Why Is My Dog Eating Her Poop? Coprophagia Causes, Risks & Fixes

If you've caught your dog snacking on feces—her own, another dog's, or even a cat's—you're not alone. Coprophagia (the clinical term for poop-eating) is one of the most common and least-discussed behavioral complaints veterinarians hear. A 2012 study presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior found that roughly 16% of dogs are classified as "serious" stool eaters, meaning they've been caught in the act five or more times.

Before you panic, understand that coprophagia in dogs usually stems from one of three categories: medical conditions, behavioral drivers, or environmental factors. This guide breaks down each cause with specific diagnostic steps, actionable interventions, and the exact point at which you should call your veterinarian.

What Exactly Is Coprophagia in Dogs?

Coprophagia is the deliberate consumption of feces. In veterinary medicine, it's classified into three subtypes:

• Autocopphagia: Eating one's own feces
• Intraspecific coprophagia: Eating feces from other dogs
• Interspecific coprophagia: Eating feces from other species (cats, rabbits, horses, wildlife)

Each subtype can point to different underlying causes. A dog eating cat feces from a litter box, for example, is often driven by the high protein and fat content in cat stool—it smells like food to them. A dog eating her own stool immediately after defecating may be responding to a learned avoidance behavior (hiding evidence from a previously punitive owner) or a malabsorption issue.

Medical Reasons Your Dog May Be Eating Poop

Before assuming coprophagia is "just a bad habit," rule out medical causes first. Several conditions increase stool-eating behavior by altering nutrient absorption, appetite regulation, or gut microbiome composition.

Conditions That Trigger Coprophagia

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, EPI is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of coprophagia, particularly in German Shepherds, Rough-Coated Collies, and Eurasian breeds. If your dog is eating feces and simultaneously losing weight despite a normal or increased appetite, EPI should be high on the differential list.

Medications That Increase Coprophagia Risk

Certain prescription drugs can trigger or worsen stool-eating as a side effect:

• Prednisone and other corticosteroids: Dramatically increase appetite and pica behavior
• Phenobarbital: Used for seizure management; known to cause polyphagia
• Thyroid hormone supplementation: If dosed too high, can increase metabolic rate and hunger

If your dog started eating feces after beginning a new medication, note the timeline and discuss dosage adjustment with your veterinarian. Never discontinue prescribed medication without veterinary guidance.

Behavioral and Environmental Drivers

When medical causes are ruled out, the remaining triggers are behavioral or environmental. Research published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science has identified several patterns that predict coprophagia risk.

Common Behavioral Causes

Maternal Behavior: Nursing dams lick and consume puppy feces to keep the whelping area clean. This is normal, instinctive behavior that typically resolves once puppies are weaned (around 6–8 weeks). No intervention needed unless it persists beyond weaning.

Attention-Seeking: If you've ever reacted strongly—chasing, yelling, or rushing over—when your dog grabbed feces, you may have inadvertently reinforced the behavior. Dogs learn quickly that picking up poop earns a dramatic human response.

Anxiety or Stress: Dogs in high-stress environments (recent rehoming, kennel confinement, separation anxiety) may eat feces as a displacement behavior. A 2018 survey by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) noted that dogs kept in barren or restrictive environments showed higher rates of coprophagia than those in enriched home settings.

Punishment History: Dogs previously punished for indoor accidents (nose-rubbing, yelling) may eat their feces to "hide the evidence." This is a learned avoidance behavior, not a preference for feces.

Mimicry: Dogs in multi-dog households sometimes learn coprophagia by observing another dog doing it. One study found that dogs living with a coprophagic housemate were significantly more likely to develop the habit themselves.

Environmental and Dietary Factors

Step-by-Step: How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop

Addressing coprophagia requires a layered approach. Here's a systematic protocol based on veterinary behaviorist recommendations:

Step 1: Veterinary Workup (Days 1–7)

Schedule a veterinary exam and request the following baseline tests:

1. Complete fecal parasite panel (flotation + Giardia antigen)
2. Complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel
3. If weight loss or chronic diarrhea is present: add TLI test for EPI and cobalamin/folate levels
4. If polyphagia is extreme or dog is middle-aged/senior: add thyroid panel and consider Cushing's screening

Expected cost for a full coprophagia workup: $200–$500 depending on which tests are indicated.

Step 2: Dietary Optimization (Days 1–14)

Regardless of test results, improve diet quality simultaneously:

• Verify your dog's food carries an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy for her life stage
• Calculate proper daily calories: For a 50 lb (23 kg) adult dog at ideal weight, maintenance is roughly 989 kcal/day (using RER × 1.6 activity factor). Adjust ±10% based on body condition score
• Add a probiotic supplement with documented strains (e.g., Enterococcus faecium SF68 or Lactobacillus acidophilus). Products like Purina FortiFlora or Proviable-DC provide 1 billion CFU per capsule
• Consider a digestive enzyme supplement (e.g., NWC Naturals Dogzymes or VetriScience enzymes) if stool quality is consistently soft or undigested food is visible

Step 3: Management and Prevention (Ongoing)

While investigating root causes, prevent access to feces:

• Leash-walk only: Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash during bathroom breaks. Pick up feces immediately after she defecates
• Muzzle training: A basket muzzle (e.g., Baskerville Ultra or Jafco Clear Vinyl) allows panting and drinking but prevents feces consumption. Train using positive reinforcement—never force a muzzle on without desensitization
• Yard hygiene: Remove feces from the yard at least once daily. Consider designating a single bathroom area for easier cleanup
• Litter box barriers: For cat-feces coprophagia, use a baby gate with a 4-inch cat opening, or switch to a top-entry litter box like the Modkat or IRIS Top Entry

Step 4: Behavioral Training (Weeks 2–8)

Teach two key behaviors using positive reinforcement (force-free, LIMA-compliant methods only):

"Leave It" Cue:

1. Place a low-value treat on the floor, cover it with your hand
2. When your dog stops nosing your hand, mark (click or "yes") and reward from your other hand
3. Progress to uncovered treat, then treat on floor at distance, then real-world items during walks
4. Timeline: 2–4 weeks of daily 5-minute sessions to achieve reliable response

"Come Away" / Recall from Feces:

1. After your dog defecates on leash, immediately call her toward you with a high-value reward (freeze-dried liver, cheese, chicken)
2. Mark and reward when she turns away from the feces and moves toward you
3. Gradually increase distance before calling
4. This creates a habit loop: poop → turn to owner → reward

Step 5: Deterrent Products (Optional Adjunct)

Several commercial products make feces taste unappealing after ingestion. These work by adding ingredients (typically yucca schidigera extract, monosodium glutamate, or bitter agents) that pass through the digestive tract and make stool taste objectionable:

Important caveat: Deterrent supplements only address autocoprophagia (eating own stool). If your dog is eating other dogs' feces or cat feces, the deterrent won't be present in those stools. Training and management remain the primary interventions.

Health Risks of Coprophagia: What You Need to Know

While eating one's own feces is primarily a hygiene and behavioral concern, consuming feces from other animals introduces genuine disease risk:

Pathogen Transmission Risks

• Parvovirus: Can survive in feces for months in the environment. Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated dogs are at severe risk. DHPP vaccination is essential—puppies need the full series (typically at 6, 9, 12, and 16 weeks) per AVMA guidelines
• Giardia and Coccidia: Protozoal parasites commonly transmitted via fecal-oral route. Symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea, weight loss, and dehydration
• Roundworms and Hookworms: Eggs shed in feces can remain viable in soil for years. Hookworms are zoonotic—humans can contract cutaneous larva migrans from contaminated soil
• Whipworms: Eggs are extremely resilient; infection causes bloody diarrhea and weight loss
• Salmonella and E. coli: Bacterial pathogens that can infect both dogs and humans (zoonotic risk)

If your dog has been eating feces from unknown dogs (e.g., at a park or on walks), request a fecal panel at your next veterinary visit and ensure all core vaccinations are current.

Common Myths About Dog Coprophagia

Myth: "Dogs eat poop because their diet is missing something."
Reality: While nutritional deficiencies can play a role (particularly with EPI or severe malabsorption), most coprophagic dogs are on nutritionally complete diets. The 2012 UC Davis study found no correlation between diet type and coprophagia incidence. The behavior is more strongly linked to temperament traits (anxiety, high food motivation) than dietary gaps.

Myth: "Adding pineapple or meat tenderizer to food stops it."
Reality: The theory is that bromelain (in pineapple) or papain (in meat tenderizer) alters stool taste. There is no peer-reviewed evidence supporting this, and the required dose of bromelain to affect stool palatability would likely cause GI upset. Commercial deterrent products use more targeted and tested formulations.

Myth: "My dog eats poop because she was in a puppy mill."
Reality: While dogs from overcrowded, unsanitary environments may develop coprophagia out of necessity (limited food, feces-covered living spaces), many dogs from excellent homes also develop the behavior. Origin is one factor, not a diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for puppies to eat their own poop?

Mild exploratory coprophagia can occur in puppies under 6 months as they investigate their environment orally. Most puppies outgrow this by 9–12 months. However, if the behavior is frequent (daily or multiple times per week), start training interventions early and rule out parasites, which are extremely common in puppies.

Can my dog get sick from eating cat poop?

Yes. Cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that can infect dogs (and humans). Cats on raw diets may also shed Salmonella or Campylobacter in their stool. Additionally, if your cat is on medication (e.g., methimazole for hyperthyroidism), drug residues in feces could affect your dog. Prevent access to litter boxes as a priority.

Will switching my dog's food stop the coprophagia?

It depends on the cause. If poor digestibility is making stool smell and taste food-like, switching to a higher-quality diet with better digestibility (≥82% dry-matter basis) may reduce the behavior within 2–4 weeks. However, if the root cause is behavioral, a food switch alone won't resolve it. Combine dietary improvement with management and training.

How long does it take to stop coprophagia with training?

With consistent management (leash walks, immediate feces pickup, "leave it" training), most owners see significant reduction within 4–8 weeks. Complete resolution varies—dogs with strong reinforcement histories (the behavior has been self-rewarding for months or years) may take 3–6 months of consistent intervention. Some dogs require lifelong management.

Should I punish my dog when I catch her eating poop?

No. Punishment (yelling, nose-rubbing, physical correction) typically worsens coprophagia. Dogs learn to eat feces faster or hide the behavior rather than stop doing it. Positive reinforcement—rewarding your dog for leaving feces and coming to you—is significantly more effective according to AVSAB's position statement on punishment. Force-free, LIMA-compliant training methods produce better outcomes and protect your relationship with your dog.

Can coprophagia cause long-term health problems?

Autocoprophagia (own stool) rarely causes direct harm beyond oral bacteria concerns and the unpleasant factor. The real risk comes from eating other animals' feces, which can transmit parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Chronic parasitism can lead to anemia, malnutrition, and immune compromise if untreated. Keep your dog on a year-round broad-spectrum parasite preventive (e.g., Simparica Trio, Interceptor Plus, or Heartgard Plus with a separate dewormer) and have fecal testing done every 6–12 months.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. If your dog's coprophagia is accompanied by weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, or sudden behavioral changes, consult your veterinarian promptly. For suspected ingestion of toxic substances, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (24/7, consultation fee applies).