How to Prevent Stool Eating (Coprophagy) of Dog
The word coprophagy is derived from Greek word copra which means feces and phage which means eat. It is a disgusting habit of dog. We do not know the exact reason why the dog eats its own feces or feces of other animals. But it is always better to prevent it early before it becomes a habit.
Reasons for Stool Eating
1. Some medical problems – There may not be anything missing in the diet. Some disorders of pancreas or intestine, malnutrition due to parasitic infestation, starvation may cause this habit.
2. Anxious and stressed dog – If a dog is punished for defecating at inappropriate time he may think that defecation are wrong. So he may try to avoid the evidence of defecation.
3. Hereditary character – Ancestors of dog, wolves, eat feces when there is short supply of food. Feces of herbivores contain vitamin B. They eat feces to replenish vitamin B.
4 . Some dogs, especially puppies, begin to eat feces when they see other animals eating feces
5. Stage of life – Bitches sometime eat feces of their litter just because to hide presence of litter from the predators
6. Some dogs eat because it tastes good to them.
How do we Prevent Stool Eating?
1. Yards and kennels must be free of feces
2. Use some products like “Distaste” to give feces a bad taste. Add these products to the diet of animals whose feces is eaten by the dog. Product would be digested and it would give very bad taste to the feces. Dogs would not eat it.
3. You can put chilly powder on feces.It would work well at the beginning of this habit.
4. When dogs are taken out always use leash, so that you can pull them out when they try to eat feces.
5. Fit dog with wire muzzle. Dog can sniff and pant but they cannot eat.
6. Some toys which are funnier to dog than eating feces may be given to dog
7. If we give lot of exercise to dog it would help him to relax.
8. If it is due to stress and anxiety that should be avoided. Some time medication would be necessary.
9. Give more vitamin B in the diet and reduce excess quantity of carbohydrate in food.
10. If we feed more often improvement can be noticed in some dogs. Increase number of meals and not the total quantity of food. Quickly digestible enzyme can be added to the diet.
11. Do not punish the dog. That would only help to reinforce the behavior. Obedience training may do some help.
12. Health risk of this habit is that the dog may get worm infestation. So that periodic deworming is a must.
