Poopy eating dog

[aquadee]

Can someone please tell me how to stop my dog eating his own poop? I do try to clean it up asap if he does one in the back garden, but sometimes he does it as soon as i let him out, then eats it straight away. I've been told that its natural for them, and it could be a vitamin deficiency - but the vet has checked him and said he's in good health. I don't give him any 'human food' anymore because that makes it worse. I really need him to stop because he's a big dog and when he does it he comes into the house and wipes his face on anything to get it clean again :0(

[drgnrdr]

this one has been answered before if you'd like to train him away from it. His food change will help. Allot of dogs that get a good high quality highly digestable food hardly ever eat their poop, IMHO when I see corn, wheat and/or by-products in the ingredients of food, I know it's not high quality.

go to a previous thread

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals_and_Nature/Question199492.html

or search this site with "poop eating".

[binkybingo]

Very easy to say train the dog and there are many and varied answers.....

Mine would be speak to the experts... best done this way... www.dogpages.org.uk

Its a forum with lots of very experienced owners on who I'm sure will be able to help more.

[drgnrdr]

Wait a second this advice is from an expert, I said "if you'd like to", I thought maybe they'd like to stop the behavior, and would like a way to do so. It's up to aquadee..

[bonzi!]

your dog might have worms, our dogs done this, it make u wanna pewk!

[saffyjay]

hi aquadee

I had the same problem with my dog along with lots of other problems and i called a behaviourist in! she told me that my dog was under nourished and though she didnt look skinny she wasnt getting the best from the commercial food i was giving her (bakers complete) I was told to start giving my dog raw meat and veg and i do mean raw. You can get different types such as prize choice in the frozen food section at good pet shops, give it along with blended carrots and parsnips, NOT ONIONS OR POTATO though. My dog stopped eating poo instantly, i was amazed because i had tried everything.

Do be aware that this is quite a controversial subject and my vet had also said that my dog was in good health but this changed worked and my dogs behaviour is also much better.

For more info type the names Ian Billinghurst and Tom Lonsdale into google, www.ukrmb.co.uk is also quite informative.

Best wishes

[saffyjay]

i contacted barkbusters they are really into giving a raw diet, www.barkbusters.co.uk they say there are to many un needed colours and flavours in commercial dog food, its like giving a child sweets for dinner everyday!

[doglady]

You could try going into the garden with him and keeping him on a lead. Then you could take him away after he's done his stuff, and he won't have a chance to eat it. If he has a strong stomach generally, and you don't have time to pick up straight afterwards you could try sprinkling a little bit of chilli powder or chilli sauce over it. Then if he manages to get his little teeth on it another time, he'll be swiftly put off.

By the way, only try this if he has a very strong stomach - my dog ate jalapenos once before I could stop him, and he was fine, but he licked his lips for a long time, but he did stop pinching food off plates!!

[adygolding]

hi my shihtzu is 7 mths old and still eating her poo my last resort is i am trying deter tablets bought from the pet store cross fingers they work i have tried everything else