Fact check: is it dangerous for your pet to eat poo?

«Ugh! Yuck! Stop it!» A (more or less) delicious spectacle unfolded before my eyes recently. In the park, I encountered a dog owner who abruptly pulled his pet back on its lead. Why? The dog had just bitten into a pile of his own poo with relish. «How could you?!» I heard the owner exclaim in disgust. And while the thought of lunch made me feel sick, I asked myself the same thing: «How could he?!»

Poo doesn’t smell to dogs

Firstly, eating poo isn’t uncommon in the animal world. There’s even a technical term for it: coprophagia. This behaviour is normal (website in German) in rabbits or guinea pigs. Not in dogs – and very rarely in cats. Nevertheless, the disgusting habit is still understandable. Poo doesn’t smell bad to your dog. The opposite, in fact. On the one hand, the smell of excreted fatty acids is attractive to them. On the other hand, many foods now contain flavourings and flavour enhancers, and their residues (website in German) end up in poo. This smells delicious to your dog.

So, we’ve clarified why your dog doesn’t turn their nose up at poo. But why can they feel the urge to eat it?

1. Nutrient deficiencies

The most common reason is that your dog has a weakened digestive system, due to incorrect feeding, illnesses, parasites or age, among other things. This means they can no longer extract sufficient nutrients from their food or they keep excreting undigested nutrients. This can cause a nutrient deficiency. The dog then tries to make up for the deficiency through the faeces of other dogs.

2. Attention

Maybe there’s another lack behind your dog’s behaviour – a lack of attention that is. They may have noticed that you’re often absent. However, as soon as they go for a pile of poo, you’re there pointing your finger or telling them off, i.e. giving them your attention. That or they’ve copied other dogs’ behaviour.

3. Territorial behaviour

Your dog may be showing strong territorial behaviour. If so, they’ll mark their territory with their faeces and urine. But they don’t tolerate strangers’ poo – and quickly get rid of it by eating it.

4. Stress and frustration

Was your dog ever kept in a cramped kennel, maybe even in unhygienic conditions? Are they often lonely, or is the family hierarchy unclear? Then they may also eat poo out of frustration or stress.

5. Mothers and puppies

If your dog has had puppies, it’s very common for her to eat their poo. It’s believed that this is how she keeps the nest clean. But puppies also do it on occasion. This is possibly because they’re trying to absorb important intestinal bacteria and build up their intestinal flora (website in German).
Or it could be out of curiosity. Ultimately, they want to discover the world and try everything just like young children.

Lurking dangers

Whatever the reasons for your dog’s preferences, one thing’s certain: their behaviour will stink before long. But you should act quickly, and not only for your own sake. It’s especially important for your pet. Because the answer to this fact check is:

Yes, poo can be dangerous for your pet.

For example, the risk of your dog becoming infected with worms, giardiasis or other parasites (website in German) shouldn’t be underestimated. This can happen just by sniffing. Another danger lurks in possible drug residues that can be found in faeces. A large dog receives a relatively large dose from the vet. If a small dog eats its poo, it can be too much. Horse manure can also be dangerous for the same reason.

Besides this, the mix of additives from pet food that remains in the faeces of many furry friends is anything but healthy.

So, what should you do?

If you want to take action against your dog’s disgusting eating preferences as quickly as possible, ask yourself the following questions:

• How high quality and species-appropriate is the food you give your dog? Could it be that it isn’t providing them with enough nutrients?
• Are there current or previous worming treatments or medication that could have affected your dog’s intestinal flora?
• Do they have a weakened digestive system due to their age?
• Or are they still very young and enjoying biting into everything when they go exploring?
• Did your dog recently have puppies?
• Does your furry friend suffer from stress or frustration or display strong territorial behaviour?
• Are you not paying enough attention to your dog?

If you suspect a nutrient deficiency, you can try a rich nutritional supplement for now. If there are no changes in your pet’s behaviour, you should have their blood tested. A visit to the vet makes sense anyway to clarify any possible causes such as illnesses.

Be aware that it’s very difficult to wean your dog off coprophagia. In addition to consistent training, it can help in the short term to keep the dog on a lead, distract them from piles of poo with signals or lead them past them quickly. If problems persist, it’s best to contact an experienced dog trainer.

Until then, hold your nose and get through it. And enjoy your next meal!