Help... My dog eats her poop!!!

[Melinda]

Hello everyone. I need help! I have a 7 month old Pit Bull that likes to eat her poop. I don't know why. During the day there is noone home, and Pepper is locked up in her cage. When we return, we know that she has pooped, but it is nowhere to be found. How do I stop this from happening?

Melinda

[Squawksx3]

Hi Melinda and welcome :)

Its a fact of life that animals eat doo doo. Sometimes it means they are lacking in nutrients/vitamins. What kind of dog food do you feed him?. You might want to try to feed him food with more nutrients in them... maybe premium dry/canned dog food, fresh fruits and veggies if he'll eat them. There is also a product called "Missing Link" that is wonderful. It comes in a powdered form and you add it to their food. You can find it at pet stores. You can also try to find a family member or friend to go to your house during the day and let him out to potty while your gone. Dogs are generally clean animals and most dont like messes in their beds. Installing a doggie door is also another option. Maybe he's bored in his cage all day and is just looking for something to entertain himself. I have one dog that likes to eat cat poo.... yuk!. Eating his own poo wont hurt him, unless he has worms.. in that case, you'll never get rid of them. Good luck to you and please keep us updated :).

[Melinda]

I greatly appreciate the information. Pepper eats "Iams" dog food, which is packed with nutrients and vitamins. I believe she is probably just bored. Thank God she has not tested positive for worms. :)

[Jenny]

Are you sure she's really pooping? Some dogs won't poop in their crates. I had an Italian greyhound who was like that~ as long as he was in his crate he would "hold it" for however long he had to. How many hours a day is your little girl in the crate? Are there any toys you can put in there to give her something to do? Maybe those kongs stuffed with healthy treats? Also you could pop in a tape or cd. right before you leave so she has something a little more interesting to think about. Anyway good luck figuring this out. =)

['too crazy]

Just because there isn't anything in the crate doesn't mean she's gone. They say dogs won't poop where they sleep so there is a good chance she's holding it. I know the vet sells something you can put on their poop that makes it taste bad but I can't imagine what tastes worse than poop to begin with!:eek: Is she wetting in the cage? If not, I waould bet she's not doing anything in there. My dog wouldn't go in her cage but she loved to eat her poop outside.....espically when it just came out, nice and warm. Yum!:confused: We had to stand there while she pooped to be sure to tell her it was bad when she would try to eat it. I also heard not to pick it up right away because they feel like it's theirs and they would rather eat it than watch you throw it away. I sure am glad I'm not a dog. Well, good luck and welcome to the board. Sherry

[Melinda]

I am quite sure that it is poop in the cage. Believe me, I know poop when I see it. Yes, my Pepper does wet the cage as well. Now, I have to be honest. I have had Pepper since she was 2 months old, and this is the first month ever that I have placed her in a cage. Could it be possible that she might be rebelling against us because she is upset we are gone? I don't know, but I really wish she would stop. It is just awful having to go and finding her in her own mess.:(

[dutches]

i had a pitbull that did the same thing and my vet told me to take and put some meat tenderizer on her food and it will give her poop a bad taste that she wont like and it worked he has not touched his poop since and its been a year now. well good luck.

[tysonsnc]

My 3 month old boxer is doing the same thing and he eats Pro Plan by Purina. I was feeding him Purina One and he was not eating his poo. But still.

[2mad4animalz]

Its a disgusting thing yes, but I think a lot of dogs do it.My 10 year old mongrel eats her poo, it makes her breath absolutely stink!! Just keep an eye out if your dog wants to give you a kiss afterwards!

[Scintillater]

one of my dogs always has tried to eat her poo, so i have to keep an eye on her to stop her. my second dog, never USED to, and i haven't changed his diet, and now suddenly he eats my FIRST dog's poo! my third dog doesn't, and i hope he never does because he's big and his poo is big. eewwww.

Vets and breeders said sometimes they can still smell undigested protein in the food regardless of the type of food you feed them, or it's just a nasty habit. not much you can do other than try to pick it up as soon as they go.