💩 Understanding and Managing Feces Eating in Pets: Vet Tips for 2025 🐾

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Feces eating—called coprophagia—can be frustrating, embarrassing, and just plain gross. Whether your dog is snacking on their own poop or raiding the cat’s litterbox, this behavior has physical, developmental, and behavioral roots. In this 2025 guide, we break down the causes, health risks, and practical solutions to help your pet kick the habit. 🐶🐱

🧬 Why Do Pets Eat Feces?

🌱 It’s Normal for Some Animals

• 🍼 Mother dogs lick and clean puppies to encourage elimination
• 🐾 Puppies and kittens may mimic this behavior or explore their world by tasting everything

This can be part of early gut development—puppies may ingest poop to build healthy gut flora. But when the habit persists beyond early puppyhood, it’s time to intervene. 🧠

🔍 Medical Causes of Coprophagia

Before blaming behavior, rule out underlying health issues:

• 🥗 Poor diet or nutrient absorption
• 🐛 Intestinal parasites (worms)
• 🧪 Diseases causing excessive hunger (polyphagia), like:
• Thyroid disease
• Cushing’s disease
• Diabetes
• 🩸 Pica due to anemia or liver disease
• 🧓 Cognitive dysfunction in senior pets

📞 Solution: Have your vet perform a physical exam, bloodwork, and a fecal test. Treating a medical issue may resolve the behavior. 🩺

🧠 Behavioral Causes

Coprophagia is often behaviorally driven, especially in young or anxious dogs:

• 🐶 Normal curiosity in puppies
• 😰 Stress, anxiety, or boredom
• 🔁 Compulsive or attention-seeking behavior
• 🚫 Avoidance of punishment (e.g., cleaning up accidents before you notice)

Dogs who are isolated, crated excessively, or lacking enrichment may turn to feces out of frustration or for stimulation. 🚨

🛠️ What You Can Do

1. 🧼 Clean Up Quickly

• 💩 Scoop the yard and litterbox immediately after elimination
• 🤖 Try an automatic litterbox for cats

2. 🦴 Monitor and Redirect

• 🐕 Leash your dog for bathroom trips and remove them from the area after elimination
• 🎯 Use cues like “leave it” or “here” to redirect their focus

3. 🍽️ Improve Feeding & Digestion

• 🐾 Feed multiple times per day with slow feeders or puzzle bowls
• 🔁 Consider switching to higher-fiber or higher-quality food (consult your vet)

4. 🧠 Increase Mental Stimulation

• 🧩 Use interactive toys and games
• 🐕 Practice training cues and positive reinforcement
• 🎾 Offer daily playtime and exercise

5. 💊 Try Deterrents and Additives

• 🧃 Pineapple (canned or fresh)
• 🧂 Adolph’s Meat Tenderizer (use cautiously)
• 💊 For-bid, probiotics, or charcoal treats

These additives alter the taste or smell of feces to discourage interest. They must be given to the pet producing the feces, not the one eating it. ✅

6. 🦺 Use a Basket Muzzle (if needed)

• 🔒 Prevents eating but still allows panting and treat delivery
• 🚫 Always supervise to avoid injury or entanglement

7. 🚫 Avoid Punishment

Yelling or scolding can increase anxiety and drive the behavior further. Focus on redirection, reward-based training, and consistency. 🧘

⚠️ Potential Health Risks

• 🦠 Parasite transmission (worms)
• 🧫 Bacterial infections (E. coli, Salmonella)
• 💊 Drug exposure (from medicated feces)
• 👩 Higher infection risk to humans, especially children and immunocompromised individuals

📈 Progress Takes Time

Coprophagia is rarely solved overnight. Combine medical care, prevention, positive training, and enrichment to get lasting results. 🧩

📝 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Coprophagia is distressing—but treatable. With vet insight and consistent intervention, your dog or cat can break the habit. Whether it’s driven by medical need, boredom, or anxiety, we can uncover the “why” and work toward a healthier, happier home. 🐾💩

Need help with feces-eating or other behavioral challenges? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📱 for expert guidance on diagnosis, training, and nutrition support. 🐶🐱