Eating her own.....

[Maggies Muggles]

Hi Everyone,

This is our first post on the site and having read it as much as possible over the past few weeks, it has proven to be a fantastic resource.

We brought home our new puppy (Maggie) about 10 days ago and she has been wonderful so far, settling in very nicely. She is 11 weeks old today.

She is getting very good at going outside (and indicating that she wants to go outside in her own way) which is very pleasing.

However, she seems to be developing a rather nasty little habit of eating her own faeces.

I have noticed that she will sometimes pick up and try to eat what she has just done (unless I can remove it first or stop her from getting to it) and, on at least one occasion, I suspect that she has eaten a mess that she has made in her crate overnight.

Having spoken to the vet and others, we have been given a number of possible explanations (ranging from a deficiency in food to simply wanting to keep her personal area clean).

We currently feed her a Pedigree Chum Professional Puppy food (given to us by the breeder) and we have just started the process of transitioning her onto the Hills Science Diet Puppy food (Chicken). We do not feed her anything else and plenty of water is always available.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Although we have been told that it is not dangerous for her, it is a habit we would very much like to stop.

Could there be a deficiency in her diet that makes her want to eat this? Is there anything else we should feed her? One vet mentioned a Vitamin supplement that makes the faeces taste terrible to dogs but did not recommend it for such a young puppy.

Any advice gratefuly received.

Thanks in advance,

Tim & Vicky (aka Maggie's Muggles)

[Jane S]

This is pretty normal canine behaviour so is nothing to worry about. Most puppies do grow out of this habit but prevention is often better than cure ie if you clear up as soon as Maggie "goes", then there is nothing for her to chomp on. If she's poo-ing in her crate overnight, then you possibly need to set your alarm clock and let her out during the night as young pups can't usually last all night without needing to "go".

PS Be warned dogs will also often eat the poo of other animals such as cats, rabbits & fox

[PennyB]

PS Be warned dogs will also often eat the poo of other animals such as cats, rabbits & fox

and horses

[spanielcrazy]

 Agree with Jane. It's disgusting but not harmful. From what I understand those things made to make the poo taste bad don't work.

I have a poo eater, I just have to keep an eye on him, when I see him going for it I give him a sharp "ah-ah" and pick it up. He's not 100% cured but he's almost there!

[clairep4]

You're not alone - Zorro (nearly 5 months) doesn't eat his own poo but is extremely fond of the cats' poo, which is buried in the gravel in the garden - he is like a little truffle pig out there trying to find it  . I just go out after him with a poo bag and try and get it as soon as he starts digging...

[spanielcrazy]

You're not alone - Zorro (nearly 5 months) doesn't eat his own poo but is extremely fond of the cats' poo, which is buried in the gravel in the garden - he is like a little truffle pig out there trying to find it  . I just go out after him with a poo bag and try and get it as soon as he starts digging...

ooo, recycled cat food, all dogs like that!

[benji]

Ours is the same! Does his business and puts his mouth straight to it if given the chance!

However, because we're currently in the process of house training he's now aware that as soon as he's gone outside he'll get a treat so comes running over to me immediately!

Not very nice though is it?!! 

[Nicola]

Adding crushed pineapple to the dog's food can dissuade them from doing this but it can take some time to see the effects.

[Joules]

Coco did this for ages from when I first got her home - I had to be really quick to beat her to it as she would be turning round to eat it before she had even finished   From what I have found, it is pretty common - it is just that no one talks about it!  She hardly ever does it now though - she prefers horse, rabbit, deer etc - you get the picture.  I don't think it is anything to do with dietary deficiencies (not much nutrition in dog poo I would have thought!  ) - it is just one of those delightful doggy habits and hopefully they will grow out of it   Now she only does it if I have any guests who are likely to be repulsed by it 

[Jeeves]

Both Parker & Mrs Bridges do this - I thought it was a habit they had developed after being caged all their lives.  It's absolutely disgusting and drives me mad 

There is a tablet you can get from the vet which makes the poo taste so vile they stop the habit, but it's very expensive apparently.  I tried the pineapple thing but it didn't work.

All I know is it makes their breath absolutley disgusting!!!!!!!!!!   

[Maggies Muggles]

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful and nice to know we're not alone!!

[mentalcat]

Hiya all,

Something else to try apart from the old pineapple trick is to add courgette (yuk) or Brewers Yeast. This is what is in the 'det er' tablets among other things. You can normally get the tablets from the chemists, and the trick is to start with a small amount and add more if needed. BUT i wouldn't do this with a very young pup as it may upset an immature stomach.

Good luck.

Ali

[dood]

Poppy's just eaten her own vomit tonight before we could stop her

[Joelf]

Poppy's just eaten her own vomit tonight before we could stop her

Stella,my lab,used to do that but Spike managed to find another dogs vomit on a walk & ate that,much to my disgust!!

[lucieb]

yeah our meg did the same when we first got her home, but we use to go out with her and when she did a poo we use to offer her a treat for being good and pooing outside and use to pick the poo up quickly. if i caught her eating poo then i use to say no and push her away from it and pick it up straught away... she soon got use to not eating it, and now at 10 months im safe to say i havent noticed her eat her own poo in a long time.... thank goodness, wasnt very keen on the doggie kisses after she had a nibble of what she thought was dessert!