Fans of Harry Potter know well the fear evoked by the dreaded Death Eaters. Here at Wag Zone we experience a similar horror at the silent, the sinister, the otherwise adorable... Poop Eaters.

These palate-challenged pooches will surreptitiously take advantage of the moment it takes to reach for a pooper scooper to pounce and devour all manner of defecation with stomach-churning speed. Some don't even wait for it to hit the ground. I kid you not. While removing poop is not the most glamorous aspect of working in a dog care environment, it is definitely a task we would rather not hand over to these doo-doo diners, no matter how scrumptious they may find the smorgasbord that daycare can provide. 

Okay, now that I've got you all gagging, let's explore this odd and surprisingly all-too-common canine behaviour known as coprophagia. Poop-eating (coprophagia) is actually a relatively natural behaviour for dogs despite how revolting it might be to those of us with somewhat more refined palates.

Why do they do it?

Curiosity & Habit

Dogs instinctively explore anything that may be considered food in their worlds and feces are unfortunately not outside the realm of edibles. Puppies are especially likely to sample poop. Mom dogs often regurgitate food to feed their pups so 'pre-processed' food is an already familiar option to the young ones. Mom dogs also have a natural tendency to 'sccop the poop' from their dens. The good news is that puppies will usually grow out of the poop-eating phase with a little help. The bad news is that dogs over a year old can be harder to break of the habit. 

Diet

Another potential factor in your dog's dung dining may be a poor quality diet. Food that is difficult to digest may tempt your dog to 'go back for seconds'. A diet that is missing important nutrients can also drive a dog to seek them elsewhere. And of course, if you have cats in the household, well, cat feces are a real treat! The good news is that cat poop is actually more nutritious than dog poop, as cats don't digest their food as efficiently as their canine counterparts. The bad news is that, well, it's poop. Not anyone's idea of a healthy diet. Worse, if your dog regularly ingests kitty litter, this can lead to far more serious consequences. Best to ensure you are the one keeping your cat box clean, not your pooch.

Illness

Lastly, corprophagia can be a symptom of an underlying health problem related to the pancreas, worms or nutrient deficiencies. If your pet is displaying any additional symptoms such as weight loss, a visit to the vet may be in order.

Is Corprophagia dangerous?

Generally speaking, as disgusting as poop-eating is, it is unlikely that a vaccinated dog will come down with illnesses through their questionable dung diet, though there's an increased chance of picking up worms. Making sure your dog stays adequately vaccinated and using a preventative worm treatment program will keep corprophagia from negatively affecting your pup's health.

How do I stop it?

Keeping the poop at bay is generally your best bet. Keep your yard and kitty litter box clean and be on the lookout for un-scooped nibblets when on walks. At Wag Zone we make sure we scoop poop immediately to ensure our resident poop-eaters have limited opportunity at best.

Next, review your pet's diet. Quite often, a change to a high quality, high protein, low carbohydrate and low fat diet will do the trick. If you are in doubt as to whether or not your dog's diet is providing adequate nutrition, check with a veterinarian. Many pet stores also sell additives for your pet's food that may help make your pup's poop a bit less yummy. Apparently a teaspoon of canned spinach, pineapple or meat tenderizer works well.

As reflexive as it may be to scold your dog when he eats poop, it may not do the trick. Remember this is an instinctual behaviour that offers a potentially yummy reward. Punishment will not always be enough to dissuade those instincts and may even reinforce them. The better plan of attack is to ensure there are no underlying nutritional deficiencies driving the behaviour and then to aim for removing the object of temptation and rewarding your pup for preferred behaviours.