the cat who was trapped inside . We shouted and as her head came out smacking her lips a totally shocked puss ran out very upset. She was the only dog I had who did this!Sad

pigsDOfly · 18/06/2018 12:31

That's a whole new level of yuck eating poo as it leaves the animal. Envy not envy.

KinkyAfro · 18/06/2018 12:56

Yup my lab ate the poo of mum's Westie as it was coming out, that's something you wish you could unsee. Filthy beast

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