Eating
Poop is by far the most disgusting habit dogs can exhibit.
In addition to obvious hygienic issues, this behavior can
have a negative effect on your relationship with your dog.
And that may lead to even more behavioral problems.
There
are ‘real reasons’ why your dog eats
poop. But also, there are ‘real things’
which you can do to help stop this behavior.
Understanding
the Problem
The first thing you need to
do is understand that this is a common behavioral problem
for dogs. The official medical term for this is: "Coprophagia".
While that name sounds nice and official, it does not add
any insight into a solution.
Some
studies have found that dogs learn this from their mothers
during the early months. The natural instinct of mothers is
to keep the den clear of parasites and safe for the newborns.
While
that is a valid theory, most dogs today do not grow up in
that type of environment. The breeders of today offer much
cleaner facilities which disproves much of that theory.
A
new theory has developed that points toward nutritional deficiencies
which trigger a biological need. This nutritional ‘desire’
is somehow contained in the fecal matter and sensed by dogs.
Whether this nutritional element is unprocessed food or something
more is unclear.
Possible
Remedies
Some dog owners have used hot
pepper or Tabasco sauce on feces to deter poop eating. This
type of remedy may work for you. But in some cases ‘flavoring’
actually increased the poop eating behavior.
There
is one product line on the market that has also shown some
effectiveness in eliminating this behavior. This product is
ProZyme®,
an all-natural enzyme food supplement. All you have to do
is sprinkle a bit on your dog's food with every feeding. The
added enzymes helps unlock food nutrients. While this product
has been known for maximizing the nutritional benefits of
food, the added enzymes may have an even greater benefit —
contributing to the end of canine poop eating!
Have
you been successful in stopping your dog from eating poop?
Share
your home success stories with us! Email us your story.
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