Eating her own poopoo

[ZachMan]

I just don't know what to do. Lucy has been eating her own poo. I didrealize it till I noticed the yard was alot cleaner and I know Frazer does not or ever done this. So I started watching her very carefully through the window when I let her out and sure enough as soon as it comes out it goes back in, ugghhh.

So I am definately going to take her to the vett Friday and stand outside with her the rest of the week. My question is what causes this? I know she acts like she is starved to death when she eats, but I have been feeding her 1.5 cups of food 2x a day and its Natures Variety too. Frazer has always eatin 2 cuos a day and he is right close to 60lbs so I don't know what to think Lucy is still very very trim and lean so maybe she just needs mooore food? She is on Interceptor also and she did not test pos. or worms last time we were at the vett.

ideas

[Maryellen]

some dogs like to eat their poop... some dont.. my one foster did, until i added some better food to her food, then she stopped.. the natures variety is a good food, but you might have to add something to it.. you can add canned merrick, or some canidae, evo, or some other higher quality food, or get the powder that you sprinkle on their food to stop them from eating their stool.. my rott used to do it only in the winter time, until i switched his food.. my gsd did it last winter,, the first time in 5 years, i was shocked... so i added some different food to their food and it worked...

[mnp13]

This isn't really a 'vet' problem. I don't know why they do it, but there are a number of additives you can put in their food that are supposed to break them of the habit.

I think it usually indicates a nutrition defficiency if I am remembering correctly.

[concreterose]

Vicki used to do it, and in her case it was because she hated to soil her kennel. I changed her eating schedule to where I could get her out to poop a little earlier,and my neighbor came over in the middle of the day to let her out...she stopped eating it.

Have you tried going out with her and cleaning it right up when she does it? I know that Solid Gold makes a poop eatin' deterrent, I've never tried it but HERE it is. Good luck, it's definitely a gross experience.

[katiek0417]

Is Lucy intact? Has she ever had puppies (or gone through a heat cycle)? Some female dogs will eat poop if they've had puppies or have gone through a heat cycle which resulted in a false pregnancy...Sacha does it every time she goes in heat...

I used the Solid Gold stuff...I think my girls just viewed it as seasoning...

Pineapple helps...the best thing to stop them was: meat tenderizer...no, not kidding...

after a while I would just correct them for it...now Sacha only does it while in heat...the puppy not at all

[cheekymunkee]

I have heard meat tenderizer works but couldn't think of it. That would be what I would advise.

[katiek0417]

I have heard meat tenderizer works but couldn't think of it. That would be what I would advice.

Yeah, it's the only thing I could really get to work....

[ZachMan]

Thanks everybody. She is intact for another 2 weeks, but never had pups or been in heat....shes 5 mo. old.

I'll try the meat tenderizer, then the powder if it doesn't help.

[Purple]

Adolf's meat tenderizer.

[katiek0417]

It could also just be a puppy thing...some puppies just do that.....

It might get better after she is spayed...in the meantime, try some of the suggestions....

[Miakoda]

Ok, I have some poop eaters too & well, here's the deal.

After discussing this rather nasty habit with your vet & all your friends who will listen, you will many of the same excuses: the dog is lacking is nutrients and/or vitamins, the dog may have worms, the dog is obsessive/compulsive, etc. But let the truth be told: SOME DOGS JUST LIKE IT! They like the taste, they like the texture, & they like beating you to the pile of poop to eat it before you can scoop it!

(however, in some cases it is true that malnourished/emaciated dogs will do this in an effort to stay alive & it might become a habit after all is said & done. but was your dog ever in this state?)

Oh, & as for ALL the "treatment" recommendations out there, I've tried them all on my 2 poop eaters. And NOTHING worked!

My advice? Scoop your yard several times a day & don't allow any facial kisses from those disguisting beasts.

[concreterose]

Ok, I have some poop eaters too & well, here's the deal.

After discussing this rather nasty habit with your vet & all your friends who will listen, you will many of the same excuses: the dog is lacking is nutrients and/or vitamins, the dog may have worms, the dog is obsessive/compulsive, etc. But let the truth be told: SOME DOGS JUST LIKE IT! They like the taste, they like the texture, & they like beating you to the pile of poop to eat it before you can scoop it!

(however, in some cases it is true that malnourished/emaciated dogs will do this in an effort to stay alive & it might become a habit after all is said & done. but was your dog ever in this state?)

Oh, & as for ALL the "treatment" recommendations out there, I've tried them all on my 2 poop eaters. And NOTHING worked!

My advice? Scoop your yard several times a day & don't allow any facial kisses from those disguisting beasts.

I tried the meat tenderizer and other stuff (except the solid gold stuff) too, and nothing helped except picking it right up.

[turtle]

I'd missed this thread due to having a too busy week!

Good advice above. If you get the meat tenderizer, look at the ingredients and get an unseasoned one with papin in it. Papin is an extract of papaya and it might help. Or it might not... Some dogs just like it!

I'd only take her out on a leash and then clean up as soon as she goes. Keep all poop cleaned up and hopefully you can break the habit.

One other possibility with Lucy, since she's a BYB pup, maybe the breeder kept the pups in crowded dirty pens? Not trying to say he did but that can cause a pup to learn to eat its stool.

[ZachMan]

.

One other possibility with Lucy, since she's a BYB pup, maybe the breeder kept the pups in crowded dirty pens? Not trying to say he did but that can cause a pup to learn to eat its stool.

Har har nice try

She was kept in a fenced 10 acre yard with her mom and dad.

[katiek0417]

Har har nice try

She was kept in a fenced 10 acre yard with her mom and dad.

WOW!!! No tight quarters there!!!!

[ZachMan]

Har har nice try

She was kept in a fenced 10 acre yard with her mom and dad.

WOW!!! No tight quarters there!!!!

Yeah its like a ranch style home they had a huge yard just for the 4 dogs.

[Marty]

Try one table spoon of crushed pineapple aday in there food

[cheekymunkee]

Damn crap eatin' dogs (that was one of my dad's favorite sayings!)