Coprophagia

copperwindow · #1 04-19-2006, 02:15 AM

Two questions:
1} Why do dogs eat their poop?
2} Is it bad for them?

Eleusis · #2 04-19-2006, 03:03 AM

1) It tastes good?
2) Probably not.

copperwindow · #3 04-19-2006, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eleusis

1) It tastes good?
2) Probably not.

Brad, I find it hard to believe poop tastes good to a dog...

Eleusis · #4 04-19-2006, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperwindow

Brad, I find it hard to believe poop tastes good to a dog...

AH HA!

Then WHY do they eat it!?!?!

Hmm???

Eleusis · #5 04-19-2006, 03:28 AM

Actually, I have it on good authority that it does actually taste good to them...

Caveat: The further removed from the source, the better.

Worthless anecdotes provided upon request...

FlyingRamenMonster · #6 04-19-2006, 04:13 AM

According to this site it is fairly common and not really harmful. Though I would like to add to their list 7) Stop letting your dog lick your face.

vetbridge · #7 04-19-2006, 08:55 AM

There are parasites that spread via fecal-oral route. There are also bacteria that can cause problems.

Lissa · #8 04-19-2006, 09:42 AM

Dogs eat poop for a variety of reasons. Often, it's beause there are undigested food particles in the poop, and some dogs just can't resist food, no matter where they find it. Try changing to a better (more digestible) food and see if that stops it.

Some dogs do it when they're low on vitamins. Try giving your dog a vitamin tab once a day, and introducing vegetables to their diet. (My dogs love baby carrots, which I give as treats.) You can put a little cooked spinach in their bowl, but some dogs get a lot of gas from it. There are also products on the market like powdered barley grass. (One of them is a product called Barley Dog). You sprinkle the powder on the food.

Some dogs do it out of boredom. If you leave your dog in the yard for long periods of time, clean up the poop when you see it, and give them something fun to play with.

One great thing for dogs outside to play with is a chunk of flavored ice with bits of food in it. Take chicken broth and pour into a large plastic bowl about two inches of liquid, then freeze it. Take it out, and put some chicken chunks, bits of hotdog, or other yummy food on top and pour in more broth until the food is covered. Freeze overnight. In the morning, put hot water in the sink and float the bowl on top for a few minutes to loosen the ice chunk. Take it outside and give it to the dog. Hours of fun.

There are also food addititves you can buy at the pet store which makes the dog's poop taste incredibly vile, and is supposed to break the habit.

midwestgirl · #9 04-19-2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eleusis

1) It tastes good?
2) Probably not.

....couldn't resist posting on this topic (much like my god can't resist eating his turds). I am the not so proud owner of a coprophagious 10 y/o Shih-Tzu, inherited by my late grandfather. I'm CONVINCED he does it because he LOVES it. I've tried Deter, a supposedly anti-poop eating pill, we give him the highest, most digestable quality of dog food, have tried vitamins, the vet even recommended putting "Accent" seasoned salt on his food....all with no success. I stand outside with him on a leash for ten minutes just WAITING for him to do it so I can drag him away from a fresh pile, as he looks longingly at his newly deposited feces. He used to be quite the connoiseur, indulging only in his own fresh poo but once he realized we would not let him get away with it, he decided he'd take it wherever he could get it, bingeing on even aged poop from the more refined Cocker Spaniel, Hayley, when we were not looking, who would watch in horror as her turds were burgled....I really wish we could get him to stop, I do actually love the little bastard but once you've seen your dog ingest poop....

copperwindow · #10 04-19-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissa

There are also food addititves you can buy at the pet store which makes the dog's poop taste incredibly vile, and is supposed to break the habit.

What are they called?

vetbridge · #11 04-19-2006, 11:29 AM

Deter
Forbid

Translucent Daydream · #12 04-19-2006, 11:42 AM

I have heard of people dousing certain things that should not be eaten with Tabasco sauce.

Might be cheaper, but I would ask your vet first.

KarlGauss · #13 04-19-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestgirl

....couldn't resist posting on this topic (much like my god can't resist eating his turds)

This god of yours ... sounds interesting.

MrSquishy · #14 04-19-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestgirl

....much like my god can't resist eating his turds....

That may be the funniest typo I've ever seen.

midwestgirl · #15 04-19-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSquishy

That may be the funniest typo I've ever seen.

ROFL! I must admit, that's pretty awesome.

midwestgirl · #16 04-19-2006, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vetbridge

Deter
Forbid

I've tried Deter, a pill, didn't make his poop taste undelicious enough not to eat it though.

OneCentStamp · #17 04-19-2006, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestgirl

...a coprophagious 10 y/o Shih-Tzu...

How fitting.

aldiboronti · #18 04-19-2006, 01:57 PM

See how these years on the SDMB have twisted my mind? I really thought this thread was about a human shit-eating fetish.

Oh you people have a lot to answer for!

MrSquishy · #19 04-19-2006, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestgirl

...didn't make his poop taste undelicious enough not to eat it though.

Wait a second... you, or the dog?

tdn · #20 04-19-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwestgirl

I am the not so proud owner of a coprophagious 10 y/o Shih-Tzu, inherited by my late grandfather.

Heh. Coprophageous Shit Zoo.

At the risk of appearing to jump on a Doper-specific bandwagon, I humbly submit that a musical ensemble of the rock genre might employ such a moniker.