Why do dogs eat their own poop?

This is a question that has perplexed people for ages. There are many theories, but the answer doesn’t seem to be an easy one to provide. However, if you ask any veterinarian or animal behaviorist what might make your dog eat his poop, they’ll likely give you an immediate and not-too-flattering answer.

Here Are 5 Possible Reasons:

1. The first reason is the best: Your dog likes it! Dogs will often choose to eat their own feces because they enjoy the taste! This may sound gross and unsanitary, but your loving dog simply cannot resist this unique taste sensation of their own waste. In fact, many dog owners will do a double-take the first few times they see their dog eating his own poop.

2. Another theory is that when dogs eat their own excrement, they are actually trying to clear their stomachs of foreign material such as hairballs, bones, insects, and other indigestible material. If you’ve just trimmed your dog’s nails or given him/her a bath, he/she may chew up his/her feces so that these residues are disposed of safely.

3. Dogs may also eat feces out of boredom or because it is simply their habit. If you leave food out for them all the time, it basically becomes like kitty litter. They’ll eat it even if they’re not hungry!

4. One other reason can be the environment. Dogs are animals that are highly sensitive to their surroundings. If your dog’s environment is filthy, greasy, smelly, or otherwise problematic – he/she’ll often find the best solution is to eat his/her own poop!

5. Dogs will often also turn to feces because it may be their only source of vitamins and nutritional value. If a dog is not getting a balanced diet or proper nutrition, he/she may turn to his/her own waste to fill that void.

This brings us to our next point, which is one of the main sources of all poop eating and intestinal problems in general: diet.

Your Dog’s Diet

If you’ve ever seen the type of food that some dog food companies sell at your local retail store, you’ll know what we’re talking about. Dogs are carnivores – their digestive system needs to be made up of 70% protein in order to function properly.

Nowadays (unless you buy organic or 100% natural, holistic foods), most dog food contains corn, wheat, chicken by-products, and other types of plant matter. This has made many dogs become overweight and even obese – but more importantly, it can give them severe gastrointestinal problems which will often lead to eating their own feces.

Another problem with dog food is that many of the foods are recalled for toxic mold, e-Coli contamination, or other serious problems. There are no regulations regarding dog food safety – they can sell anything they want!

If you want to avoid this – and the problems that come along with it – buy 100% natural, organic dog food which can be found at any pet store, or even at your local health foods store.

Does Your Dog Eat His/Her Own Poop?

If you’re thinking that you don’t have a dog that has ever eaten their poop, chances are your dog probably has! If you haven’t checked to see if your dog’s food is organic or made with 100% natural ingredients, please do so immediately.

Another way to tell if your dog might be eating their feces is by checking for fecal residue. The fecal residue will look like small brown dots on the carpet or small brown-colored streaks in the yard.

If you suspect that your dog may have an intestinal problem, call your local veterinarian immediately! Only a veterinarian can perform a fecal test to see if there are any traces of poop in the stool. If they can’t find anything at first, they may ask you to feed your dog a high-protein diet and monitor them over the next few weeks for any changes.

Thank you for reading the article.

To explore more, check out our other articles covering everything about dog poop.

Have you ever seen your dog eating their own poop? What actions did you take to prevent them from further eating? We would love to hear from you. Please share with our community by leaving a comment below!