Poo Eating.

[feebee102]

Hi
I am looking after my sons 2 year old springer spaniel for 6 weeks while he is on holiday. She is up to date with all her jabs etc and is very fit & healthy. My problem is she has the disgusting habit of eating her own & my dogs fresh poo ( just as in just laid) before I can get out and get it up. She then proceeds to come in the house and minutes later pukes up liquid poo. This is driving me mad as well as ruining the carpet. I have got her for another five weeks. She is use to coming and stopping with us often when my son comes to visit and she use to live with us before my son got his own place so I knbow its not stress related. Help please XX

[anneasquith]

the minute it has time to eat the poo cover the poo in chill/garlic powder

[daisymay]

Yes, I've had that problem. The only way to stop it is to remove the poo before they can get at it. My vet suggested giving the dog raw cauliflower as he thought it might be some sort of vitamin deficiency. However, having scrolled down see there are previous posts (See Yorkie Eating Poo - 5 Oct 2009) which suggest feeding the dog pineapple and letting them eat, it puts them off doing it again apparently . . . Worth a try anyway.

[woofgang]

What food have you got her on? Sometimes its because they are missing something from their diet. Another reason is that the cheaper kinds of dogfood have appetants put in them to make them yummy for the dog. These are not digested so to the dog, the poo still smells like a source of nourishment. It sounds as though this might be a new problem for you? does she do it at your son's?

[AlwaysConfused]

If the dog is rolling in the poo they are trying to hide their scent so to be less vulnerable. Eating it does suggest a deficiency in minerals. Utterly disgusting to us, quite normal to them. Would you feel guilty if you tried to vary his diet whilst your son is on holiday? I wouldn't. Try it.

If diet does not work, try and distract the dog when it encounters poo, a ball or frisbee for example. If that doesn't work, perhaps a whistle that you can blow when you first see the signs that she about to feed on the poo, deter her before she gets there. Let her know is not acceptable.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh I'm glad it's the dog not the owner.

But it likes it as it is, no need to season it.

That said by fresh I did wonder if you were keeping it in the fridge for it.

Best let it stay in the garden or porch or conservatory for a few minutes before getting as far as the carpeted areas.

[lankeela]

Disgusting as it is for us, provided the 'donor' dog is healthy there is nothing to actually harm the dog eating it. Pineapple in the dog's food can help, but getting a dog to eat pineapple can be a problem. Best thing is to take away the 'trophy' element i.e. if you rush out to pick it up the dog thinks it is worth having and will race you for it. Try distraction, either shaking a can with stones in, or a favourite treat or biscuit calling the dog away and making it sit so that leaving the poo is more rewarding. Throwing a toy can also work, or else resort to taking it out on a lead till both dogs have been, and then you can let her off as a reward once you have cleared up.

[FredPuli43]

The dog thinks it's a rabbit ! Rabbits do this, to get maximum nutrition from their faeces. It's common enough, is coprophagia, and harmless enough, subject to lankeela's caveat. Most dogs prefer to eat that of other species. Does she return and eat the liquid? If not, she may decide that it's not for her !

[feebee102]

if she gets the chance she eats the liquid but as she chucks up and we shout the usual " b****y not again" she runs off and leaves it.
Food wise she is on Arkwrights for working dogs. Its the same food my dogs get, but don't have this problem with mine.

[woofgang]

Does she do this at your son's? has she always done it? Does she eat something different at your son's?