"Why does my dog keep eating poop?!" In fact, poop eating is so common it actually has a name 'coprophagia' (kop-ruh-fey-jee-uh), and may be due to a combination of behavioral, genetic and psychological factors.Įating their own poop is generally considered harmless for dogs, however eating the poop of other dogs or animals is a cause for concern since parasites, viruses, and toxins can be transmitted through feces. Pet owners often come to us at their wit's end with their dog's disgusting poop eating habit. Your vet will be able to help you diagnose the cause of your dog's behavior and recommend some ways to curb your dog's appetite for stones. Rock eating could be a symptom of boredom, anxiety, or attention seeking. If your adult dog is obsessed with rock eating it's a good idea to head to the vet. If your dog is a teething puppy, try supplying your pooch with lots of fun chew toys. Chewing rocks can lead to damage to teeth and gums, and choking is a very serious hazard. Many dogs love to play with and eat rocks, which can be a real health concern. If your pooch loves to eat dirt, speak to your vet about what might be causing the behavior and what you can do to stop it. That said, eating large amounts of dirt can be problematic since too much could clog up your dog's digestive tract. If your pup takes the odd taste of dirt there's probably nothing to worry about. It could be that eating dirts helps puppies to better understand the world around them. Why dogs choose to eat dirt is unknown but it is generally believed that it's due in part to the different scents given off by different areas such as a field, forest floor, or your mulch pile. In puppies, eating dirt is a common behavior. If your pup is eating an alarming amount of grass speak to your vet about ways to curb this canine behavior. It is believed that dogs eat grass for a variety of reasons including introducing more fiber into their gastrointestinal tract, relieving boredom, and simply because they enjoy it. Provided that your pooch is otherwise healthy, eating grass is generally considered to be safe provided that the grass is not heavily coated in chemicals. If you feel that your pup's urge to munch on nonedible items could be a sign of pica, see your vet.īelow are some of the most common substances that our four-legged friend love to eat: Grassĭogs will often nibble on grass, although some dogs enjoy grass eating more than others. It is believed that animals with pica may be missing essential minerals or other nutrients from their diet. Dogs with pica have an almost compulsive urge to eat non-digestible items such as rocks, dirt and sticks. What Dogs Eat & Whyįor both people and pets the term for eating non-edible items is Pica. Puppies can be particularly keen on eating things they find including leaves, trash, stones and dead animals. While this behavior can be stomach-turning to many pet parents it's actually a natural scavenging behavior in our canine companions. If your dog won't stop eating anything and everything it sees, rest assured you are not alone.
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