Um... he's been eating his own feces?

[dhollister]

Hi -

My dog Watson every once in a while when doing his business in the backyard would try eating his own feces. I would stop him from it, and he wouldn't seem to care.

The past 3-4 days, however, he's been REALLY doing it. Whenever I let him out to do his thing, I have to IMMEDIATELY call him to come inside (which he usually does on his own) because he's been staying out in the yard and eating his own feces. It's strange right now because he acts like he WANTS to. I'll call him to come in and he won't want to. And literally, every single time I let him out he starts eating it.

Why is this? I looked up online at the different options. He always has plenty of food to eat. It's the same food he's been on for years, so I don't think it's the lack of nutrients or anything. He was just at the vet's a couple weeks ago getting antibiotics for something, so I wouldn't think he'd need to go back so soon... he was doing fine...

 

[Ashlea]

Some dogs do this, I forget the scientific name for it. The only thing you can do is to clean up immediately after him.

 

[Cybill]

Here's a link regarding coprophagia that hepfully might help.

http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/ccp51/cc/dog-behaviour/eating-faeces.shtml

 

[cindr]

eating

I have found our girls doing it if they are lacking in something. When we catch them we start to put a bit of salt on their food. That seems to help the situation.

A few times our girls had eaten their stuff was do to having an accedent in the house. You could see where they went but most of it was removed due to them cleaning it up. They no how much I expect them to be clean in the house. So they do not want to get caught. Good luck with your dog

 

[shadowfacedanes]

If you use low sodium meat tenderizer ( sprinkle or two) on their food, it causes the poop to be extremely bitter and helps in deterring the stool eating.