Canine Coprophagia

Coprophagic dogs

Young and growing dogs have a high requirement for energy, and it has been shown that they can obtain useful additional nutrition from eating their own or other dogs faeces during this phase. However, after growth has been completed and with more attractive alternative food sources, faeces eating usually stops. However, a few individuals - especially of ‘greedy’ breeds such as Labradors, may continue with this unpleasant habit.

Faeces eating does not necessarily occur because the dog is ill or fed on an inappropriate or imbalanced diet. However, such conditions can, in a few individuals, be the reason that dogs eat their own faeces, and when corrected (i.e. the dog is wormed and put on a balanced diet) the habit ceases.

Research has shown that dogs eating their own faeces are not a health risk either to themselves, or necessarily to humans whose faces and hands they lick. In relation to roundworm infection between dogs and man, this is always rare and does require that the worm eggs can be ‘aged’ some three weeks outside the dogs body before becoming infective. Dogs eating the faeces of herbivores such as cows, sheep or rabbits are more likely to benefit their digestions than harm it. Nevertheless, coprophagia is an emotionally repulsive activity and is probably best curbed.

TREATMENT

Meal Frequency

Since coprophagic dogs are usually hungry dogs, it is best to spread their food ration across 3-4 meals per day.

Fibre

A physically full stomach gives a feeling of satiety and high fibre diets are thus superior to refined food. Accordingly, bulk the fibre content of the diet, either by feeding an existing high-fibre complete diet, or alternatively adding fibre to the existing diet. Convenient sources of fibre are bran (scalded) or vegetables such as cabbage, carrots etc.

Training

To defaecate on command. Simply take your dog regularly and especially at times associated with defaecation (e.g. early morning and after meals) and wait until he defaecates. Say a special word "busy" or "hurry") and then reward with a treat for successful defaecation. Pick up the faeces and dispose. This will motivate him to only defaecate in your presence.

Lifestyle

There is ample evidence that bored dogs in kennels are more likely to be, or to become, coprophagic. Accordingly, ensure there is plenty of action in your dogs life, with access to toys, frequent walks etc.

Repulsion

A number of preparations are available for incorporation into the diet that makes the faeces taste repulsive. Some are based on amino acids such as methionine and others are iron tablets of the sort taken by women during pregnancy. For reasons not yet understood, courgettes can also stop dogs eating their own and other dogs’ faeces.

Punishment

No amount of scolding seems to break the habit, the dog only waiting until the owner is absent before eating faeces. Punishment must be remote and seemingly related to the faeces rather than the owner (e.g. a rattle can) which can be an effective discouragement for sensitive dogs. For the more determined dog, a conditioned - aversion technique is to make the dog ill after consuming faeces.

Problem Avoidance

Coprophagia is usually a passing phase in puppies, but is made more likely if puppies are denied sufficient and easy access to food. Thus an ad lib. or generous feeding regime of an appropriate diet should prevent the problem occurring.