Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? (Coprophagia Explained)
It's one of the most universally disturbing things dogs do — and one of the most common. If your dog eats poop (their own or other animals'), you are not alone. Coprophagia affects an estimated 16-23% of dogs, and the reasons range from completely normal to medically significant.
When It's Normal
Mother dogs eat their puppies' feces to keep the den clean and stimulate elimination in newborns. This is entirely normal and instinctive. Puppies also frequently eat their own or other dogs' feces as part of general exploratory mouthing behavior. Most puppies grow out of this by 9 months.
Behavioral Causes
- Attention seeking — if eating poop gets a big reaction (chasing, yelling), some dogs learn to do it for the response
- Boredom and understimulation — dogs in kennels or with insufficient activity are much more likely to develop coprophagia
- Anxiety — some anxious dogs eat feces compulsively
- Learned behavior — from watching other dogs do it
- Cleanliness instinct — dogs that were punished for accidents indoors sometimes eat the evidence
Medical Causes (See a Vet)
- Enzyme deficiency — dogs that can't properly digest their food may eat feces to recover undigested nutrients
- Parasites — intestinal parasites increase appetite and change behavior
- Malabsorption conditions — EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) causes dogs to be perpetually hungry and seek any caloric source
- Cushing's disease — increases appetite dramatically
- Steroid medications — increase appetite and can trigger coprophagia
What to Do
If your puppy does it occasionally, clean up promptly and don't react dramatically. If an adult dog has started suddenly, see a vet to rule out medical causes first. For behavioral coprophagia: clean up immediately, increase exercise and mental stimulation, and don't make a big production of it.
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