Field Guide · Glossary
Coprophagia
Health and safetyEating feces, either the dog's own, another dog's, or another animal's.
How it works
It is common, and more so in homes with more than one dog. In a large survey study of dogs whose owners answered online questionnaires, 16% were frequent stool eaters, seen doing it at least six times. That study found no link to diet or to the dog's age, and the stool eaters were as easy to house-train as other dogs, which suggests they find feces as unpleasant as other dogs do when it comes to where they go. The stool eaters were more often described as greedy eaters, and almost all of the eating was directed at fresh stools, no more than two days old. Owners reported that commercial additives and behavior approaches worked close to never. The authors propose that it may be a leftover from wolf ancestors keeping the den area clear of parasite eggs, which take at least two days to become infective. That explanation is a hypothesis. Veterinary references add that it occasionally has a medical cause and that long confinement with little to do can contribute.
What it looks like
A dog in a two-dog household eats the other dog's stool in the yard within minutes of it landing. The family switches to walking both dogs on leash for potty breaks, picks up immediately, and pays the dog with a treat for coming back to them after the other dog goes. The habit fades once the stools are no longer available.
Commonly confused with
- Pica
- Pica is eating non-food objects such as fabric or rocks. Coprophagia is eating feces. They are listed together in veterinary references as eating disorders but have different common causes.
Related terms
Gear that helps
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Poop bag dispenser
Clips to the leash so bags are always on you. Leakproof, holds a big roll.
Basket muzzle (Baskerville-style)
A conditioned basket muzzle lets a dog pant, drink, and take treats, so it's a safety tool, not a punishment. We use it for reactive dogs in public and any dog still learning to be handled at the vet.
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Sources