Poop eating is a common phenomenon, and although it is, most common in puppies, it can occur at any stage of a dog’s life. To humans, it is a filthy behaviour, which does not make any sense especially on pets being fed some of the best meals.
Behavioural problems, as well as underlying medical condition, is some of the reasons why a dog may engage in poop eating. A lack of vitamin or mineral deficiency may force a puppy to engage in faeces eating in a bid to restore balance. However, in some cases, the same boils down to high levels of anxiety, stress, and boredom.
Stopping the same is not easy. The following three steps could, however, be an icebreaker in stopping the filthy behaviour once and for all.
Given that faeces eating is most of the time attributed to an underlying medical condition, having a dog checked by a vet could be key to solving the problem. A vet could be able to detect whether the dog lacks certain types of digestive enzymes that force it to engage in such a filthy behaviour.
Overgrowth of bacteria in the bowel could lead to vitamin deficiency leading to poop ravings, which only a veterinarian can detect.
Diet Optimization
A dog that is well fed with all the necessary nutrients will not in any way engage in poop eating. Diet optimisation is thus essential in curbing this behaviour. A diet that is only based on cereals could force a dog to engage in pop eating as one of the ways of addressing a deficiency.
Feeding a dog two to three, well-balanced, nutritious meals should go a long way in curbing this behaviour.
Alleviate Boredom
Dogs will most of the time engage in poop eating as one of the ways of alleviating boredom. Plenty of exercises and interactive play should go a long way in fuelling mental and physical stimulation, the key to keeping a dog busy and away from poop.
