dog droppings

[Tom7227]

Why does one of my dog want to eat frozen droppings? Doesn't do it in the summer but once they freeze she goes after them right away. Just did it after eating a whole bowl of food.

[ESSGuy]

Because it's a dog. They do some gross stuff. Roll in stinky stuff and eat gross stuff. One of mine brought a [PoorWordUsage] to bed last winter, I was far from happy with him when I woke up that morning.

[jmd1]

my labs use to bring it in the house. i asked the vet about what to do, she has me put a 1/4 can of pumpkin in their food dish once a week. something in the pumpkin turns the nose up to their waste. seems to work.

[Pherris]

I had a bischon that liked eating droppings too. We tried many things to stop it. None worked perfect but the most effective was sprinkling meat tenderizer on her food. Apparently it has an enzyme that dogs do not like after they digest it. A friend had a dog that also liked to eat it and he discovered if he did not give his dog any doggie treats it would not be as willing to eat it. Dogs will be dogs.

[leechlake]

I've got two that do it. Once one of them threw up the dog [PoorWordUsage], double bonus when cleaning that up in the house...

The best way is the hardest and most impractical especially with snow and that is picking it up so there isn't any to eat. The other we tried is actually using the [PoorWordUsage] as bait. Put some hot red pepper on it and it may deter them from the heat when the get into it. One of our dogs this didn't bother and one of them it did.

[leech~~]

Bill Engvall: I took Duke to the vet 'cause he eats his own turds, and I asked the vet, "Isn't that unusual?" and he says, "No, a lot of dogs do that. Just take some of this powder here, sprinkle it on his food and it'll make him stop." I said, "What's it do?" He says, "It makes his turds taste bad."

"I'm sorry, Doc, did you just say 'it will make his turds taste bad'?" Let me tell you something, if you've stooped to eating turds, you've never uttered the phrase, "Oh my God! This is nasty!"

[leechlake]

hope this doesn't get the topic derailed but my buddy's lab Buck has eaten quite a few turds of his owner when a field potty break occurred. Maybe just be thankful...

Now back to the topic- Dog eats his own turds.

[bluedirt]

Thanks Tom for starting this thread. Had a similar related question. My 8 month old Lab insists on cleaning out the cat litter box. Any suggestions much appreciated. Getting rid of the cat didn't appeal to other family members.

[leechlake]

maybe an e collar and watch the dog and when he starts after a turd give him a correction.

[Tom7227]

I took the dog to training when it was young and the lady said something about dogs doing this in the winter. I guess since that's when Lily does it I was wondering why it was only a winter sort of thing.

[ClownColor]

My dog (lab) also eats [PoorWordUsage]. Actually, I'm pretty sure she prefers them over her dog food! I'm gonna try that pumpkin thing. I just get to lazy to pick that [PoorWordUsage] up in the winter like I should.

[bluedirt]

I am going to try sprinkling meat tenderizer on the cat food. If that does not work, e collar is the next plan. Thanks for the ideas.

[verg]

One of my dogs will do so as well and he will hit up litter box in garage too. Ticks me off. I had read one time..not sure true..but they may be lacking something in diet during winter? Like a mineral etc that they normally get from grasses, dirt etc. Sounds plausible.

[island guy]

My pudelpointer does the same thing in the winter. Never in the summer. I've asked a couple Vets with no real answer. I've tried the pumpkin and all kinds of other suggestions with no results. I try to pick up all her droppings but in the winter that's hard. Plus I take her out to run most every day and she always finds a pile to try. I just put up with it.

[MNpurple]

Not sure if this applies but in the last 3 weeks, my sisters 6 year old lab just began eating all of her droppings, but in addition to this she lost about 12 pounds and had an unbelievable appetite, just could never get enough food, yet lost the weight. Finally figured out her pancreas was no longer producing the enzymes needed in digestion, EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency). Essentially whatever she ate passed right through her without her getting any nutrition hence the continuous hunger.

Vet said she was eating her droppings because she could smell the undigested protein, fats, etc in it and it was food to her.

[rwwong]

My dog does it, doesn't matter if it's fresh or frozen. I've tried the pumpkin, the meat tenderizer - the only thing that worked for me is the Ol' fashion pick it up right away!

I've heard it's instinctual. Comes from when the Mom cleans up after her pups in the box (or den)