25/03/2023
Why do dogs eat faeces?
Dogs are undeniably cute and loyal, but sometimes they do really disgusting things, such as eating p**p - which isn’t actually an uncommon behaviour exhibited by dogs. This is referred to as coprophagia - meaning the consumption of p**p, either accidental or deliberate. Researchers believe that up to 50% of dogs partake in coprophagia at one point in their life, whether it be their own p**p, other dogs' p**p, or other animals' p**p (horse, goat, sheep, cat, goose, poultry, or human). However, 16% to 23% of dogs engage in conspecific (same species) coprophagia, with the terrier and hound breed group being the most likely to eat faeces.
There are many theories behind dog coprophagy, with nutritional deficiencies being the most common one mentioned online by dog owners, but in reality, is actually rarely the cause and it is more likely due to behavioural reasons; such as attention-seeking (especially if eating faeces is causing the owner to react), boredom/ understimulating environment, anxiety or compulsive disorders, or a lack of normal mothering during early puppyhood. Though rare, it is important to also consider nutritional issues as the cause of sudden onset coprophagia, as it may be a sign of malabsorption of nutrients, an unbalanced diet (especially in dogs fed untraditional diets), or poorly digestible food, parasitic infections, or medical conditions that cause an increase in appetites such as Cushing’s or Diabetes.
So why do so many dogs do it?
Outside of behavioural and nutritional issues, coprophagia is considered normal in young puppies / dogs and nursing/lactating mothers. Female dogs will clean and eat their litter's faeces to keep the rest area clean and free from disease, which is actually a behaviour seen in wild canines, such as wolves. This actually suggests that coprophagy may be an adaptive behaviour from wild canines against parasites, by removing the faeces from rest areas they essentially remove the ability of the infective larvae to repopulate.
Eating the f***s of another species is commonly done by dogs. Cat f***s is high in protein and the smell/taste seems to attract dogs. Horse f***s has predigested vegetable matter and attracts some dogs in the same way that regular grass does. In this case, however, the predigestion by the horse’s gastrointestinal system allows the vegetable matter to be processed in the dog since the cellulose bonds have already been broken. There is actually a study that suggests that eating faeces may have played a role in the domestication of the dog!
Aside from this, some dogs may just enjoy eating faeces as they have some dietary appeal. Faeces generally have a strong scent, and sense of smell is primarily how dogs view the world, so this explains why p**p is sometimes on the menu. Additionally, faeces of other species can actually provide some nutrients - cat stool is high in protein which often attracts dogs, meanwhile herbivore manure (ie horses) contains partially digested vegetable matter and is often a highly describe food for dogs, especially those that partake in eating grass.
It can be difficult to treat coprophagia, as it is often behavioral. The best action to take is to prevent access to p**p, whether it be keeping the dog on a leash at all times, wearing a basket muzzle, teaching a “leave-it” command, or not allowing dog in areas that may have lots of faeces. Taste deterrents are often advertised but there is little research, besides anecdotal evidence, that suggests it actually works.
As always, if your adult dog suddenly starts eating stool it is crucial to contact your veterinarian team to rule out anything serious that may be the cause.
