{"id":10824,"date":"2023-05-02T11:27:21","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T18:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/?p=10824"},"modified":"2026-08-02T09:24:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T16:24:14","slug":"why-do-dogs-eat-their-poop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/why-do-dogs-eat-their-poop","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Dogs Eat Poop and How to Stop It"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Few sights unsettle a dog owner quite like watching their beloved companion eat feces. Even the most attentive, caring owners find themselves asking the same questions: Why is my dog doing this? Is something wrong with their health? Why do dogs eat other dogs’ poop?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The behavior, known as coprophagia, isn’t always a red flag, but it isn’t something to dismiss either. It can stem from deeply rooted instincts, learned habits, or underlying medical conditions. Knowing the difference matters. A dog eating poop occasionally may simply be acting on an ancestral drive; a dog doing it compulsively may be signaling a nutritional gap, digestive issue, or stress response that deserves attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide is written for everyday dog owners who want straightforward, practical answers. You’ll understand what actually drives this behavior, how to assess whether your dog’s situation warrants a vet visit, and what steps you can take to kick the habit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before you can address the behavior, it helps to understand why dogs eat poop. Coprophagia can have roots in both behavioral patterns and underlying health issues. Sometimes both are at play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Attention-Seeking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dogs are smart, and they quickly learn what gets a reaction. If your dog has discovered that eating poop brings you running, he may repeat the behavior simply to engage you. Negative attention is still attention!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Boredom or Confinement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A bored dog is a creative dog, and not always in ways you’d hope. Dogs that spend long stretches alone with limited stimulation may turn to poop eating simply to occupy themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Anxiety and Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For some dogs, poop eating is a coping mechanism. Separation anxiety, fear-based stress, or even the pressure of potty training can push a dog toward eating feces as a way to self-soothe. In some cases, dogs undergoing house training may eat their stool to “hide the evidence” and avoid being scolded \u2014 making punishment-based training approaches particularly counterproductive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Intestinal Parasites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Parasites can trigger poop eating in a couple of ways. First, certain parasites actively siphon nutrients from your dog’s digestive system, leaving him perpetually undernourished and searching for more\u2026 in their poop. Your first move should be a visit to the veterinarian to ensure that your pet\u2019s health is not the cause behind this behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Calorie Restriction or Hunger<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the explanation is straightforward: dogs eat poop because they are hungry. Whether he’s not being fed enough, losing out to a companion dog at mealtimes, or experiencing increased appetite due to a medication like steroids or certain antihistamines, an empty stomach can lead him straight to the nearest available food source \u2014 even if that source is his own poop. Talk to your vet about their diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Nutritional deficiencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nutritional deficiencies can lead to coprophagia. When adult dogs eat poop, it may indicate they aren\u2019t getting the nutrients they need<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This might be because they are being fed a poorly balanced diet, they aren\u2019t getting enough to eat, or they have a medical condition that decreases their ability to absorb nutrients. For example, they might have a deficiency of digestive enzymes, or they might have parasites that are siphoning off the nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, dogs that begin eating feces of a particular dog might be doing so because that dog is not digesting his food properly, and therefore, his stools still contain excess nutrients. Certain illnesses can also change<\/a> either the smell or texture of your dog\u2019s poop to make it more appealing to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Instinct<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A study<\/a> conducted at the University of California offered an evolutionary explanation for the behavior of coprophagia. They suggested that it may be the result of behaviors inherited from a dog\u2019s wolf ancestors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They noted that the patterns in coprophagia involved behaviors directed at feces that were no older than two days old. The authors suggested that it could be an instinctual behavior to clean a den of potentially infectious poop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain parasite ova are not initially infective, but they develop infective larvae after two days. Therefore, the strategy of eating the poop before the larvae develop may potentially help reduce the parasite load of the animals in that den.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is eating poop dangerous for dogs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It depends. A dog that occasionally eats stool is in a very different situation from one that does it compulsively. Frequency matters, but so does the source. Eating their own feces carries different risks than consuming stool from other dogs, cats, or wildlife. When the behavior is repetitive or followed by symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy, it’s time to involve a vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the key health risks to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n