Is it possible...eating poop?

[Cerise]

I have read and heard about dogs eating their poop for a while now. I have several theories about it...

1. Puppies that originally come from puppy mills do this because this is a habit of a caged animal that lives in their urine and fecal waste 24/7. Even though they may be 8 weeks old when purchased (too young) and that seems like it would be enough time before they develop this habit...they were born in a cage from a mother who has lived her whole life in a cage and she has been living in her own waste and eating her own poop and fed it to her puppies through her milk...and she was fed commercial dog food all her life...which connects to 3 & 4 below.

2. The kibble they eat is poor quality and they never totally digest it so they eat it again IMO that is not a good enough reason to me so I came up with the following thought....

3. The kibble they eat is poor quality because of the ingredients that go into making it are from rendering plants... and that would include fecal matter because the intestines are included in the cooking process of euthanized dogs, cats, factory farming and slaughterhouse waste. I think dogs can smell it even though dog food manufacturing plants try to cover the scent with artificial flavors and odors.

4. ...So if a puppy was from a puppymill, BYB, or broker (and you didn't know it) they would have probably been a victim of my 1st reason above, which would make them subject to eating their poop after eating a commercial dog food.

Do you think this is possible?

I count my blessing everyday because Cerise has no interest in eating her waste. She demands that I come and clean it up after she does it. She's a smart girl!

[maryeverett1]

I don't know about your theory but I'm sure in some cases definitely could be correct. My louis eats poop all the time. I know he didn't come from a puppymill or byb and Paris doesn't eat poop and she came from the same breeder. It drives us nuts and sure would like to figure out how to get him to stop. It's disgusting...

[BamaFan121s]

Try feeding them some pineapple or adding pineapple juice to their food. I'd heard that several times, thought people were nuts, tried it and it worked like a charm. Don't ask me how or why. I've also heard you can do the same with meat tenderizer? Given the two, I would prefer to feed mine pineapple.

[Nancy1999]

Remember mom licks the puppies clean of poop the first few weeks, eating poop isn't as repulsive to them as it is humans. This is called diapering, by the way. There are many reasons for poop eating, you need to understand that the dog nose is 1000 times more sensitive than humans, when we small a pot of beef stew, we smell the stew as a blend, a dog can smell each individual ingredients and concentrate on that. So while we smell the poop as a blend and it's yucky, a dog smells individual ingredients and in some cases smells "undigested protein" which it considers nutritious and good smelling. Some dog foods do contain a hard to digest protein, and that's why adding meat tenderizer or pineapple to the dog's food helps. Meat tenderizer and pineapple contain bromelain, an enzyme, which acts to predigest protein and make it easier for the dog to digest, making the poop smell less nutritious and less appetizing. If no undigested protein is in the poop, the dog won't be as tempted. There are other reasons for poop eating. Dogs that have been scolded too harshly for pooping will eat the evidence. Sometimes it's just a behavior problem and boredom causes it, when it occurs in puppies it's often seen as normal. Here's a link with more information, I have read that many people have had luck with pineapple chunks, I hadn't read about pineapple juice, as long as there is no added sugar, I suppose it would be safe. Stopping Dogs From Eating Poop

[chandracz]

Great information!

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Remember mom licks the puppies clean of poop the first few weeks, eating poop isn't as repulsive to them as it is humans. This is called diapering, by the way. There are many reasons for poop eating, you need to understand that the dog nose is 1000 times more sensitive than humans, when we small a pot of beef stew, we smell the stew as a blend, a dog can smell each individual ingredients and concentrate on that. So while we smell the poop as a blend and it's yucky, a dog smells individual ingredients and in some cases smells "undigested protein" which it considers nutritious and good smelling. Some dog foods do contain a hard to digest protein, and that's why adding meat tenderizer or pineapple to the dog's food helps. Meat tenderizer and pineapple contain bromelain, an enzyme, which acts to predigest protein and make it easier for the dog to digest, making the poop smell less nutritious and less appetizing. If no undigested protein is in the poop, the dog won't be as tempted. There are other reasons for poop eating. Dogs that have been scolded too harshly for pooping will eat the evidence. Sometimes it's just a behavior problem and boredom causes it, when it occurs in puppies it's often seen as normal. Here's a link with more information, I have read that many people have had luck with pineapple chunks, I hadn't read about pineapple juice, as long as there is no added sugar, I suppose it would be safe. Stopping Dogs From Eating Poop

[Cerise]

That is good info Nancy and BamaFan

I am so grateful I don't have this problem and I hope I never do. I feel sorry for the ones who do because I do think it could be a behavior problem or lead to health issues. Some of the problems I read on YT make me want to do serious research and find solutions to help. I find it amazing that there are many Yorkies that don't have this habit at all THANK GOODNESS for them, and then there are many that do

[ch774]

I have been raising dogs all my life and when I got Miss Bella (yorkie) she was the first to do this. I have noticed that when she is hungry. she will go and find some. But I have learned that if I feed her treats during the day she won't. Have not tried anything like pineapple. I just know what works for me. Now Jack (yorkie) does not do that.


We have 3-schnauzers who don't. Can you figure that one out??




Cheryl

[kalina82]

I've also heard that females will do this to keep their area clean. Some females don't like to dirty their house and will immediately eat the poop to clean it up. I've also heard that some females will poop in the neighbors yard if allowed just so that they aren't pooping in their own.

The other reason i've heard about is that they are missing something in their diet due to poor quality food.

[mscat]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Remember mom licks the puppies clean of poop the first few weeks, eating poop isn't as repulsive to them as it is humans. This is called diapering, by the way. There are many reasons for poop eating, you need to understand that the dog nose is 1000 times more sensitive than humans, when we small a pot of beef stew, we smell the stew as a blend, a dog can smell each individual ingredients and concentrate on that. So while we smell the poop as a blend and it's yucky, a dog smells individual ingredients and in some cases smells "undigested protein" which it considers nutritious and good smelling. Some dog foods do contain a hard to digest protein, and that's why adding meat tenderizer or pineapple to the dog's food helps. Meat tenderizer and pineapple contain bromelain, an enzyme, which acts to predigest protein and make it easier for the dog to digest, making the poop smell less nutritious and less appetizing. If no undigested protein is in the poop, the dog won't be as tempted. There are other reasons for poop eating. Dogs that have been scolded too harshly for pooping will eat the evidence. Sometimes it's just a behavior problem and boredom causes it, when it occurs in puppies it's often seen as normal. Here's a link with more information, I have read that many people have had luck with pineapple chunks, I hadn't read about pineapple juice, as long as there is no added sugar, I suppose it would be safe. Stopping Dogs From Eating Poop

Thanks Nancy for posting this My yorkie has never eaten her poop , however, my Shih Tzu who is barely a yr old has done this . SHe is a pure bred AKC pup , and eats Wellness small breed .
I do not think it is a puppymill thing , or a BYB thing at all, my 2 girls are not from either .
They eat high quality food as well , and the shih tzu pup does not always eat her poo . Perhaps she is just cleaning up after herself. SHe is also fully pad trained .
I like your ideas , thank you, Nancy .

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by mscat

Thanks Nancy for posting this My yorkie has never eaten her poop , however, my Shih Tzu who is barely a yr old has done this . SHe is a pure bred AKC pup , and eats Wellness small breed .
I do not think it is a puppymill thing , or a BYB thing at all, my 2 girls are not from either .
They eat high quality food as well , and the shih tzu pup does not always eat her poo . Perhaps she is just cleaning up after herself. SHe is also fully pad trained .
I like your ideas , thank you, Nancy .

I don't think the food necessarily has to be low quality, but some dogs do have a harder time digesting certain protein than others. Some people have found switching food helps; others say it makes no difference. Some people rave about the pineapple, others say, no difference. I agree with you it's probably not puppy mill or byb thing, but since it could be something different in different dogs it's hard to have one clear answer for all.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Remember mom licks the puppies clean of poop the first few weeks, eating poop isn't as repulsive to them as it is humans. This is called diapering, by the way. There are many reasons for poop eating, you need to understand that the dog nose is 1000 times more sensitive than humans, when we small a pot of beef stew, we smell the stew as a blend, a dog can smell each individual ingredients and concentrate on that. So while we smell the poop as a blend and it's yucky, a dog smells individual ingredients and in some cases smells "undigested protein" which it considers nutritious and good smelling. Some dog foods do contain a hard to digest protein, and that's why adding meat tenderizer or pineapple to the dog's food helps. Meat tenderizer and pineapple contain bromelain, an enzyme, which acts to predigest protein and make it easier for the dog to digest, making the poop smell less nutritious and less appetizing. If no undigested protein is in the poop, the dog won't be as tempted. There are other reasons for poop eating. Dogs that have been scolded too harshly for pooping will eat the evidence. Sometimes it's just a behavior problem and boredom causes it, when it occurs in puppies it's often seen as normal. Here's a link with more information, I have read that many people have had luck with pineapple chunks, I hadn't read about pineapple juice, as long as there is no added sugar, I suppose it would be safe. Stopping Dogs From Eating Poop

Great post! I would like to add that when you feed pineapple it is not an immediate fix to poop eating. All of the undigested protein needs to work its way thought the intestines and this could take a few days. For some reason I am always giving poop eating advice and this is what I have learned.

You can start with feeding 1 or 2 pieces of pineapple as a snack twice a day. If they are still showing interest after a day or so you can increase this to an additional piece or two. When they poop you need to pick it up or they just might be tempted to snack on a steamy loaf. But over time they will become less interested, might try to pick it up in their mouth or play with it since it has also become a habit. Once you find they are showing less interest you have found the proper amount to feed. In addition to the pineapple canned pumpkin is also a good additive to help as a poop eating deterrent. A tsp, of packed pumpkin to their kibble is all that is needed. I have always suggested the canned chucked pineapple. If you have multiple dogs you need to need to all so that all the poop is treated not just to the poop eater.

A would like to add that anyone that has tried this and found success have been very diligent about feeding it on a daily basis and doing so consistently over a period of several weeks. llcornell had a puppymill poop eater that would spin and catch her poop before it hit the ground and she was able to get her to stop by feeding pineapple.

They will not get sick from eating pineapple or pumpkin. My three who are not poop eaters love pineapple.

[yorkieusa]

Ewwwwwww! This really is an interesting thread though. Do you know that I had never heard of such a thing until I joined YT so long ago? I'm very thankful that I have not had this experience.

[Sweetlips6]

Yuck!! Bonnie was a poop eater for a short time, but outgrew it. (her own poop)
But as bad as that sounds, she loves cow poop Of course they are grass eaters, so go figure that out! I can not let her go outside, cause she runs to the pasture. I don't know if she would still do this or not, cause I don't give her the chance.

[miabellaamoure]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

Great post! I would like to add that when you feed pineapple it is not an immediate fix to poop eating. All of the undigested protein needs to work its way thought the intestines and this could take a few days. For some reason I am always giving poop eating advice and this is what I have learned.

You can start with feeding 1 or 2 pieces of pineapple as a snack twice a day. If they are still showing interest after a day or so you can increase this to an additional piece or two. When they poop you need to pick it up or they just might be tempted to snack on a steamy loaf. But over time they will become less interested, might try to pick it up in their mouth or play with it since it has also become a habit. Once you find they are showing less interest you have found the proper amount to feed. In addition to the pineapple canned pumpkin is also a good additive to help as a poop eating deterrent. A tsp, of packed pumpkin to their kibble is all that is needed. I have always suggested the canned chucked pineapple. If you have multiple dogs you need to need to all so that all the poop is treated not just to the poop eater.

A would like to add that anyone that has tried this and found success have been very diligent about feeding it on a daily basis and doing so consistently over a period of several weeks. llcornell had a puppymill poop eater that would spin and catch her poop before it hit the ground and she was able to get her to stop by feeding pineapple.

They will not get sick from eating pineapple or pumpkin. My three who are not poop eaters love pineapple.

Ummm...can I just say thank you for better explaining the "pineapple" process!

Can I also say what a big dumdum...I am! So...as I'm reading this it finally dawns on me that I didn't give the pineapple "enough" time to work...not to mention I ONLY fed it to BellaBoo (for a short time) even tho' she's eating ANYBODY'S pooplets.

Pineapple will become our new treats to ALL who leave pooplets for BellaBoo to consume...not just our Miss PoopletEater!

ps...I will add that because of BellaBoo it has forced us to be extremely vigilant to bag pooplets almost immediately as they're deposited...thus, we have the cleanest lawn in town for having 3 Yorkies!