Whether it's the cat's litter box or the dog's faeces around the corner, Médor leaves nothing lying around! This behavior, called coprophagy, is fairly common in dogs. While this may seem strange and disgusting to humans, there are a number of reasons why canines may be attracted to faeces. Is it dangerous for his health? How to fix it?
There are several reasons why a dog may eat faeces:
- Dogs explore their environment with their mouths and may be curious to taste the faeces they find, especially puppies who are learning about the world around them.
- This may come from mimicry: Médor learned this behavior by watching other dogs do it.
- A dog with nutritional deficiencies or an unbalanced diet may eat faeces to make up for these deficiencies.
- If he is bored or lacks mental and physical stimulation, he can adopt coprophagia to entertain himself.
- Finally, some females eat their puppies' faeces to keep their environment clean and protect their young from parasites.
Solutions to prevent coprophagia in dogs
- Make sure your dog's diet is balanced and adapted to their nutritional needs. Consult your veterinarian for advice on choosing dog food.
- Regularly pick up the faeces of your dog and that of other pets in your household to reduce temptation.
- Provide your dog with enough mental and physical stimulation to avoid boredom. This may include regular walks, games, and interactive toys.
- Train your dog to respond to the “leash” command so that he ignores faeces when walking.
- Supervise your dog during walks and distract him from faeces using positive rewards and encouragement.
The potential dangers of coprophagia to your dog's health
One of the main dangers of coprophagia to your dog's health is the risk of infection and parasites. Other animal faeces can contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause illness in your dog if ingested. For example, non-wormed dog faeces may contain eggs of intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, which can infect your dog if ingested.
Feces can also contain toxic substances that can be dangerous for your dog if they ingest them.
Finally, coprophagia can also cause gastrointestinal disorders in your dog, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
